Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, December 23, 1901, Page 8, Image 8

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8 % The Battle of Gettysburg. $ | When the battle of Cboncelloravilie was fought Ptekett'e division was near Suffolk. Virginia The northern troops advanced from Norfolk to that town and overran the counties of southeastern Virginia and threatened the ra.lroad between Peters burg. Virginia, and Weldon. N. C., which mainly supplied our armies tn Vtr- Ptckett was ordered there to protect (his road. He drove the enemy from that part of the state back to Suffolk and was preparing to attack the town when he received orders from General L*e to f— ean to him at Chancellorsville. With old clothes and broken muskets we rig ged up dummy soldiers and set them in the rifle trenches and placed logs for ean at intervals on the line. Pickett Withdrew his troops and marched to Pe tersburg He left behind a few cavalry men who flred an occasional shot from near the dummy soldiers, and changed their position rapidly from place to place, thus keeping the enemy in ignorance of our departure. After a while the enemy suspected the ruse and sent forward skir mishers who reached the rifle pits to And them empty. Pickett had several hours start and was miles away. Our men were in good spirits and full of fun, singing songs and making funny remarks on persons and places as they passed As we marched through Jerusa lem. the county seat of Sot aampton, sang the old hymn, "Jew ulem. My W»ppy Home.** The country here was low and flat, the roads deep in’sand. On coming to pools of water, through which the road ran. we were ordered to wade right through: the sand stuck to our wet shoes got Inside and ground the skin from our feet so that we were forced to off our shoes and socks and march barefoot all day. As we neared Peters burg the road became hard and rocky which made It necessary for us to put our Shoes on again. My feet were so swol len that it was painful to wear my shoes. On arriving at Petersburg we marched through the city with bands playing Dixie and other popular southern airs. From there we continued our rapid march, ■topping only a few hours at night for rest and sleep. The morning of our fourth day’s march we reached Richmond. Our officers received strict orders to see that no man left the ranks while passing through the city. Many of our men were from Petersburg and Richmond and thou sands of the people lined the streets and cheered ua as we marched through. We continued our march through the counties of Henrico. Hanover. Louisa, Orange and Culpepper. Finding General Lee had defeated Hooker and was on the move, we followed. Our long line wound about the eastern foot of the Blue Ridge ■nountains and reached Orleans and Bnlckersv*!!* where we found General J. E B. Stuart and his gallant troopers fight ing furiously the enemy who were push ing forward, cavalry, infantry and artil lery against him. ■. The northern general was puxzled as to Lee’s movements. Stuart was protecting Lee’s rear and right flank* and 1J became necessary for the enemy to drive him away or break through his lines, to dis cover the whereabouts of the southern army. Though contesting hotly every foot of the ground, Stuart was compelled to fa«. back slowly against such odds. The head of Pickett’s division reached him about noon during the day and as they came "on the field, formed line of battle and advanced rapidly to the attack and, aided by Stuart, broke their lines and drove them back; they retreated, hotly pursued by Stuart, over the same ground they had driven him. Our division then turned to the left, passed over the Blue Ridge mountains, through Snicker’s Gap. down Into the beautiful valley of Vir ginia. on toward Winchester, thence to Williamsport, where we forded the Poto mac river; the water was deep and as the long line of infantry extended from the southern to the northern bank of the river it dammed the water several Inches high er on the upper side. The small men took advantage of this and kept on the lower side. Many amusing incidents oc curred. Men would slip on the rocks aad go down under the water to be dragged Mt by their more fortunate comrades; some wanted to hire others to tote them over; the attempt would be made and all parties would fall in and get a ducking. On getting across into Maryland the boys began singing. "Maryland, My Mary land.” Again we set out on our long tramp to Hagerstown. Md.. thence to Greencastle Pa., and finally reached Chambersburg. Pa., where we remained suyeral days. General Lee’s orders ■gainst depredations on private property were strictly enforced. We sometimes went to a farmer's house and asked per- 1 Agents’ Contest | . For December. B SIOO in Gold to Be Given Away «: Zs For one month’s work to