The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-15
Letter from a Pickens County Guard
 for The West AIabamian.

for The west AI0bamtaD.
 Near Manassas Junction, Va,
 August 9th, 1861.
 Col, l.. NJ. Stone.
 Dear Sir-Doubting not a line or two from one of the "Pickens County Guards" would be read with no little interest by you and the readers of your valuable paper, I will use q few mo- ments of leisure time allowed me this evening for recreation in giving you Q brief outline Of our trip from Rich mond to Winchester. and from the lat ter place to near Manassas Junction, whore we are now temporarily sta- tioned, and also short description Of my visit to the battle ground. In obe- dience to orders we took the cars at Richmond, Friday, July 18th at 6 o'clock, a. m.. and having slept but little over night, made halt of two hours to cook dinner and refresh our selves. At h o'clock we formed line and after d forced march of eighteen miles reached Winchester that night, and not having time to pitch tents slept upon the bare ground with knap- sack for pillow, and blanket to protect our weary limbs from the heavy dew of the night. At . o'clock the cheer ing sound of the drum awakened us from sweet slumbers to attend Roll call and drill. After a sumptuous breakfast (crackers and bacon) and another short drill, our noble captain dismissed for the day, which was spent in walking about in the pleasant Vil- Iage and looking at some of the fair ladies who had gathered op the pave n cnts to watch the different regiments of soldiers as they paraded around the streets and who, by their presence and Sweet smiles, the previous night. called forth many cheers from our regiment as it passed through to quarters. Tues day evening after our arrival, there was intense excitement. Our picket guard" reported to Johnston, Com manding General of our forces there, that General Patterson was advancing on Winchester, and in few minutes thereafter our regiment was ordered to an old field a mile or more distant from quarters, in order that nc (Pat- terson) might be warmly received We marched to the expected battle ground in company with several more regl- ments, and with the stars and Bars gracefully and defantly waving above our heads, formed in line of battle and with every heart eager for the fight anxiously awaited the attack. We slept upon our arms during the night on tho field, and learning next morn- ing the threatening of Winchester was a military strategem on the part or Patterson to keep endorsements from being sent to Manassas Junction, ana also to give him time to join McDow- ell, who was then marching to attack Manassas, we returned to camp. Scarce- ly had the excitement of the attack on Winchester died away. when our brigade under command of Brig. Gen. Kirby Smith was ordered to the relief of General BeauTegard. who was hour ly expecting to be attacked by McDow ell. For want of means of transpor- tatiun we mado a forced march or twenty-five miles across the Blue Ridge to Piedmont Station, where we expected 10 take the cars and proceed immediately to Manassas Junction, put there having been q collision of the cars the day previous, we were delayed at the station and did not get to Ma nassas until Monday morning. July 22. the day following our glorious victory. As soon as the cars stopped. although the rain was. descending in almost tor rents. we took up the line of march and arrived at quarters about o'clock n. m Having left our tents behind, we built shelters out of such brush as we could pick up and slept upon the ground. Early next morning myself and several friends visited the battle ground. It was an awful sight to look upcn. The field was almost covered with bodies of the dead and wounded enemy. and the earcaSses of horses, Under nearly every tree ana eusn on thA AAlA- there could ha &san haans of