Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-04


were encamped IN Howards Grove, Just
outside OF Richmond. having but a very
few days before arrived from Pensacola
TO take part in the campaign which was
but lust beginning I'm Virginia, prepared
10 20 wherever We might be sent ana
when II might suit the powers that WERE
TO send us. We were as fun Of fight as
we could well be. Anxious to meet the
enemy and put them TO rout, or to take
to the woods ourselves as the case might
turn out But we figured that We would
not be the first to get out.
on the Sunday previous we had been
favored by the president and his daugh-
ter Mrs. Hays). paying us a VISIT ana
Major Allysted in command, pulled US out
and got us into line in about twenty sec
onds 10 do them honor. How well do
remember the slightest incident. Not one
OF us had ever seen a live president. ana
when he halted directly i'm front or the
major we We're at a present arms, ana
all eyes and ears.
Nv company happened to tumble into
line on the edge of the road ana were
as a consequence, nearest. stood ABOUT
thirty feet from the major, to his right
and had a good view. Of the president as
he passed, as well as of his daughter. But
50 little did I notice her that l only saw
that she rode a white pony and her habit
was IN blue white and red. The Doolce
was blue. studded with thirteen stars;
fsflver IL memory does not trick me) The
skirt was Of alternate red and white
bars. and the tout ensemble made pretty
and inspiring picture. But, ana 1 nope
she has long ago forgiven us all. NOT
one of us could afterwards tell another
whether she was ill-favored, simply PLAIN
of features good looking, or entrancingly
lovely TO look upon. We had eyes only
for the tall, spare and dignihed man, SO
plainly dressed. that anyone not acquaint-
ed with him at all and meeting him on
the road or street would scarcely have
given him a second glance.
He wore the old-fashioned stove pipe
hat with narrow rim. which made him
appear taller than he really was. de
sat easily like a man accustomed to the
saddle. And I'm speaking to the major
stopped considerable. speaking in low
measured tones. The only time he smiled
at all that / could see was when on
looking us over he complimented the ma
for audibly to us, on the fine body OF
men he commanded. Throughout the re-
mainder of the causette his face was
grave and gave US an impression of Sc
verify. We didn't know Jeff Davis yet,
nor did we think OF the heavy RESPONSE
bility resting on his shoulders; didn't
know of ii. The responsibilities of gov
eminent never troubled us except when
rations were short, drilling heavy and IN
cessant and the marches long and dusty,
or muddy, then we took Ii out In growl-
ing, matchmaking the weather, the COM
missary, the mess cook, or anyone else
who happened to incur our momentary
disgruntledness. In such moments we
could run the government better than
Jeff Davis and the whole Confederate
congress.
But when the first good rest came our
way, and good square meal came around
we'd wonder how, when and where the
''commiss" got it. But all that
is another story. The president chatted
with the major perhaps altogether fifteen
minutes. and among other things, let us
know that we would soon be ordered TO
the front. as he was expecting forward
movement of the federals soon. But as
TO by the whomness or the whereatness Of
this forward move we were left to surmise
We supposed naturally That the first move
would be in the direction of Washington
The two capitals were the objective points
in those days Until the 10th 0n the even
ing) we lay in camp lolling about in the
shade Of the grove and enjoying IL TO the
fullest extent after our soJourn OF two
months on the bare sandy shore OF Pen
sacola bay. adjoining the navy yard, on
the west TO Barancas. and our long trip
10 Richmond. via Montgomery. West
II EOlnNs AAA1nAds AUGUSTA OAAAA@As
mington, Weldon and Petersburg in stun
ed and sitting box cars. Our first night
| IN Richmond was passed in what after
wards became Libby Prison." and II in
after days il was no cleaner than when
we entered IL that evening, / could pity
anyone who was confined for even
month in IL. Pullman and Wagner had
not yet been turned out by the mills OF
evolution" Even firstclass coaches on
our southern roads did not have a cush-
| ion Much Of that has been changed for
/ the better, but the box car is still the
same old box car. Evening came on the
/ 10th and with the falling Of night came
the clatter of a single horses hoofs on the
hard road leading from the city. The rid
er was in a hurry evidently, and as the
/ sound came closer each second and de-
noted Importance from the pace, we were
. On the Qui vive, and when courier dashed
up and halted opposite the first tents and
asked hurriedly for the colonel in voice
lcud enough to be heard all over the camp,
every man was on his feet in an instant,
many rushing toward the colonel's tent
% which the courier had been directed.
Ne had been expecting orders, and here
was something new in the wind. Many
+ II US crowded around waiting eagerly for
the news The colonel received paper
from the courier and by the light of a
lantern read it's contents, and turning to
the officers near him, said: "Messleurs
nous marchous; donnez fordre" A yell
started throughout the camp, but Colonel
Capers soon put a stopper on it. He was
! a martinez. and / have never met man
vet who was less inclined to be enthusiast
tic. or allow any expression of enthusiasm
by his men.
lis soldiers must be mute machines.
/ DO not remember ever again hearing his
. men cheer anything during the time we
I were together, or after-"Point de ce's
! betise."
We began tearing down and packing
| up. and in less than an hour were on the
| march to the James to take a steamer for
Groves Wharf" BY IL o'clock p. m. the
baggage was aboard. and the steamer
turned her bow down stream, and we
started in TO put in the remainder Of the
| night as best we could, and ii was not
as bad as many subsequent nights. We
had clear sky for a roof, and good
hard deck for bunk.
A word about the composition of the
Zouaves We were got up on the
exact plan of the famous French
corps. Supposedly we were a French
corps. differed by Frenchmen, and
! using French tactics, manual and
language. All orders were given in
French. drill. camp guard. and in fact
everything about us was French. except
the material of which we were built. We
were most probably the most cosmopoli-
tan corps in the Confederate army. My
own company -Cthe eth) for example. We
| had a total OF % officers and men In the
4 sn1.