the fifteen agents who send us the 5 largest number of subscribers for the Semi-Weekly during this 5 month. The contest is now open to agents and all subscrip- 2S tiona received from December 2nd until December 31st, 1901, J will be credited. The money is up and will be paid out on S the first of January next. . £ 2 Th e capital prize is $25.00 and with this and your cash com mission will be quite a nice New Year’s present. There arc fifteen prizes and fifteen hustling agents are going to win cj. *5 them. S Note the list in which the prizes are given 'w For the largest number of subscribers . & 5 scat during this month $25 00 * To the second best list « 20 00 To the third best list 15 00 To the fourth best list 10 06 2 To the fifth best list 5 00 < To the sixth best list 2 50 jcu. ; To the seventh best list 2 50 To the eighth best list 2 50 5* To the ninth best list 2 50 *5 To the tenth best list 2 50 To the eleventh best list 2 50 To the twelfth best list 2 50 To the thirteenth best list 2 50 3s To the fourteenth best list 2 50 • SE 2 To the fifteenth best list 2 50 S SIOO 00 Now is the opportune time for you to get a nice prize. Up- 3b on application, blanks, envelopes and samples will be furnish- SE ed free. Write for terms and an outfit at once so as to win one of these prizes. Address § The Atlanta Semi-Weekly Journal, § S ATLANTA, GEORGIA. g mission to get a canteen of water, or pome buttermilk, offering to pay for what we got. The people seldom accepted our Confederate money; I suppose from fear of gaining the ill will of their own people. The troops of our division were strung out for a mile or more along the railroad and ordered to tear It up and burn the ties; we piled up the ties and laid the rails across them and set fire to them. There was little or no forest near by so we were ordered to pull down the post and rail fences and use them for kindling wood. While doing this the owners came out and with teqrs In their eyes begged us not to destroy their fences, telling us how much they cost. We replied: "My dear sir! Do you stand here and cry for a few rails when your people armed them selves, left their peaceful homes, came doom south to ours, burnt our fences, barns, cities and private houses, shot down our fathers, brothers and sons be cause they dared to defend their homes; killed our cattle, horses and fowls; took all the provisions from out mothers and their little children and left them to starve. We are not treating you and your people In that way; we are only using these rails to destroy this railroad which is public property.” The reply was, “This should not be.” •’No,” was our reply, “and if your peo ple will go home and attend to their own business we will return to ours, and the war will end at once." A rumor was circulated through the command that a battle was being fought somewhere. Soon the drums beat, we fell into line rapidly and Qien with that long, steady, swinging step, pushed on towards Gettysburg, the officers’ horses going at a dog trot. The roads were hard and firm, and we made good time, but the day was terribly hot and clouds of dust stifling. Water was scarce and we suffered much. Suddenly we heard the distant boom of cannon which become more rapid and dis tinct each moment. An officer rides back down the line, and. In a cheerful manner, says, "Close up. men, quick-step; we are needed at the front.” A cheer rents tne air startlngat the head of the column, it rolls back along the line and dies away In the distance. The men quicken their steps, some throwing away any surplus baggage, even their blankets, and oil cloths so as to keep up in the now rapid march. Reaching the top of a hill we distinctly hear the rapid fire of artillery, and the rattle of musketry and see the white smoke rising and hanging just above the hHls and valleys far to the right and left, and then we know “Mars Bob’* Is at It again. A little farther on we hear the exclama tion: "Look there boys!” It is the dead body of a blue coat dying near the road. Then we see another and yet another until they lay in groups. We are passing over the battle field of yesterday when the northern troops were driven from the field, through the town of Gettysburg and back to a strong position among the hills. We file off to the right and continue In that direction until about sunset ■shei we come to a grove of trees through which flows a brook of clear water. We halt and are ordered to camp for the night. Worn out by our long forced to march, many of us took a bath in the cool water and, after eating some hard tack and a piece of pork, He down to sleep. Alas! It Is the last sleep on earth for many of these gallant soldiers. The moon rises and sails across the clear heavens, casting her pale light over those veterans of many battles, as they dreamed