The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-15
M CAPTAIN ID. c. GTlAisoN,
On. I<. 10Th VA Infantry,


After the completion OF comfortable
huts. the winter was passed in COM
paratiYe quietude, each army recruit
ing for the opening campaign in the
spring. Our line of pickets was along
the Rapidan River and each regiment
was detailed to perform picket duty
alternately for a week at time so
that even in the rigor of the cold VIM
ter weather we had to leave our COM
Portable quarters and submit to the
exposure OF open air and failing
weather without shelter for this spec
fled time as II came to our turns. From
the top of Clark's Mountain, where our
signal station was. could be seen the
immense territory TO the north of us
and across the river covered with tents
of the greatest and most splendidly
equipped army that as far as numbers
and equipment were concerned was
never surpassed.
General Grant had been placed at
the head of the Army of the Potomac
matched against General Lee, who with
his smaller numbers and inferior
equipment, but with soldiers unsur-
passed for courage and daring, had de-
feated and put out of commission Nc
Clellan, Pope, Burnside and Hooker.
With their greatly superior numbers
they had been defeated and compelled
to fall back across the river. Now
General Grant was massing for
a final movement and employing
the tactics OF overpowering by num-
bers and constantly being reinforced
by fresh troops to exhaust the forces
of his superior in military genius and
masterful strategy.
Grant VIII Not Exchange Prisoners.
During the winter the army was
reduced in their amount of ratons ow-
ing to the fact that our male citizens
were almost all who were able to till
the soil In the army, and the transport
tation facilities were becoming run
down and no men TO be spared or ma
,erial TO be supplied to rehabilitate
them. The Federal forces possessed OF
all these advantages, and with the ma
lions of the world TO furnish them re-
crults. were concentrating all their
powers to the utmost in the armies UNI
der General Grant and Sherman, to hurl
against our decimated ranks. and yet
with all these numbers. General Grant
was unwilling TO risk his fame and
former success against General Lees
army II 1t was to be permitted to be
reinforced by an exchange Of prisoners,
and hence he would not consent for
the United States government to make
an exchange, declaring as his reason
ter 10 feed Confederate prisoners than
to fight them Could there be a high
! er tribute paid to the valor OF the Con-
federate soldier than this. which was
virtually an admission to the superiorl-
ity of their lighting qualities over their
own men, as the exchange would only
be man for man, and they would get
as many back in the ranks by an eX-
| change as our army would?
a Furlough.
Notwithstanding the conceded adj
verse circumstances confronting us and
1.-THE admitted odds in numbers massing
against us and our rations reduced,
| vet the soldiers We're in good spirits
and passed their time in amusements
| OF many kinds, many OF which We're
suggestions OF their own. Burroughs
were granted during the winter when
1.-The roads became impossible so that
| any active campaign was almost I'M
possible. had the fortune to be faV-
orcd with a return of my appllca. i1,
granted for one. 1t was received late
one evening In December and a oit.el
| cold night. but as time was specliiea
\ for return, I took advantage OF every
hour. and so at two o'clock the mex.
morning, that being the 21st day OF
| December, 1863, in company Win an
\ other comrade. Green b. Samuels, OF
I Front Royal, member or company
we started on our journey for our
homes a distance of between fifty ana
1 sixty miles on foot,
To Lugay on Foot.
| Tie moon was shining as priShl %
day. but the thermometer was about
ton or twelve degrees above zero. we
started with the intention of making
TMray In two days. and the first day we
made Madison Courthouse distance
of thirty-two miles, On our way be-
tween Liberty Mills and Madison Court
i house. about dusk and when IN close
nrox imity to the town, being Quite
/ fatigued and hungry and consequently
4 not In tho most amiable mood. we, saw
MS We supposed approaching us at 9
rallop. a cavalryman. AS. he reached
l5us he suddenly stopped and called to
us, "Halt!" I saw that he was a little
under tho influence of liquor and sc
paid no attention to him but continued
On, when he wheeled his horse and
said You don't know who I am, dc
4 you?" / replied, mo. nor do care
i He said. II am Il conscript officer; have
i you a pass
j had always entertained perfect
4 contempt for such men who sought this
1 Office to keep ohtof the lighting llne
Il themselves and trying TO make them
selves very Befllcient NY their GLANCE
in forcing soldiers who We're aNays from
ttt