Newspaper Page Text
—— I ' —— ’' " " *'*'*
VOL. 111.
A Stream That Hurries By.
BY GERALD GRIFFIN.
I.
The stream that hurries by yon fixed
shore
Returns no more;
The wind that dries at morn yon dewy
lawn
Breathes and is gone ;
Those withered flowers to Summer’s ri
pening glow
No more shall blow;
Those fallen leaves that strew yon garden
bed
For aye are dead,
n.
Os laugh, of jest, of mirth, of pleasure
past,
Nothing shall last;
On shore, on sea, on hill, on vale, on
plain ;
Naught shall remain;
Os all for which poor mortals vainly
mourn,
Naught shall return;
Life hath his hour in Heaven and earth
beneath,
And so hath Death.
hi.
Not all the chains that clank iu Eastern
clime
Can fetter time;
For all the phials in the doctor’s store
Youth comes no more;
To drug on age's wrinkled cheek renews
Li fo’s early hues;
Not ail the tears that pious mourners
shed
Can wake the dead.
iv.
For all Spring gives, and Winter takes
again,
We g. ieve in vain;
Vainly for sunshine fled, and joys gone
by. . ,
We heave the sigh ;
On, ever on, with unexhausted breath,
Time hastes to death;
Even with each word we speak a mo
ment flies,
Is born and dies.
v.
If thus, through lesser Nature’s Em
pire wide
Nothing abide—-
If wind, and wave, and leaf, and sun,
and flower,
Have each their hour—
Ee walks on ice whose dallying spirit
clings
To earthly things;
And ho alone is wise whose well-taught
love
Is fix’d above,
vi.
a ruths firm as bright, but oft to mortal
ear
Chilling and dear;
Uarsh as the raven’s croak the sounds
that tell
Os pleasure’s knell;
i ray, reader, that at least the minstrel’s
strain
Not all be vain;
* IL,J when thou bend’st to God the sup
pliant knee
Remember me.
Cornhiil Magazine.
bistening at a keyhole is said to be
!,r ‘ v ate earing.
.- cause a man who keeps sheep is a
ty plif rd, makes it no reason that a man
WI,J k’ct ps cows is a coward.
;i you would look spruce in your old
' do not pine in your youth.
‘loots polished inside is displayed on
,l m Virginia city.
A New York paper prints what it
(a o French telegrams from Spain.
GEISTERAE lee
AT THE
“WILDERNESS”
BY R. C. , OF “HOOD’S TEXAS BRIGADE.”
An humble participant in the late war,
I take upon myself the liberty of seeking
in your columns a brief space for the
purpose of mentioning and preserving
fromfrerror, an important incident of the
late contest —which deserves to occupy
one of the brightest pages upon our
country’s history. I come prepared to
state what I saw and what I heard, and
not what was reported to me through
many mouths—l shall be brief—for
were my pen able, no ornamentation
from it, could add to the glory and
grandeur of the main fact that I shall
state.
That Gen. R. E. Lee exposed his life
during the battle of the “Wilderness,”
May 6th, 1864, is generally known to
the Southern people—hut the truth of the
affair has never, to my knowledge, been
given—l have read accounts, both in
prose and poetry, of Gen. Lee’s noble
conduct on the eventful 6th of May—but
however near to the truth of the case—
and were written, perhaps, by some who
“snuffed the battle from afar,*’ and
gathered their records from those who
fled the face of danger—the truth is
this.
In the fall of 1863, Gen. Longstreet,
with two divisions of his corps, (Hood’s
and McLaws’) was ordered to Georgia
to reinforce Gen. Bragg. This we did,
and participated iu the battle of “Chicka
inauga,” after which we were ordered to
Knoxville, Tennesse to lay siege to the
place, and j?hich was done without suc
cess.
In the latter part of April 1864, Gen.
