Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-23
The Old Soldiers Story

The OlQ SOlQleF otOAy
FAIRPLAY, S. c., Nov Z, IsVs'
Dear Mrs FELTON,, CartersVlNe ga
l have been thinking OF writing 70
YOU for long time but never s'ai'eu
10 write until today.
have been taking The Journal 1Our
or I'VE years. 1 like your writings EsrS
much. I am an old Confederate soldler'
I was a member Of the 31st Georgia
volunteers. This regiment was com
mauded by J. A w Johnson, OF DaI-
ton. Ca / am Sc years Old ana us
abled by disease. and unaDIe 10 We n
but cannot draw any pension because 1
own a Harm-
have worked very hard and tried 20
take care OF my savings until Dougnt
a small farm on TugalOo river mat -
why / am unable TO draw pension
have always heard it said, Where
there is a will there is a way.
was sorry to read OF your oereaVo, ,
nent DIR. FELTON, was a model man and
In he greatly missed in his county
and state. but still more in his home
II was a great consolation TO you that
he was a Christian man and that ne
could talk with his dear wife when uy-
inc The future Of mis- destiny Is 50
much better than when the wicked ule
and go out into the. great beyond. Ior
there is no hope in the death OF the
wicked.
am with YOU in your counsel TO
those who live beyond their means. and
there are whole lot Of people who be-
dress themselves to the finish and owe
for all they have on. and don't care a.
they never pay.
some boys and girls, too. spend all
they can earn in clothes. Girls now
adays must send to New York Tor a
nattern and when the pattern comes IL
~ ma rarf1l
thirds more work on the garment than
was required so years ago, and they
really don't care anything about what
the thing costs.
AsI said at the start, I am an old
soldier. left for the war in August
1S62. and came nome in June 1865
was in Camp Chase, Ohio. prison when
the war ended left prison May L. 800,
and IL was June g. 1866. when reached
home. / had to beg for food part OF the
time. The Federals gave me three days
ratfous 10 start on and transportation TO
the nearest railroad station. but both the
armies had passed through Georgia and
when I left the train at Calhoun, Ga,
walked 10 miles home
! would walk all day and then lie under
thick bushes until next morning and then
try To beg little something 10 eat
Sometimes I could get a little milk and
ing through the mountains OF Fannin and
GIlmer counties It was hard TO get any
thing to eat The people were very poor
and the four years OF war had been hard
on them. They were nearly famine
stricken. they had so little live on for
themselves
When ] reached home It was much the
same with us.
As I jouneyed home found some ex-
ceilent people, among them 3Ir. Patton.
OF Gordon county. He was one Of the
finest men / ever met. He was a wealthy
old bachelor with gang OF negroes and
good farm He was just as fine a man
as you might wish to meet with any
where. Nothing he had was too good for
an old soldier.
When got home I went TO work 1
split rails. ditched. grubbed the hand, etc.
split rails at g Is cents per 100. I
grubbed at s. cents per day and boarded
myself In $50 I married and have rails
ed IL children Of my own, also one little
granddaughter now ten years OF age. I
have SIX children who are married and
% grandchildren. have plenty OF this
worlds goods. BY economy and care I
have been able to take care OF myself the
remainder Of my days
! never went TO school but six months
IN my life was only a boy when went
INTO the war. You can see how we BOYS
Jared when peace was made
There were no good country schools
and was not able to 90 OF to school
So adopted the trade OF stone mason.
built chimneys all about in this country
This Is a rude sketch Of my life
| must not forget to say I was with
Johnston's army in its retreat from Dali
ton to Atlanta
saw Lieutenant General Polk killed
wFnws4M
/ shot the first gun on the I'D OF July
at Peachtree creek, now Atlanta.
was on the railroad. on the east be-
tween the creeks that emptied into Peach
tree creek I was on picket and had or
ders 70 FIRE when I saw the enemy com
Ing. and then fall back to the picket
post.
On that day OF fighting we could see
the armies engaged very plain until the
air was so fun OF dust and smoke that
they were shut out from view
viii close out now, with much love
o. Mrs. FELTON,. May YOU be shared a
hong time. and permitted to write many
more good pages for The Journal news
paper ". T. WALTERS.
Fair Play. S. c, R.F. D.. No. p
(Remarks by the Editoress:-How 7 do
wish our brave old veterans would write
more OF such letters about their war
experiences
II VIII be valuable history one OF these
days 10 know who saw General Polk kill
ed on the top Of Kennesaw mountain. and
who fired the first shot at the famous
battle Of Peachtree creek on that dreadful
I'd Of July This letter should be fnspir-
Ing 10 All the youth of our country. Think
OF working ten hours day with a grub
bling hoe In cold. bleak field for s. cents
day and boarding yourself,
That faithfulness required as much
courage as TO fire the pickes shot which
ushered In n battle. I would be glad to
meet Mr. Walters and talk II over with
him. for ! was familiar with many war
experiences.l
The Cruel Automobile