WINTER QUARTERS.
How many of our readers who are old enough to remember back so far can
tell what kind of a winter we had 40 years ago? Probably not more than one
in a hundred, unless it be some of the survivors of the army of the
Potomac, or the army of the James, for the winter of 1864-5, was one of
unusual severity, and there was much suffering among the troops in the
trenches before Petersburg and Richmond.
Possibly it may interest some of the present generation to know how the
soldiers, who were only provided with little shelter tents, managed to
keep warm through the winter months when it was cold enough down there for
ice to form on all of the streams.
Usually four men would go in together and build a little hut out of logs,
sticks, pieces of boards or whatever they could pick up, chinking the
cracks with Virginia mud, which, when hardened, no amount of rain or wind
would loosen. The roof was usually made from their tents unless enough
split timber could be got to lap one over the other.
From old barrel staves, small limbs and the same Virginia mud a chimney
would be built at the end of the hut, connecting with a spacious
fireplace.
On one side a double bunk made from saplings and covered with grass,
leaves or hay, over which was spread a blanket with knapsacks for pillows,
formed the beds.
It was a credit to Yankee ingenuity to see the devices the men had for
conveniences. Candlesticks were made out of bottles or cans filled with
sand. Cracker boxes were converted into handy cupboards or tables and
little cellars were scooped out from under the bunks.
In the drummer boys’ quarters, drums were used for writing stands and card
playing tables, while often a checkerboard would be sketched on the head
of the drum and for men buttons would be used, and with plenty of rations
we managed to be quite comfortable except when on picket.
LEE’S SOLDIERS COLD AND HUNGRY.
The question of supplies is a vital one to an army, and how to clothe and
feed the confederate soldiers was a most serious problem to the southern
leaders in the last year of the war.
The “Johnnies” with their threadbare clothing and scant rations suffered
everything during the cold winter of ’64-5. Of tea and coffee they had
none except in their hospitals. The only thing they had a superfluity of
was tobacco, and this they were ready to swap for coffee or anything to
eat.
In front of our corps was a strip of woods where the blue and the gray
used to meet on friendly terms, cut wood, swap coffee, tobacco, papers,
stories, etc.
The reader of this who is of the generation since the war will hardly
believe, I presume, that men of the two armies, who had fought each other
so hard for more than three years, could meet between the lines without
displaying any animosity toward each other, but such occurrences were not
rare.
I recall a story about how a “Johnnie” helped a “Yank” carry his supply of
wood into the Union lines. The boys were engaged in cooking and when the
rebel sniffed the pleasant aroma of Uncle Sam’s old Government Java and
other things that were not being furnished by the C. S. A. commissary
department, he said: “I’m dog-goned if it don’t seem right smart
comfortable here with you’uns and now that I’m here I guess I’ll stay!”
Considering the great privations that they suffered, and the hopelessness
of the struggle it is a great wonder that the desertions from their side
were not more frequent than they were.
A BOX FROM HOME.
If any of you ever have a father, son or brother in far distant parts,
don’t forget to send him an occasional box of good things from the old
home. He may have an abundance, but even then he will appreciate the
loving remembrances; but if he is undergoing the hardships and privations
of a soldier’s life it will touch his heart more than any other act of
your life.
Two of our mess were remembered with a bounteous box of good things the
Christmas we were in the trenches before Petersburg. Talk about your
banquets! Your Delmonico spreads; your nine-course dinner! They cannot
compare with that Christmas feast of home made mince pies, fruit cake,
plum pudding, old fashioned twisted doughnuts, raspberry jam and other
good things from home.
And even those who were without mother or sister at home received through
the Sanitary or Christian commissions many evidences that their devotion
to their country’s cause was lovingly remembered by the patriotic women of
the North.
Those were stirring days, and even the little children worked for the
soldiers. Their little hands were busy rolling bandages, knitting and
helping the various “Aid societies.”
Among my wartime keepsakes is the photograph of a little Pennsylvania
girl, 10 years old. It came to me in a “Soldier’s Companion” containing
needles, thread, buttons and other articles useful to a soldier. The child
had made it and tucked a dainty little note inside with her picture,
requesting the recipient to write to her, which I did from the front of
Petersburg and received a very beautiful letter in reply.
WHERE BOARD WAS HIGH.
I have in my possession a portion of an old copy of the “Macon
Confederate,” which was obtained on the picket line one day, in which it
is stated that, “board at our hotels is $30 per day, which includes three
meals and a room.”
“If a man is single and wishes to reside here he can obtain board at a
private house for $150 to $200 per month.”
“A family can rent a small house, with a small yard and garden for, from
$1,500 to $2,500, according to location.”
“By close economy, subsistence and clothing for one year can be purchased
at the market for a family, say of five, for $5,000, so the whole expense
will be about $8,000, during the 12 months.”
“RETRIBUTION.”
Another item tells of the presentation of a beautiful sword to Gen. John
McCausland of the confederate army.
“The blade is of the best material, and the scabbard beautifully mounted
and richly embossed.
On the blade is inscribed: The citizens of Lynchburg to Gen. John
McCausland, June 18, 1864: Embossed on the scabbard is a chalice, and
above the word “Retribution,” symbolizing the destruction of Chambersburg
by fire which was putting down the poisoned chalice to Yankee lips for the
atrocities committed by them in the valley. Below appears the coat of arms
of Virginia, and in another place is seen the coat of arms of the ancient
Roman Empire.”