The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-01-03
SKETCHES OF ARMY LIFE.
Interesting incidents OF the CiVtl war 6e
lated by stX Con. Fed" q Member OF
Third 8. C. Regiment.

| Written for Inc der2lO anO NeWs'
On the morning of the 18th day OF
December, 1852, Lees anvil was in
position and Burnside's hammer
ready to strike. There was fog
over Fredericksburg for some time,
but it finally cleared up, and Burn
sides boys rushed forward to the
slaughter pen. The 3rd Regiment
was on Lees Hill near the telegraph
road, but were finally carried down
it and up the hill to Msyree's house.
Here the rain of shot and shell was
terrific. It did not look as if any
once could live. Instead Of hurrylng
US to the rock wall, We were ordered
to lie down just over the slope TO-
wards the enemy. I was severely
wounded at once by a rife ball, and
hobbled back to a garden place and
remained there for sn hour or two
with the shells bursting over me, but
I was not hurt. Every man in 20.
B. except 4 or 5 were hurt that day.
One of the exceptions was man who
mad managed to keep out of every
fight before this. Capt. Gary told
that man if he rsn that day he would
be court martialed and shot. He
managed to get in the fight, and all
his fear was gone. He fought as
hero that day, and from then until
he lost his arm year later, we did
not have a better soldier. Although
I was severely wounded and in dan
ger of being killed for several hours,
l had a good deal of fan. I saw g
captain and lieutenant Of another
regiment desert their men aRd squirt
across the hill to the rear. saw a
young soldier cry because I told some
men where their regiment was, and
told them they ought to carry the
rstions they hsd to their men. They
were in cooking detail, and had
rations for their mess. saw the same
soldier and his father squirt across
the hill. A lull finally came in the
firing, and I buckled strap around
my thigh just above the wound and
got me a big corn stalk for a stick
and hobbled across the field and got
out of the firing. Here I found a
great many wounded men and quite
a number of skulkers. Night finally
came and Col. Nance was wounded.
He and Lieut.. Abernathy were be-
ing placed IN an ambulance to be car
ried to the rear. I asked Maj. Maj
fett to let me get in also. The
driver objected but Maj. Mafett put
me in the ambulance and I was car
ried to the field hospital. Here I
was placed on the ground to await
my time to have my wound dressed
1 rolled myself up in blanket and
went to sleep. I woke up about 9
o'clock the next morning and finally
got my wounds dressed. 1 was
placed in an ambulance and carried
to the rail road and shipped to Rich
mond. I arrived at Richmond about
day light and was carried to the
Chimberazo Hospital and placed in
the North Carolina division. I was
fortunately placed under the care OF
Dr. John Cannon of our county and
was we'll cared for. Here I found
my brother soldier, NJ. H Gary. He
was furloughed in few days but l
was kept for some time, but was
finally given furlough and remain
ed at home for 100 days. I had
forgotten to mention that I had been
shot at Savage station in hand and
foot, but the wounds were light.
While at home I went to Longshore's
store to see the militia muster"
Here Mr.. T. NJ. Neel was drilling
his squad, and had as his right guide
Mr.. Noah Martin. Every time Mr..
Neel would say left for the left foot
to go down, Uncle Noah would turn
to the left, and right he would turn
to the right. 1t was a real picnic to
sac the boys muster" Here the
man were discussing the Fredericks-
burg fight. Nh. Washington Floyd
made the statement that the yal KEGS
put up poor fight. I told him he
VS. r.iatskco that thay fought welI.
He stated that some newspaper man