The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-01-30

On the morning of the 18th of May
we received orders to pack up and get
ready to move at minutes warning.
We had been camped here all of the
month of April waiting and watching
the northern army to see which route
General Grant would take Oh his way
to Richmond. On the 4th Of May
General Longstreet received orders to
move to the Wilderness. So on the
evening Of the 18th We were put IN mo-
. tion and we went by forced march
. that evening till night before we
eanped. Next morning early we were
no and going sometimes almost IN
run. In ordinary marching the army
rested every ) or 6 miles but we did
not stop but twice the whole day OF
the 9Th, which made us know that
there was urgent business ahead.
. Late in the evening We could hear the
booming Of the cannon and we saw
some cavalrymen who reported that
: they had had battle that day and
thev were leading a wounded horse.
There had always been little feeling
ap between the cavalry and infantry.
Fhe infantry would call them butter
milk rangers and offer large rewards
for a wounded cavalryman. They ac-
eused the cavalry Of starting light
and leaving the infantry to fight 1t
eut. All Of this was carried on IN tun.
That evening we were marching IN
an easterly direction, the sun setting
at our back. We did not stop to camp
till nearly dark and when we did stop
we we're told to lay down and get
what sleep we could, we were to move
at 2 O'Clock next morning. We all got
off to bed soon. Some OF the men
never stretched their tents at all. just
about midnight a courier came dash
ine into camp and in few minutes
the long roll was beat There IS notn-
;ne that can arouse an army quicker
than the beating Of the long roll. AL
most in a jify # ftttAe the command to 1ah
IN men. forward march, and away we
went through the woods, through held
briar patches, anything and every
thing that lay before us. The night
was = black one. You could almost
feel it. We went stumbling and fall
ING along, every now and then the OF
fieers giving the command to close up
men. keep in your places. We went
on in this way till just at the break
of day we came to a little clearing
We could as soon as it was hght
enouoh see other troops on our rlgnt
eoinc the same way parallel with Us.
These we're Wofford's brigade. l
don't think I ever heard as many
whippoorwills in my life. y member
Of our company walked by me and
said the whippoorwills said whip them
well. We soon came on the plank road.
We could see to our left A. T. hills
wagon train in camp and 4 little tar
4her on we passed his field hospital
with his wounded from the fight or
the dav before. Our brigade was IN
front and the 2nd s. c. regiment n
j front Of the brigade and Bird next. AS
we neared the battle the men began
to throw away their cards. You could
see a man run his hand in his pocket
and pull out deck OF cards ana
step to one side and give them dash
: ont into the bushes. AS this was our
first battle after the winter there was
:auite an accumulation Of cards.
AS we passed through little clear
ing on our left with General Long
street. Kershaw and Kennedy riding
at the head Of the column we came
up to General Lee sitting on his
horse by the roadside. We we're halt
al for moment till some little con-
:.versation passed between Generals
Lee, .Longstreet and Kershaw. Then
General Kennedy gave the command
to prepare for action, load and tx
bayonets.
I know some of you have heard the
old saying, LAY down militia, I'm