Longstreet found himself and corps in
the vicinity of Bristol, ou the Virginia
and Tennessee line. About May Ist,
1864, we took up the line of March, and
were transported* to Cobham station, on
the Virginia Central Railroad, near
Charlottesville. At this place new
clothing, guns, bayonets, ammunition
and ampie provisions were issued to our
corps, and we were reviewed by Generals
Lee and Longstreet. At that time our
corps contained only the two divisions
that Longstreet took with him to Geor
gia. During our stay in Georgia and
Tennessee, Gen. Hood was made a
Lieutenant General, and Major Gen.
Field assigned iu his place. Maj. Gen.
McLaws was removed and Brig. Gen.
Kershaw, of South Carolina, made a
Major General in his stead, and my old
brigade, “Texas,” was placed under
Brig. Gen. Jno. Gregg, of Texas—vice
Brig. Gen. Robertson.
We look up the line of march from
Cobham station about the 2nd or 3rd of
May—which, I now forget—and con
tinued on a steady march until the night
of the sth, going into camp about 7 or
Bp. m. Late in the evening of the sth
we heard the report of cannon, were
informed that we were near Gen. Lee's
army. We did not know at the time
that the grand battle of the “Wilderness”
had begun on the sth, and merely deem
ed the report of cannon “a feeling of the
enemy’s position.” At this time, as I
had been for several months, 1 was act
ing on Gen. Gregg’s staff as courier—
and in a position to see and know
all that I have, or may hereafter re
late.
By 3 a. m., on the morning of the 6th,
the long roil beat, the men were aroused,
under arms, and the march soon began.
We moved steadily on, though rather at
a rapid pace, with the “Texas Brigade”
leading the van of Gen. Field's division.
By daylight, or perhaps a little later, we
had reached the turnpike known as the
“Fredericksburg Turnpike.” By day
light the boom of cannon, and the dis
tant rattle of small aims, were borne
! upon the breeze, and knowing that the
AUGrTTSTLA., GLA_., -AYPRII, 9, 1870.
two armies were immediately facing
each other, we recognized that a grand
battle had begun, and we would soon be
called upon to act well our part. Reach
ing the turnpike, we took the direction
leading to Fredericksburg, and before
going very far not only was our speed
accelerated, but Gen. Kershaw’s division
(the other division of our corps) occupied
the pike side and side with us, and thus
situated, the two divisions moved rapid
ly down the pike in the direction of the
firing—the men of separate commands
mingling one with another. When
moving down this pike, the sun rose
beautifully, but to the notice of all had
a deep, red color, aDd the brave Gen.
Gregg, upon seeing this, remarked to
those who were riding near him, “there
is the sun of Austerlitz”—prophecy that
found verification] ere it sunk to rest
among the sombre shades of night. The
nearer our steps led us towards the fir
ing, the diu of battle became louder and
more terrible.—Faster and faster our
columns moved on to the scene of con
flict, until wo were almost at a double
quick. Directly horsemen came dashing
to and fro; aids were cantering about;
ambulances containing the wounded
went flying to the rear; litters with their
unfortunate burdens were moving to
wards the hospitals; stragglers without
number were flocking back with tales of
distress, annihilation and defeat—all
these signs betokened that bloody and
desperate work was going on, and that
too not many yards distant. A half mile
more, and by 6 o’clock, we found oursel
ves upon the scene. Both of our divis
ions mingled together in one mass upon
the turnpike. Asa part of this narrative,
I will give the situation of affairs as we
found them upon our arrival at the scene
and a short or imperfect idea of the
ground.
