Connecticut western news., 1911-09-14
HUMORS OF WAR
 AS ROBERTS SAW THEM
"Ros" Root Washed His Feet and Found Three Pairs of Socks He
 Had Long Forgotten.
BY E. S. ROBERTS

BY E. S. ROBERTS
 Dear Comrades June l6 We were hustled up. Connonading near us We threw up breastworks. for we did not know what we were up against and we did not want to be driven into the James River. Matters got quiet and we took a bath in the river--and you know most of you had not had your clothes off since leaving the defences of Washington. Talk about sporting on the Jersey Beach in bathing suits in the tepid salt water. It was not circumstance to be com River, and in the suits that Nature gave us. And you will remember when we saw those war vessels anchored near the shore, and the washings that were hung to the yardarms in various ways were a reminder to us that washing clothes and hanging them out to dry was a thing of bygone days, as we had known of no such luxury since leaving the Defenoes of Washington in May.
 "Ros" Root said: "Roberts, am bet ter of than thought, for I have just been down to the river and had good wash-up and found three pair of stock ings on my feet and didn't know that had any" This is not surprising when you consider what the boys had been through.
 Troops were being loaded onto trans ports and started up the river. This was going on all day. It was so much easier than marching We were wait ing in expectancy, which came to us by waiting, We began loading onto the boat at about midnight of the 17th and we were soon sailing up the James, land. ing at "Point of Rocks" on the Appomat- tox at nine a. m. and proceeded to get our breakfast. After which you moved mile or so and halted few hours, saw some of the comrades of 9th and 7th Connecticut regiments, and some of the First "Heavies' You had an oppor- tunity to get knick knacks from the sutler, a luxury that you had not known since starting on the campaign. And it was truly a luxury, since we had had little but coffee and hardtack.
 About 10 o'clock you fell in and marched out in the darkness through a wooded country with an occasional halt. Csnnonading and picket firing were get. ting to be quite general and not particu- larly pleasant, for 1t was said that charge on the enemy's line was oontem- plated A reconnoitering party reported that wire was strung from stump to stump and tree to tree in front of the Rebel lines, which of course would have been considered by you good reason why the charge should be postponed.
 We moved back to camp in the woods and lay down for the rest of the night this is June 18th. Saw Henry Brinton of the 7th c. V. and some others. This day was very hot We lay quiet,
 Reveille was sounded early and you drew rations and waited for, the bugle sound for the march which came about o'clock 8. m. This gave us time to cook our cham and eggs" and get ready for the march. which was started sharp. After marching a couple miles you reached the Appomattox, which we cross ed on a pontoon bridge. You will re- member the mule and his carts could be seen in the clear, transparent water, some fifteen feet deep where he was Lay- ing the penalty of his stubbornness and we all concluded that with the swaying of the bridge It was difficult feat to walk d crack with any surety of"getting there"
 Part of the Regiment had come down from Bermuda Hundred" and we were (Continued on Eighth Page.)