REMINISCENCES
OF
THE CIVIL WAR
1861-1865
BY
P. L. LEDFORD
THOMASVILLE, N. C.
JULY 1909
NEWS PRINTING HOUSE
THOMASVILLE, N. C.
Copyright 1909
By P. L. LEDFORD
PREFACE.
Although many histories have been written and tradition has furnished
its part toward the perpetuation of the memory of the exciting times
of the civil war, very much occurred that has never been recorded.
Monuments may be erected and histories written, but unless the veterans
now living get busy and refresh their memories, and the memories of
their comrades very much that happened, and ought to be preserved
in durable form will with the passing of the main actors pass into
oblivion. The Confederate Soldiers now living are all old men, and each
one could, and ought to contribute items of information that would be
interesting to the children and adults of future generations. These
scenes, anecdotes, incidents and historical facts ought to be written
by the soldiers themselves, for by no other means can a correct history
of the war period be handed down to posterity.
I undertake my part of the task well knowing the information that I
shall try to give will not be pictured in a graphic style to please
the overeducated critic, but I feel assured that though written in a
plain style the facts narrated will be read and appreciated by many
who will not depreciate the information given, on account of the lack
of embellishment or absence of the style so pleasing to the lovers of
eloquence, poetry, song and graphic story.
The following pages written by a plain confederate soldier who spent
three years in the war instead of at college are submitted to the
public upon the merits of the information given, without claiming
any literary merit. Feeling that I am performing an imperative duty
that I owe to the cause and my country, I respectfully dedicate the
reminiscences to the soldiers of the late war who were my comrades
while passing through the trying ordeal.
In another decade by the sweep of time,
Many of the Veterans will fall out of line;
After a score of years very few there will be
For people then living to entertain or see.
The few that are left will be old and alone,
And quietly waiting for the summons to come;
Not until the last one shall have passed away
Will justice be done to the heroes of that day
Monuments will be erected on the ground where they sleep
And generations to come will their memory keep,
Patriots will pause with trembling and fear
And reverently on their graves drop a tear.
A responsibility now rests on veterans passing away
To rescue from oblivion the doings of that day.
We may not with a facile pen
Give a glowing description of scenes and men.
We can in a plain and plausible way
Give a rough sketch of the doings of that day.
After we have gone to our final home,
These sketches will be read by generations to come.
Let us be up and doing and work with might
And though late in the day commemorate the right.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Causes Leading up to the Civil War.
Origin of the War 9
Party Lines 10
States Secede 11
CHAPTER II.
Beginning of Hostilities.
The War Begins 11
Young Men Volunteer 12
Parting Scenes 13
Recusant Conscripts and Deserters 14
Loss of Loved Ones 15
Roll Call of the Dead 15
CHAPTER III.
Condition of People Left at Home.
Affairs at Home 17
Civil Officers at Home 18
Money in Circulation 18
Farming Interests 19
Women of the War 20
Cotton King 21
Soldiers on Furlough 21
Homespun Dresses 21
CHAPTER IV.
Peace Demonstration Among the People.
Peace Movement 22
Young Man Pilot 23
Soldiers Break Up Meeting 23
Leader of Movement 23
Old Men Released 24
Peace Sentiment not Suppressed 25
CHAPTER V.
Bill of Fare in the Southern Army.
Soldiers Rations 25
Rations Supplemented 26
Extra Rations Found 26
Coons and Foxes 27
Unripe Persimmons 27
The Army not Starving 28
Rations of Whiskey 28
Short Rations 29
Soldiers Forage 29
Questionable Methods 30
Detail to Cook 30
Reproof of Conscience 32
Mince Pie 32
Chaplain’s Lecture 33
CHAPTER VI.
Surroundings of Soldiers and Soldier Life.
Phases of Soldier Life 33
Southern Soldiers 34
Many Surprises 35
Appearances Deceptive 35
Soldiers in Camp 35
Congenial Companions 36
Disputes and Quarrels 37
Winter Quarters 37
Demoralizing Influences 38
Religious Worship 38
CHAPTER VII.
Characteristics of Soldiers.
Difference of Soldiers 39
The Homesick Soldier 40
Strenuous Soldiers 41
Conservative Soldiers 41
CHAPTER VIII.
Citizens Visiting in Camp and the
Sick Soldier.
The Sick Soldier 42
Surgeon’s Call 42
Simple Minded Sick Soldier 43
Despondent Sick Soldier 43
Visiting 45
Portly Gentleman 45
Lady Visitors 46
CHAPTER IX.
Incidents of Camp and Prison Life.
Soldiers in Prison 46
Exchange of Prisoners 47
Punishment 48
Rations 48
Camp Life 49
Soldier on Inspection 50
Recruit on Guard 51
An Economical Soldier 53
A Soldier’s Retort 53
A Boisterous Soldier 54
Recruit Detailed 56
CHAPTER X.
