Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1911-03-02
CONFEDERATE
FfEfN


All persons s;io remember incidents
OF interest that occurred in our county
during the war or the reconstruction
period. are cordially invited to contri-
bu.e 70 tais column. Al articles VIII
be Published in the order Ia which
they are received.
| recall an Incident that oc-
cured the lass winter oi the war
not long before cur line in the.
petersburg trenches were Gban-
Gorel. Grant was continually
threatening our right flank Gna
threatening cur communications
by way of the Weldon reiIs0ad.
When the incident which wish
10 relate occurred, is was in mid
winter, and though We were toll
erably snugia our sbanties which
were mere novels, our brigade
was ordered 70 prepare three
days rationa, which | assure you
wao not hard to do, considering
the run down condition OF our
c0mmissary, and u roll our
blankets and march to our right.
1t was a forced march.
We reached Jarrath Station on
Weldon railroad and went into
bivouac about dark having
marched anout 20 Of so miles that
day. I remember that when we
were called Up at daylight, that
our oil-cloth that covered us was
! fr0zed stiff and the ice was hang
ing from bushes ard trees. There
was a brisk skirmish firing going
OH in front. We were hastily
thrown into line OF battle and ad-
vanced on the railroad station,
where the yankees were standing
and preparing 10 burn the depot.
After the exchange Of u few
shots, the yankees withdrew and
made quick time in the direction
If their camp in front Of Peters
burg. 1t was q strong force of
cavalry. A few OF our command
were woucded, and not one killed
as | remember.
! think that George and Buck
Delbsiee called On some OF their
relatives who lived near Jarratts
Station. The States and Del
BRIGGS of Lafayette county were
originally from that neighbor-
hood.
Having repulsed the yankee
raid and saved the railroad. we
were ordered back to the Peters,
burg trenches. We went back
very lisurely, taking two days to
return when we went to Jarrath
n oae.
On the return as we went into
camp 1T sun down, cold 5iJstry
evening. cover Ign! and rations
ligaIer, a citizen came into camp
and asked Col. Reynolds for a
guard to protect MIN from tress-
passers whilst the army was
passing. Col. REYNOLDS detailed
three men 10 60 with him, and
Tor oncel was IN luck. Charley
Nelson, Dee Farmer OF Noxabee
Rifles and myself were the llcky
ones.
Ne went with the gentleman
aud were most royalty Toasted
ard lodged. After We had en-
yed a good supper, the young
ladies', Tor there were three, in
vltsd as into the psrlor and en-
tsrtained Us with music on the
piano and singing southern
songs.
The gentleman told US that he
had u detailed as q precaution
and that we could retire, and if
there was any trouble he would
call US. Ae then showed US our
rooms, and then came the climax.
There were two Of three feather
beds. As ! remember, we Just
iay down on the floor and rolled
over and laughed. Just to think.
for years We had no such luxury
"a an old Virginia feather bed.
We thought of our comrades w.
ing on the bleak hill side with
empty hayersacks.
We slept SO sounGly that we
never dreamed OF home, nor
friends, nor enemies.
Next morning a breakfast that
would make q man. let alone =
hungry soldier, fight his daddy.
Sausage was one item on the bill.
aad oh, how grand i, was. You
Just step over and ask Charley
Nelson.
After breakfast cur host asked
us to give hin our haversacks
and canteens, which he wished
% I'LL. that we might not 90 back
- camp hungry. Which would
"a prefer in our c~anteens. scr
ghum or brandy?
IS we bid good bye to the fam
ily, making the best bow we
could muster up, our host told
US to go by the barn and open
a bin and i'll our pockets with
apples; and We did you may be
sure. Now reader what more
could a host DO? The memory of
nis kindness will linger with this
scribe for all time.
/ think that two, of the three
guards went back to this hospit-
able houe on a visit, to see if
the young ladies' were still safe.
III let Charley Nelson say which
two.
We were so well stocked up
with rations that we were two or
rhEnn Anw~, 1-A---