Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-06-03
Random Recollections of The Civil War.
By C. I. Robinson.

crossed the RaplQdH Flyer III II Sli1!d for the purpose of marching against Richmond Chas. A. Dana. then assist ant secretary of war of the United
 States. was visiting the Union general at his headquarters and asked him how long it would take him to march to Richmond. Gen. Grant replied: About four days, if Gen. Lee doesn't object: but I rather think le is going to object.
 So, the stage settings being all ar ranged, and the actors all in their places. and ready for their respective parts, the curtain raised on the last act of the great tragedy, the Civii war. The Confederacy, decimated in numbers, with no hope Of reinforce ments and scantily supplied with food. clothing and military equipment, vas about to meet ill . death grapple d wel-fed, well-clad and well=armed force of three times it's numbers, with i haus1ible resources from which to draw, The Confederates, though full ly cognizant of the great disadvan- taees under which they were to fight, were still undaunted because they were conscious of the fact that theirs was just cause: that they had not i.sade war upon the north OF attempt ed to deprive it's people of any of heir rights. The south was contend
 ing only for the blood-bought right oi local self government and con- nunity independence bequeathed to it's people by the fathers and g11aran- teed by the constitution. As to the right of secession, that is too plain to admit of question. Massachusetts claimed it nearly a hundred years ago. and the states of New York, Vlr- 2inia and Rhode Island expressly re-
 served the rights in their acts rati fving the federal constitution to with draw from he union whenever the
 interest and happiness of their people required it. This is written in the interest of truth of history, because he northern histories either suppress, misstate or pervert the facts. The southern people have been represent ,ad as hot-headed rebels, who, with out sufficient provocation, fired the first shot ill the war, and attempted D destroy the best government the world ever saw Now, as histori cal truth, the north alone was respon- sible for the civil war. and the north also fired the first shot when that hloodthirsty fanatic. John Brown, in
 ,led Virginia and attempted to i'll cite the negroes to insurrection, arson and murder two years before the war commenced And when the old vi lain was duly tried by law. found gull t.' and executed for his diabolical crimes, the pulitanic north tore it's hair and wept bitter tears for the
 'tt altyred saint" MT. Lincoln's pul- pose was to reinforce Fort Sumpter and enforce his revenue laws or de stroy the city of Charleston, which Was a virtual declaration of war. The agSressor in war is not the fl st who nses force but the first who renders force necessary" But to re five battle Was that of the Wilderness Hiay , and G. This was a hotly con-
 osted and at some points hand-to hand fight The losses were quite heavy on both sides. Grant failed 10 dislodge Lee and the lat ter remarked that Grant would make his next attempt at Spottsylvania court house, which pre- daticn proved correct. A night or tw; after the battle of t'.e Wilderness i '"e had been marching to the right 4.nt skirr,.,..lag with the enemy all | day. About 9 or 10 o'clock D. m as we were preparing to lie down for a ! .nHch-needed sleep :.nd rest, away off 1 miles away--ol our 'e.s We heard | ! distant though distinct cheer which l We immediately recognized ds coming | from our own nlen. Ti.e cheer c',ine | nearer and n4a,er and with incleas- ing yoluneA until it reached our part of the line, when we took it up aud nassed on to the right until t passed .>r, of hearing in the distance. It was d yell of defiance to Grant and his horde of invaders, notifying them that Lee and his veterans. We sill there to receive them and '.Welcome