The position where we found ourselves
upon being halted, was near the brink of
a hill which gradually sloped down for
the distance of 200 yards, where immedia
tely began the dense undergrowth known
as the wilderness. The turnpike led
over and down this hill and continued on
into the wilderness. Immediately at the
turn of the hill, where the turnpike or
plank-road passed, hasty breastworks
were partially constructed and under
construction; and along these were
strewn a body of stragglers that had been
rallied, as well as some half dozen pieces
of artillery that were playing upon the
dense wildernes below. Near this hasty
defense we found, upon our arrival, our
loved commander-in-chief. Gen. Lee,
Gen. Longstreet, their staffs, and body
guards. I have often seen Gen. Lee, but
never did I see him so excited, so disturb
ed—never did anxiety or care manifest
itself before so plainly upon his counte
nance. if I mistake not he wag almost
moved to tears—if in error, others share
it with me, and his voice was anxious and
tremulous. And well, kind reader, may
his anxiety have been great. The evening
before, Gen. A. P. Hill, with the divisions
of Generals Wilcox and Heath, had met
the enemy upon the ground before us,
and night found them victorious. That
night, (May sth,) supposing the enemy
demoralized and fleeing, they placed their
pickets but a stone’s throw in advance
of the line of battle, and laid aside their
accoutrements and arms, at least such
is my latter day information. But be
this as it may, they were attacked next
morning, at break of day, unawares, and
unprepared, and ere many blows were
struck, the great body of Gen. Hill’s two
divisions were in lull fight—and an
overwhelming and victorious enemy had
only a handful of brave souls who dared
stay their advance. On they came, and
by 6 or 7 a. m., at which time our corps
(Longstreet’s) came upon the scene, the
enemy were not far from the lull before
described—mid unless checked would
soon possess it, be out ol the wilderness,
and prepared to strike us a death blow.
The other divisions of Gen. Hill's
corps, (Gen. Andersons’s, for some rea
son, had not arrived as soon as was ex
pected. Here let me say that if in aught
written I have done any injustice to the
brave men who composed Gen. Hill’s
corps, it is not so intended. That their
conduct on that day was natural from
the circumstances, we cannot deny. I
will also state here, that since that battle
I have learned that when our corps set
out that morning, (May 6th,) at 3 a.
m., we were on a flank movement, and
that Gen. Hill being attacked and rou
ted, the flank movement was abandoned
in order that this position might be
relieved.
As we stood upon this hill, Lee exci
ted and in close consultation with Long
street—our batteries tliunder into the
Wilderness below', the roar of musketry
from the undergrowth below—our men
retreating in a disorganized mass, and
the Yankees pressing on and within
musket shot, almost, of the hill upon
which stood our idolized chief, indeed
was an exciting time, and the emergency
called for immediate and determined ac
tion upon the part of the Confederate
General. Lee was equal to the hour.
Action must not be delayed, for in less
than five minutes the enemy would be
upon the hill. Longstreet’s corps as it
then stood in one mingled mass upon
the plank road, could not be thrown in,
and time must be allowed for it to re
form, and place itself in line of battle.
The cannon thundered, musketry rolled,
stragglers were fleeing, couriers riding
here*and there in post-haste, minnies be
gan to sing, the dying and wounded were
jolted by the flying ambulances, and
tilling the road-side, adding to the ex
citement the teror of death. The “Texas
brigade,” was in front of Fields’ divis
ion—while “Humphrey’s brigade” of
Mississippians led the van of Kershaw’s
division. The consulation ended. Gen.
Gregg and Gen. Humphrey were ordered
to form their brigades iu line of battle,
which was quickie done, and we found
ourselves near the brow of the hill, Gregg
on the left—Humphrey on the right.
“Gen. Gregg prepare to move,” was the
order from Gen. L. About this time,
Gen. Lee, with his staff, rode up to Gen,
Gregg—“ General what brigade is this?”
said Lee. “The Texas brigade,” was
General G’s reply. “I am glad to see
it,” said Lee. “When you go in there,
I wish you to give those men the cold
steel—they will stand and tire all day,
and never move unless you charge them,”
“That is my experience,” replied the
brave Gregg. By this time an aid from
General Longstreet rode up and repeat
ed the order, “advance your command,
Gen. Gregg.” And now comes the
point upon which the interest of this
“o’er true tale” hangs. “Attention Texas
Brigade.” was rung upon the morning
air, by Gen. Gregg, “the eyes of Gen
eral Lee are upon you, forward, march.”
Scarce had we moved a step, when Gen.