Picket Lines, Battles and Battlefields.
Picket Line 57
Picket or Scout 57
On the Picket Line 58
Exchange of Courtesies 59
Fearful Experience 60
Burned Bodies of the Dead 61
Test of Valor 61
Escape to the Enemy 62
Welcome Peace 62
On the War Path 62
Unreliable Soldiers 63
Music in Battle 63
Battles 64
Battlefields 65
After the Battle 67
CHAPTER XI.
Fourteenth Regiment N. C. Infantry
and General Officers of the Army
of Northern Va.
Fourteenth N. C. Regiments 67
Officers 68
Unique Characters 69
A Brave Soldier 70
Color Bearer 70
Amusing Scenes 70
On the Campaign 71
Distressing Scenes 72
Battles Engaged in 73
Victory and Defeat 73
Decisive Battle 75
The Enemy Surprised 75
Battle of Chancellorsville 75
At Apomattox 76
General Officers 77
General Cox 77
General Grimes 78
General Ramseur 78
General Rodes 79
General D. H. Hill 79
General A. P. Hill 80
General Ewell 80
General Early 81
General Stuart 81
General Longstreet 82
General Breckenridge 82
General Gordon 82
General Wheeler 82
General Jackson 83
General Robert E. Lee 84
Recapitulation 85
CHAPTER XII.
Reconstruction Period.
Surrender of Lee 86
Right to Secede 87
Sherman’s March to the Sea 87
Home Coming of Soldiers 88
Assassination of Lincoln 89
Federal Officers 90
Conduct of Yankee Soldiers 90
Looters Follow Yankee Army 91
Provisional Government 91
The Negro Enfranchised 91
Carpetbaggers 92
The Negro Politician 92
Election a Farce 93
Legislature 93
County Officers 94
Crimes Committed 96
Negroes Offensive 96
Ku Klux Klan 97
Holden and Kirk 97
Judiciary Exhausted 98
Judge Brooks 99
Negro Problem 99
The Oldtime Darkey 100
The Emancipated Negro 101
The Coming South 103
Reminiscences of the Civil War, 1861-1865.
CHAPTER I.
CAUSES LEADING UP TO THE CIVIL WAR.
ORIGIN OF THE WAR.--At this time, more than forty years removed from
the date of the exciting scenes enacted in the sixties, I desire for
the benefit and edification of my relatives, soldier friends and other
special friends, in a plain unvarnished style to record a few of the
incidents and doings of the people, who were active participants in
the drama of those strenuous times. I shall not confine myself to
dates or specially comment on the personal history of anyone, but
merely wish to rescue from oblivion such items of information as occur
to me, quoting entirely from memory, not having any notes taken at
the time to refer to. I propose to deal in facts, and any reference
I may make will reflect my views from the stand point of a young man
of that period. For a few years prior to the beginning of the war,
I by reading the current literature or newspaper productions of the
country, and listening to discussions of leading men of the times, had
kept myself fairly well posted. The signs of the times were ominous
and indications pointed to a disruption. Dark, threatening clouds of
war seemed to hover over our fair land that had so long enjoyed the
blessings of peace and prosperity. Perhaps we did not appreciate or
failed to realize it, we were really living in a land that flowed with
milk and honey.
PARTY LINES.--Like every other great revolution the awful calamity
was preceded by a political revolution. Party lines were broken and
sectional issues caused an alignment of parties North and South. The
burning questions of Slavery and State Rights were brought prominently
to the front. Incendiary speeches were made and incendiary literature
scattered broadcast over the land. The National Democratic Party
assembled in convention, disagreed upon a platform, and the result was
a division of the delegates and the placing of two candidates in the
field for president viz.: Douglas and Breckenridge. The old Whig Party
was defunct and its scattered forces rallied with Bell for its standard
bearer, assuming the name of Knownothing, or American Party. North of
Mason and Dixon’s line a strong sectional party had been organized
known as the Republican Party, with Abraham Lincoln for its candidate
for the presidency. The campaign was fierce and bitter to the extreme.
The leaders advocating the claims of their respective candidates were
aggressive and abusive, and the people wrought up to a high pitch of
excitement. The canvassing and comparing: the votes in the Electoral
College gave Lincoln the requisite number, and he was declared elected.
On the fourth day of March 1861 he became president of the United
States. The fanatics of the North and fire eaters of the South at once
got busy, and by their officious activity precipitated the war.
STATES SECEDE.--The Cotton States seceded and set up a government
of their own. Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Southern
Confederacy. North Carolina with other border States waited for some
overt act of Lincoln before passing the Ordinance of Secession. A
convention was called, delegates elected and assembled. The convention
was composed of delegates, a majority of whom were elected as union
delegates, and of course the delegates were backed by a constituency
of the same sentiment. The people of the old North State clung to the
Union as long as there was a vestige of hope of its preservation.