The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-08-02
STANDAR,r:; :
TWENTY
MAXIMUM
CEPTJ

- while he was in camp.
De was"at that time attached to n
bath Carolina regiment. As cur-
.osity | send you the original, show
ing that every word was written with
punctlllous care and without a
scratch anywhere. This is certainly
remarkable, considcringt surround
ings he must have been facing at that
timc.''
The following is an exact copy of
the letter except The omission of
italics:
Vivid Description Written at the
Time.
Phillips. Va. 6 August. 1862.
And YOU would have "lhc grand
eur and glory Of the real battle"-
impressions, incidents. and acci-
dcnts?'
The magnificcncc of blood is a
theme worthy of great poem,
and all that | have seen written uD-
on it is as nothing to the truth that
lies hid-hid to all save the eve that
has seen it all-behind those common
words. | would not if T could, my
young friend, nor could I if would.
produce in your mind the feeling
awakened in mine by the tragedies 7
witness: and to approach as near this
as, possible is the end of the literary
artist. Look for no such effort now.
A touch here and touch there. and
memory would hurry from those
scenes 10 seek relief in atmosphere of
some treasured past while hope
catches breath. Of peaceful future.
| have brother in the 4th Texas
regiment, under Jackson, and 1 have
not seen that brother in Fifteen wears.
He IS an old man-past fifty-and
very gray.
Fridays tornado Of battle at Cold
Harbor, on Gaines s Farm, had swept
over. our heads. 1. hadsunk down when
the signal for rest was given in the
line Of battle as we we're, too weary
to unbuckle any Of my trappings.
With gun in hand I slept a broken
sleep Of the battlefield, drenched as
l was in perspiration, fasting for ov-
er day, and almost covered with
mud and dust. Momcntly came from
the plain around us, imperfectly aud
lble IN that troubled slumber, the
deep "roan of piercing pain-wrung of
some friend or foe or-brother. In
various directions over the field
passed, passing and recrossine each
other, many delights of the infirm-
mary corps and the ambulance corps
seeking the wounded. The cautious
hail and the low reply barely broke
the h"rrid silence.
Mornin" came at length with its
peculiar train of things to shuddcr
at: but let us pass that. and with
broad daylight look over the field of
yesterdays agony.
fmpelled by Il feelin" 7 could not
control, though exhausted by such la
Der as | had undergone and almost
prostratcd by chill during the
night | strollcd over the field of gore
after had eaten a cracker and a bit
of bacon. The area of the field is at
least five square miles, partly plain
and partly woods. No burial had yet
been made. (TIcrc an order to strike
tent and march arrested my pen and
closed my knapsacll upon your letter
till this the 18th Of August, at which
time Iiresumc.) In the shrubbery
we ~f1';nd a few Of our own men ly-
go &C and there stark and still:
rofe' 1gan to ascend the rising plain,
1a our poor men thick and fear
the thngled with cannon shot and
trict Ng at long range Next up
t,ict !A>w lay the blue-vcstcd reg
torncy4the score in lines. as fire
standa from our side had been
Dcd into them during their ad-
hce. To the left. over five or six
fres. lay the Iouaves-thc dead and
}c manglcd-all over the plain.
6'hc scenic effect Of their blue jack
fcts and red trousers Ga la Turquc)
with The fcz, a red sl<ullcap, was rath-
cr ornamental. But wild, deep,
new fcclin" Of (maNbe it was re-
vcn"c> anger maddcncd my eye and
stifed my breathing. For hours +
walked often alone among them
through wood and field and looked
upon the faces Of many dead enc
mics and convcrsrd with many of the
wounded; looked upon many friendly
faces cold IN death there and hideous