Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-02-03
! LEES RAGGED REGIMENTS.

valuable paper a graphic description
of the Army of Northern Virginia
from 1854 to the last days of the
Confederacy, or from Manassas to
Appomattox, and in doing so we will
quote few lines occasionally from
Mohun, and in doing SO we vouch
for the truthfulness of this great
Confederate soldier, because we saw,
we heard, we felt, all that Mohun
says:
The year of the war has it's pecul-
. lar physiogncmy.- 1S61--that is
|Emirth, adven ure, inexperience,
bright faces, wreaths of flowers,
"boxes" from home, and honorable
mention" In reports If you only wav-
ed your sword and shouted "Iur-
rah!" THEN you heard the brass
bands playing, the drum gaiIy roll
ing, the bugles sending their joyous
notes across the fields and through
the forests-blooming fields, un-
touched forests-and that music
made the pulses dance. Gaily-clad
volunteers marched gallantly
through the streets, the crowds
cheered; the new flags, shaped by
fair hands, futtered; not bullet had
torn through them; not rent was
seen III the new uniform. AS the
trains swept by with the young he
roes on board, bevies of lovely girls
cheered, waved handkerchiefs, threw
nosegays. Eyes were sparkling, lips
smiling, cheeks glowing in 81. The
youths had havelocks to ward off the
sun, CATERS to keep out the dust,
woollen belts to prevent rheumatism;
fanciful shirt bosoms, and pretty
needle cases and tobacco pouches Of
silk and velvet, decked with beads
and gay needle work by the dearest
fingers in the world.
So they went to the wars-those
stout and ruddy youths; every one
anxious to have his head taken off
by a cannon ball-all for the honor
and glory Of it. They marched
along, cheering as the white hand
kerchiefs waved; they pronu'y kept
step to the tap Of the G.unl, or
moved briskly beside the cannon, or
cantered by on their glossy and spir-
tied horses. The epoch was agitat-
ed, but joy coursed In every vein.
And when the first success came,
those small affairs were greeted with
thunders of applause.
Gen. Spoons marched to Bethel,
took a look at the gray people, fired
gun or two before retreating, and
thousand Southern Journalists
shouted grand victory. The brave
Del. Kemper fired shot at the Fed
eral train approaching Vienna. and
the journalists creid, eve have
driven back the whole Federal
army" Then some real fighting
came, and the applause was tremen-
dous. When the news of the First
Manassas, or Bull Run, flashed over
the wires, the Southern people stood
upon their heads and went wild. The
war was ended-the affair was over;
the brass bands and rolling drums,
and dazzling uniforms had speedily
done the business. The power Of the
North was broken; she had run upon
the breakers. The great hulk was
lying stranded, the waves were beat
ing her, and she was about to go to
pieces.
Such was 1S61-an era of mirth,
1neXperience, inflated views, brilliant
pageants, gay adv Nrntures, ruddy
'cheeks, sparkling eyes and splendid
banners, floating proudly in the sun
shine of victory
Then 1862 came, and with it a
new phase Of the war. Sweat, dust
and blood had replaced the music
and wreaths of roses. Faces were
not so ruddy; they began to look
war-worn. The round checks had
become gaunt; -4e bright uniforms
were battle-soiled; smoke had
stained them, the bivouac dimmed
Athem, the sun Lad changed the
DDlue-gray to a sort Of scorched yell
low Waving handkerchiefs still
greeted the troops-as they greeted
them to the end of the war-but few
flowers were thrown now; their
good angels looked on in silence, and
prayed for them. They were no
longer holiday soldiers, but we're
hardened in battle. They knew the
work before them, and advanced to
1t with the measured tramp Of vete-
rams. They fought as we'll as ever
soldiers did in all the world. Did