IN CAMP AFTER GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN--MILITARY
EXECUTIONS--A STRATEGIC
MOVE--RETURN FROM FURLOUGH--THE
SEVERE WINTER--SCARCITY OF FOOD 73
V
BATTLE OF WILDERNESS--THE “BLOODY ANGLE”--AT
PETERSBURG--CHAFFIN’S BLUFF--PETERSBURG
AGAIN 93
I
ARRIVAL IN VIRGINIA--BATTLE OF ELLYSON’S MILLS--SEVEN DAYS’
FIGHT--WITH STONEWALL JACKSON.
_Near Fredericksburg, Va.,_
_May 16, 1862._
I arrived here this morning about ten o’clock. My trip was all very
pleasant, except when I passed through Petersburg and Richmond--both
those places are so crowded. The citizens of the latter place are
greatly alarmed for fear their city will be captured.
We are close to the enemy now, but there is no certainty of our having
a big fight soon. Captain Hunt’s men shot at the Yankees this morning
while on picket duty. The report about our losing ten men is true. The
Yankee cavalry came across the Rappahannock River and captured them.
Our regiment moved after I arrived to-day and we are now near Summit
station in a place where the chinquapin bushes are very thick. The
regiments are moved every two or three days to give them practice in
moving quickly. All the tents have been taken away from the men, and
that, together with the change of climate from the coast of South
Carolina to this place, has caused much sickness in our regiment. I
will sleep in the medicine tent, a very comfortable place.
It is bedtime now. I will try to write you a longer letter next time.
The thought of you and our little George makes me happy, even though I
am away off here in Old Virginia.
_Hanover County, Va.,
May 27, 1862._
We have just finished a forced march of about forty miles, and have
fallen back from near Fredericksburg to within ten miles of Richmond.
The Yankees intended to take the Richmond and Potomac Railroad, so we
came to reinforce the army already stationed here.
We started last Saturday about dark and continued to travel over the
bad, muddy roads all night. We had a very tedious march and did not
stop except to get the artillery out of the mire, and at one time to
eat and rest a little. Whenever the men would come to mud holes and
fords of rivers they would plunge right in without hesitating a moment.
This is necessary, because an army must never be allowed to hesitate at
anything.
Our brigade consists of the Twelfth, Thirteenth and Fourteenth South
Carolina and the Thirty-eighth North Carolina regiments, and is
commanded by General Maxey Gregg.
Our division is about fifteen thousand strong and is commanded by
General Joseph R. Anderson. It extended several miles, and whenever we
would get into a long, straight piece of road where I could look back
the sight was most amazing. The compact mass moved four deep, and, with
their glittering guns, looked like a river of human beings.
I stood the march finely, and your brother Edwin did not seem to be
jaded at all, neither did Billie. Coppock was too sick to move, so
we left him behind; but I do not believe he will fall into the hands
of the enemy. They are not advancing in that direction. We have been
living on crackers and bacon, but I got a fine breakfast this morning
on the road. General Gregg and his staff were present and I had the
honor of being introduced to them all.
There is little doubt but that we shall get into a fight very soon,
possibly before you receive this letter. There must be fighting
somewhere on the line now, for I hear the booming of field pieces. We
are well prepared for them, and whether we whip them or not they cannot
whip us badly.
Take good care of yourself and George.