The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-12


 pated, and 1t has necessarily included not only the sth Alabama Regiment, but the handful of men then constitu- General Mcclellan was now a second time removed from command Of the Army of the Potomac for failing to crush General Lee--the third t'ms a Federal general was depos sd oy Gen. eral Lee and his army.
 fNote A---A recent visit to the battlefield and conversation with the Federal General. Carman. de- veiopes the fact that this battery was on a height across the Antietam.) CHAPTER TX. Again In Virginia. We encamped few days near Mar tinsburg. Va. some twenty miles from shepardstown, at which pla.e Colonel Royston returned. having recovered from his wound received at Frazier's Farm, and now, being the ssnior ofi- cer present, took command of the Brigade On the 2eth of September we removed to a point six miles from Winchester near a big spring. This camp was never officially named, but was called by tho regiment "Chucka- luck Hili" because while there we were paid off, and much of the money received by the men exchanged hands in 'chuckaiuck." a game of dice. Most of the money that changed hands got at one--titne into the possession of our drummer boy, Wannaker. While en- camped near this spring a determined effort was made to get clear of the abominable vermin that. during the Maryland campaign. when nobody had a change of underc1othing. had at- tackled men and officers. The writer knew one officer who, having only one undershirt s.to his name" was SO disgusted with the "creepers" and so determinedAto get rid of them. that he boiled 1t for half an hour. The gar- ment was of heavy knitted wool. He got rid of the creepers and rid of the shirt. too, for he could never again get 1t on, and I believe the poor fellow never was able to replace 1t during the next winter. Alack for ths pcor Confederacy! Our boys used 70 say that these "creepers" had T. W" Gin for the warl marked on their backs While here Lieutenant Colonel Roys- ton was promoted to be Colonel. Ma Jor Herbert to Lieutenant Colonel. Captain ]. P. Enrich to be Major.
 On the s0th of october we moved from aChuckaluck Hill" and reached a camp near Cuipepper. c. H. on the 3rd of November. On the previous night the Brigade had bivouacked near the Rhappahannock, Hard by was dis- tillery. asi having gotten across to 1t a number of the men of the sth and 9th Alabama wore next morning fair subjects for discipline. When we got to camp at Cufpepper that night sev- eral of those who had interviewed John Barleycorn On the Rhappahan- nook were struggling bshind For their benefit a guard-house was es- abolished, the comma sders of compa- nies being instructed to send up un- der guard to the commander of the regiment every one who should come into camp after the evening roll-eall. Having disposed as he thought of all these cares, the Lieutenant coleae. next morning about 10 o'clock was sitting on his camp-stool indulging In the usual wish of Confederate that he had something good for dinner, when he saw approaching nim T sci- dier. not under guard and with a beautiful white head of cabbage. bear ing it before him in his hands as he came.
 Here's cabbage. sir. I brought you.'
 Thank you" said the Lieutenant Colonel You belong. to Company | --what is your name? at the same time taking the cabbage smith. sir. Tom Smith," said the man, and hesi- tating a little. he finally added
 The truth is. sir. that had a little too much whiskey yesterday and got behind. and I thought I ought to bring ye something"
 Take the cabbage. sir" was the re- ply. 'T'll send you to the guard house for getting drunk and send you there double time for trying to bribe me-
 "oh. don't do that. sir" he said. I've never missed roll-eall I've never missed a battle, I've never been in the guard house, and I've always said I never would be. Don't send me there. please"
 Well" was the reply. that's re- markasie record you give yourself. We'll see what your Captain has to say about t." Captain Magrath be- ing sent for corrobofated Smith in every particular, and added:
 He is the best soldier in my com pany.- and believe the best In the regiment. always in the front of bat tie. always cheerful, and his gun and accoutrements always clean. Look at his gun. even now, sir; it's as bright as a silver dollar"
 Turning to the soldier the Lieuten- ant Colonel said:
 Smith. that's too good a record to spoil I'll let you of this time. but remember. if I ever flnd you disobey- ing orders again, I'll recolleet this against you"
 Thank you, Colonel" said Smith, thank you. sir! And now, won't you have the cabbage2"
 Of course had to send him off to eat the cabbage himself, but I watch ed him afterwards and never had req son tol repent the ciemency extended to Smith
 It is to me a grateful task to rec ord here an instance of Smiths Erati- tude for this act of clemency. tIn No- vember 1884 my commission as Colonel came to the regiment while I was at home wounded Smith having thir- ty days furlough to visit his home fin Mobile, asked permission to carry 1t to me personally. and voluntarily took time to stop off in Greenville to put 1t in my hands.
 On the 18th of November we broke camp at Culpepper and marched to- wards Fredericksburg. which we reach ed on the 22nd.
 At the battle of Fredericksburg our brigade occupied the left of our line, extending from Dr. Taylors house to the right. The enemys infantry did not attack us, but we were shelled from their batteries across the river, losing only one man wounded.&
 After the signal defeat of the Army of the Potomac at Fredericksburg General Burnside was removed to make place for General Hooker, and this was the fourth decapitation of a Union general, attributable to General Lee.
 CHAPTER x.