The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-08
SOME RECOLLECTIONS OF
 CONFEDERATE CAMP LIFE
BY w. R. oUeHToN.

were very attentive to the sick and wounded. and preached occasionally. It took a devoted man to be patient in con stant hearing of the profanity, ribaldry and general deviltry of camp life, but those who were patient, kind and loving to the men, had their reward in the affec- ton and respect of the soldiers. Some times we coulc hear of great revivals in other parts of the army, but never saw enc in Hoods civision. I think men got to lean towards fatalism after awhile. We could stand on the field looking down into the peaceful, sometimes smiling, faces of dead comrades, so full of life an hour before, and around us, not T trace CT twig the size of a pencil but was cut or parked by ullets. and yet we had charged end fought, and stood at th!s very spot for minutes or hours.
 We could but wonder why we were left end the others taken, and some argued like the Mohammedars, "It is kismet-It is fate.''
 Nevertheless most of these same men who returned home became pillars in the church. some ministers. One of the most dsring of Longstreet's scouts, profane and ribald of speech, unable to write his anne then, is now an useful and re- spected minister of the gospel. He be- 
 Of glorious memory.
 It also happened that the war was fought during the trsrsition stage from the smooth bore musket which carried 100 years to the Enfield rife, which was dangerous at 1000, ard even more and the repeating rife was also used by the federals Few of our generals except Wilcox and Rodes had the genius to meet the situation.
 mt drilled by bugle to advance or retreat, rally or charge and to take advantage or II ees, rocks or the conformation of the ground, and drawn out In thin skirmlsh line frequently drove solid lines of bat tie befors them. and now all the armies of the great powers copy the tactics Of those two great Alabama soldiers.
 We were very badly led at Malvern Hill. Tn two ranks touching shoulders. with another supporting line just in the rear. wesmarehed through an open field against batteries of many cannon. supported by men armed with rifles. A bullet which struck a front man at close range, was likely to kill the man in tho rear. Some of the generals got excited. made speeches and, as might be expected. lost control of their men. Afterwards the men learn cd to fight according to common sense, and not according to antiquated tactics fitted for smooth bore arms We took ad- vantage of every defense or obstacle, and charged by rushes, spreading out to a more open formation. After we were put in position, the officers never interferred with the men to any great extent, and the men knew what to do, and generally did it. I have seen little pale sergeant, ar- ter the enemy's charge was repulsed, leap over the works and cry: Charge 'em boys" and the whole line went with rush that was irresistible. One of my regiment was by court martial, convict ed of stealing some fish hooks and lines, and he was disgraced man. Tn the first battle afterwards, at the command to charge he took his hat in one hand, and his gun in the other, and being very fleet, yelling like an Indian. After that, he yelling like an Indian. After that, he was welcome to every campfire. and to a "chaw'' of tobacco from every man.
 The winter of '64-5 was very sad We did not get enough to eat once a month. The men grew gaunt and thin. Clothing and blankets were tattered. Fuel was scarce, and we cut the green loblolly pine for our fires. We were on the Darbytown road, five miles from Richmondd, and had about one man to every eight yards as a guard for the line forty-five miles in length, the whole army numbering about f, OO0 whilst 10000 were confronting us, superbly armed. clothed and fed with abundance.
 Sherman's army had laid waste Georgia and North Alabama. and letters came telling how the loved ones at home, the helpless women and children, were starv- ing The fire in the rear caused many q good man to go home never to return. Tn whispers, with tried and faithful few. we woulde discuss our inability to hold SC long life, and supposed and determined