Lee, iu froot of the whole command,
raised himself in his stirrups, uncovered
his grey hairs, and with an earnest vet
anxious voice, exclaimed above the din
and confusion of the hour, “Texans al
ways move them.” Reader, for near
four years I followed the fortunes of the
Virginia army, heard saw and experienc
ed much that saddened the heart or ap
pealed in one form or another to human
passions, but never before im my life
time or since, did 1 ever witness such a
scene as was enacted when Lee pro
nounced these words, with the appealing
look that he gave A yell rent the air
that must have been heard for miles
around, aud but few eyes in that old
brigade of veterans and heroes of many
a bloody field was undimmed by honest,
heart-felt tears. Leonard Gee, a courier
to Gen. Gregg, and riding by my side,
with tears coursing down his cheeks and
yellsissuing from his throat exclaimed,
“I would charge hell itself for that old
man.” It was not, what Gen. Lee said
J that infused and excited the men, as
his tone and look, which each one of us
knew were borne of the danger of the
hour.
With jell after yell wo moved for
ward, passed the brow of the hill, and
moved down the declivity towards the
undergrowth—a distance in all not ex
ceeding 200 yards. After moving over
half the ground we all saw that Gen. Lee
was following us into battle—care and
anxiety upon his countenance—refusing
to come back at the request and advice
of his staff. If I recollect correctly, the
brigade halted when they discovered
Gen. Lee’s inteution, and all eyes were
turned upou him. Five and six of his
staff would gather around him, seize him
his arms, bis horse’s reins, but he
shook them oft’ and moved forward.
Thus did he continue until just before
we reached the undergrowth, not. how
ever, until the balls began to fill and
whistle through the air. Seeing that we
would do all that men could do to retrieve
the misfortuues of the hour, accepting
the advice of his staff, and hearkening to
the protest of his advancing soldiers, he
at last turned round aud rode back to a
position on the hill.
We reached the 1 undergrowth—en
tered it with a yell, and in less than 100
yards came face to face with the advanc
ing, triumphant, and sanguine foe—con
fronted only by a few brave ;souls who
could only fire and yield their ground .
The enemy were at least five or six to
one of us, and death seemed to be our
portion. With only 15 or 20 paces se
parating us, the contest waxed hot aud
deadlier. We gave a cheer aud tried a
charge, but with our handful of men our
only success was to rush up to them,
shoot them down, and shove them back
some 10 or 15 yards. For 25 minutes we
held them steady—-not a foot didthev ad
vance and at the expiration of that time
morethan half of our brave fellows lay
around us dead, dying and wounded, and
the few survivors could stand it no longer.
By order of Gen. Gregg, wliO'C manly
form was seen wherever danger gloried
most —1 bore the order to the sth and
Ist Texas, to fall back in order.
Al’ter|retreating some 50 yards, a most
deafening yell was borne upon the
breeze, and ere we were prepared to
realize its cause, Gen. Longstreet’s corps
came sweeping by us, reformed, aud re
inforced by Gen. Anderson’s division, and
with a valor that stands unrivaled swept
everything before them for three long
miles —driving, in that long charge, the
yankees from four difterent| lines of
breastworks that they had thrown up in
their rear. The “Battle of the Wilder
ness” was won—-all other fighting by the
enemy that day aud next was to prevent
defeat from terminating in destruction.
A gentleman in Alabama, iu exerting
himself one day, felt a sudden pain, and
fearing his iternal machinery had been
thrown out of gear, sent for a negro on
his plantation, who made some preten
tions to medical skill, to prescribe for
him The negro having investigated the
case, prepared and administered a dose
to his patient, with the utmost con
fidence of a speedy cure. No relief be
ing experienced, however, the gentle
mau sent for a physician, when on arriv
ing inquired of the negro what mediciue
he had given his master. Bob promptly
responded, “Rosin and alum, sir.”
“What did you give them for?” con
tinued the doctor. “Why,” replied Bob,
“the alum to draw the parts together,
and de rosin to sodder uin.” The pa
tient eventually recovered.
Why don't you trade with me? said a
close-fisted tradesman to a friend the
other day. The rep!. was characteris
tic: You have never isked me sir. I
have looked a‘l through the papers for
an invitation in the shape of an advertise
ment, and found none. I never go where
I am not invited.
Actors are people vvno live by apper
anees.
O.