The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-04-25

protection from the weather. and o
course. a good deal of suffering wa
endured, especially among the con
scripts. who on an average have abou
one blanket and two shirts to ever,
six men. ! have heard OF none being
made sick on account of the exposure
but we Especially the old soldiers) ar.
| getting SO hardy that 1t Is next to i'm
possible to kill US save by Yankee bull
lets.
1.-THE pickets on the outposts arr
quite familiar with each other. had
several conversations with men be-
longing to the End Regiment OF United
States Dragons. and If their words
are to be relied on, they are powerful
tired of the war and desire its speedy
termination tbon any terms. "A
"Yank" viii lie, that's certain. We
made little ships with paper sails and
sent them across the river freighted
with late Richmond papers and tobac-
CO., and they in return sent US New
York papers, coffee. and a very small
quantity OF spirits. The first night af-
ter we were placed on post four of the
Yanks came across the river on visit
to our boys and forgot TO go back--or
In other words. refused to do so. and
were sent to General Jackson, and by
him forwarded to Richmond.
On Tuesday last while eur regiment
was on duty on the river, the deep
toned thunder Of cannon was heard up
the stream. ana all OF our forces were
formed In line Of battle to meet the ,ex-
about four hours. and we did not learn
till the following day, the cause. II
was then ascertained that Generals
Stuart and sFftz Hugh Lee. a son of
our General, had met the Yankees at
Kelly's Ford. near Culpepper Court
House. and gave them a sound drub-
bling, driving them back over the river
at faster pace than they came. We
lost some very valuable officers and
men in the action. Among them was
Major Pelham. of Tadladega County,
Ala who was chief of artillery OF
Stuart's division. He was only ~
years of age, and was considered the
best artillery officer in the army of
Lee, with one exception. From what
/ can learn do not think that the g.
600 cavalry defeated by Stuart and
Lee formed the advance of Hooker's
army, but was an expedition organized
by the Yankee General SLOVENIAN for
the purpose Of making raid In the
direction of Gordonsville with a view
probably of destroying our communities
ton with points south of this place
If such was the intention, II was hap
ply frustrated and the Yankee COM
mander recrossed the Rappahanocis
with very large sized Confederate
flea in his ear. The snow and mud will
delay the advance OF the Yankee
Grand Army" for some DAYS yet
i am of the opinion that Hooker is
not so foolhardy as to attempt to cross
the river at this point in face OF the
powerful batteries we have erected
and the 10000 men under the command
of General Lee. I think they will
change base" as usual and endeavor
to reach the City of Richmond by some
other route. 1t matters to me very lit
tie which way they go as we will
have them to fight come what may. ]
had rather fight 'em here behind our
entertainments, but IL we have to take
regular old field set to" there's no
help for 1t.
had a bully. dinner today. What dc
you spose was the bill Of fare. II
consisted of rice. bacon. biscuit and a
huge pie made of sparrows. David
Smith, an enterprising genius belong
/ ing to our mess made traps while we
were on picket and caught enough OF
the tiny creatures to give all hands a
good bait. tell you they were good
II they were little. and as we are not
accustomed to the sight of fresh meat
the little critters were highly appfe-
eiated. Had a letter from william yes
terday He was very well, and al