The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-06-30

: must obey or take the conse.
quences. Gen. Lee with the
! man body of his army was on
the Rappahannock in front of
Burnside's and the most. if not
all, of Longstreet's corps was
south of the James and extend
ing his lines to Blackwater and
towards Newburn, N. c., while
ours was the only command di-
rectly in front at Richmond
where it was thought the main
attempt to take the capitol Of
the confederacy would be made
winch was subsequently proven
to be the case.
Thus it is to be seen that the
ADVANCE lines of the Confederates
extended from high un on ne
Rappahannock to Newburn. N
y, distance of more than one
hundred miles. Every road of
any Importance going toward
Richmond and PETERSBURG was
guarded by Confederate pickets
and scouting parties. Burnsides
was still suffering from the blow
ne received at Fredericksburg
and ne was afraid to recross the
Rappahannock in his march "on
to Richmond" Dix with his
crack army corps lay at Fortress
a. :.aI--------ea---l3-Na,.l ~ 5 eoo
guarding Richmond, Wife nff 3lfe
other federal troops to the south
wouldn't advance on that thun-
derbolt of war, James Longstreet,
who lay in wait for them. This
was practically the status of
both armies during the winter of
1862 and '63.
When strict orders were given
to let no one pass through the
lines the soldiers would some
times assume responsibilities
which might have been fatal to
them or their cause. But fortu-
nately they were never betrayed.
On one occasion while Vaney
Porter with some others were
on guard some ladies in the
neighborhood wanted to pass
to visit other friends on the in
side of our line. 1t was Just
after they had received orders to
let no one pass. They were told
that their orders were strict and
that they must be obeyed. The
ladies affirmed their loyalty to
the southern cause in such plain
tive appeals that Vaney and his
comrades could stand it no longer
and they finally told them that
If they would pass round and
through certain ravine they
wouldn't interfere with them.
This they agreed to do, and thus
they got on the inside of our
lines and went on their way re-
joicing. But they had to pass
by picket headquarters where
Lieut.. Jim Blackburn of the
NeWberry company was in COM
mand. He made some inquiry
of them how they got through
the lines and they told him that
Mr.. Porter had permitted them
to pass. Blackburn felt just as
Vaney did about the matter but
gave his consent for them to go
on, as he knew them. When
they returned it was showing,
one of those Virginia SHOWS
, which the soldiers so much
dreaded. Vaney was on post
, again. This time he told them
positively they couldn't pass as
they had given him away on the
: other occasion. They were ir
, sight of their home; they cried
5 and told him how badly they
: wanted to get home, but it was
v no use, for his orders were
/ strictly not to let anyone pass
v Finally he told them that he just
= couldn't pass them, but if the
, next relief, which would come
D on duty in a short time, woulc
pass them he would have no OBJ
v lection to their doing so. This
v they did, but one of these girls
e Vaney said never liked him after
v that, but he bound them never
\ to betray the confidence placed
s in them. More anon.