The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-08
dueted By nlartba Young

II 90o~D " - the wall of . human voice. We wept in sympathy-for one so brave 50 young. so fair.''
 The greater part of the book is made up of intimate family letters, very in- teresting, but oftener of more import for family archives than for DOCK Tor world to con.
 Here is a short note from the young lieutenant of the family:
 Camp near Fox's Ford. "Rappahannock River, Oct. 13. 1863.
 Dear Mama-we are once more on the campaign. We had running light day before yesterday, lighting all day. My little grey was killed under me at the first position we went into. The battery lost four killed and wound ed, three of them from my section. We crossed at Raccoon Ford that morning and camped at Brandy Station that night. We are about to move and must close. Love to all. Goodbye, dearest Mama. In haste,
 Your affectionate. "Halsey.'" The same gallant young brother writes from camp near Leetown, Va.
 The advance officer of the division,
 
 ter known as Tristan Joyeuse. Gent, has sent to Staunton for ammunition. I was the richest specimen of a Con- federate ofilcer that you, at all events, ever saw. My boots were utterly wornout My pantaloons were all one big hole as the Irishman would say; my coat was like a beggars-and my hat was actually falling to pieces, in addition to looslng Its crown which loss allowed my hair. not cut, since sometime before leaving Culpepper, to protrude and gave me a highly pictu- ,resque finish to my appearance"
 Louise Wigfall writes to their brother in camp:
 Mama sends you by Captain Sellers the buffalo robe and blanket also a cake of soap, which will be sufiicient for present emergencies, and as soon as another occasion offers she will send some more. Mama says as soap Is s1.25 a cake you must economise. Captain Sellers will also take the flag that Mama has had made for the 1st Texas; the tassel on 1t Is one taken by Colonel Brewster, from the field of Shiloh, just where Sidney Johnston fell, and of course therefore enhances the value of the flag"
 Miss Wigfull writes:
 The news was all good, as you have seen. I suppose. We had driven them from Mechanicsville and taken several batteries. etc. The battle was to be renewed this morning at daybreak, and accordingly, off went papa. and I don't expect to see him again until midnight or maybe tomorrow"
 Many distinguished foreigners en- tered the Confederate army. Miss Wigfall was naturally interested in Prince Polignac. who lead the Rangers from her own State.
 He was certainly, both in appear ance and manners, unlike any of the Rangers--and as they glanced at the dapper little Frenchman, they shook their heads ominously. and with de- risive laughter. dubbed him 'Polecat!' |" The Prince heard the soubriquet but maintained silence until one day just as the brigade was ordered into &C., ton.
 "As the order was given to charge. he raised himself in his stirrups and. brandishing his sword aloft. he led his men in person, shouting at the top of his voice: Follow me! Follow me! You call me .Polecat.' will show you whether I am .Polecat' or Polignac!' And he did. With an answering shout they followed him, and that battle over. never had a word of ridicule more for the gallant little Frenchman, who led them on to victory.
 There was an amount of merry -mak- ing in those strenuous times. though young Halsey Wigfall declares in his letters home that 'camp life Is dull as mama's pen-knife."
 One of these camp letters relate the story of great battle of - snow- balling! The 1st, 4th and 5th Texas regiments, with colors flying and skirmishers thrown out in advance. at- tackled the 3rd Arkansas. The battle was drawn one. with honors easy At It's close. the four regiments together marched to attack Anderson's brigade of Georgians. The attacking party then, too, failed of complete victory, and the Georgians, joining forces. all marched again against General Laws brigade Such fun frightened the hard- ships of camp life.
 Miss Wigfall tells how all Miss Pe- grams school once rushed out peli- mell to give their entire lunches to weary, and ill-clad and worse shod. Scarcely Southern woman of that day but can tell the same story. One of the most beautiful women of my ac- quaintance tells how the girls of the little day school which she attended often spent their recess standing at the corner of the school house yard tBiVlnB the contents OI InelF luuCu baskets to soldiers marching by. Courtships took on a martial tone, and one belle of Richmond was sere- naded by an adoring lover with a full brass band. There is story far more pathetic than humorous of tourna- ment held on the grounds at Monticello. The convalescent soldiers were the Knights to run the courses for the cap- ture of the Rings. More than one of these Knights being disabled in an arm or shoulder, rode with reins in the teeth, the one good arm holding the spear.
 Never in the worlds history has such an army. so spiritedly. so joyously, so courageously fought against such odds.
 Men reared in luxury who had worn purple and fine linen all their lives, were the best soldiers in the field and the most cheerful heroes of the burden of camp life, and of the terrible marches through the scorching suns of sum mer, and through the winters wind and rain. And the poor boys. many of them little more than children, who had come from the far South, sickened and died of homesiokness and disease, in camp and hospital-yet we find no record of complaint or of desire ex- pressed to give up the fight"
 From general to private this was the amimus that pervaded the whole army. General Hood barely recovered