of home and loved ones far away in that southland they love better than their own Ilves. A cruel enemy has in vaded their beautiful southland, robbed them of their prosperity; desecrated their homes; Insulted their mothers, wives, sisters and daughters; arrested their gray haired fathers, and dragged them away to prison for refusing to take the oath of allegiance to the government of the northern states. Again and again have these southern men fought battles, de feating the northern Invaders, hoping af ter each that they would withdraw their armies and return home, but they raise other large armies and come again with fire and sword; and now the experiment is to be tried of carrying the war Into the northern states with the hope that a vic tory may end this cruel and unjust war on a people who only asked for the right of self-government. As the moon disappears in the west and the sun Is peeping above the horison in the east, the arums beat the reveille anu the whole camp is astir. We eat our frugal break fast. then comes the command: “Faa In, men!” *&he battalions form rapidly and the dlvisfen is ready to move. Pickett’s division was composed of four THE SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1901. Virginia brigades: Kemper’s, Garnett’s, Armlstead’s and Corse’s, and each bri gade of five regiments. If the regiments were full the division should have num bered about 15,000 men, but Corse’s bri gade was left behind in Virginia, to guard the railroads near Richmond, and long and rapid marching, many of the men without Shoes, constant lighting, sickness, etc., had reduced the average number of each regiment to about 300 men, fit for duty, so mat the division, of three bri gades, numbered about 4,000 men. The head of the column now turns to the right and files along the low hills until It .Is flnaly halted and formed Into line of battle. Kemper on the right, Garnett on the left, while Armistead follows a fey hundred yards behind. After moving a short distance up the gentle slope of a hill Into a large open field and near the top of the hill we are halted. Artillery is moving rapidly to tne right and left, taking position. Some eight or ten pieces are placed along the brow of the hill and just in our front. Generals Lee, Longstreet and Pickett each with his staff, are sitting on their horses In a group, and tn earnest conver sation; at times they scan the enemy's position with their field glasses on the op posite hills along Cemetery Ridge. About 2 or 3 o’clock in the afternoon we are orderea to He down. The aids are riding to and fro about the field, carrying orders; then Lee and Longstreet ride away. Pickett and staff take position be hind the division. For a few minutes si lence reigns, then there is the sharp crack of a field piece right in front of Kemper’s brigade. The shell goes screaming across the valley and bursts over the opposite hill, a second piece sends a shell and im mediately a third ana fourth follow; then there Is an answer from the opposite hill and the shell comes shrieking towards us, explodes high in the air anu sends Its fragments whirring down to tear up the ground where they strike. Faster and faster the guns open on both sides until the reports blend into one continuous roar of shot and shell. The sun is so hot, tne heat can be seen quivering along the ground; the earth is trembi ng like an earthquake. The enemy Is getting our range now, and men are be ing struck, arms, legs and heads are shot off, men are knocked up from the ground and their mangled bodies hurled across their living comrades; officers are passing up and down the lines encourag ing the men to keep steady and cool, the wounded are being carried to the rear, and this terrific war of two hundred can non, accompanied by the cry of wounded and dying men, continues for more than an hour. The fire of the enemy’s guns begin to slacken, so does that of ours until it al most ceases. Now comes the command, “Attention, battalion!” The men spring from the ground and take their places. “Right dress!" comes the next order and the line Is soon straight as an arrow. The flag bearers advance a few paces to the front, then silence reigns. Pickett, mounted on a coal black horse, rides to the right of the line, turns, goes down it to the center of the front, wheels his horse and moves straight forward for a hundred yards, stops, looks back at his men as they stand in long straight lines, steady as rocks and their bayonets flash ing in the sunlight. He lifts his hat and rides slowly forward. “Forward, march! guide right!” rings out the dear, quick command of Kemper. Garnett gives the same and from behind we hear the gal lant Armistead repeat it and the division moves forward Ift perfect line. We reach the top of the hill, sweep by our a-tlllery and begin to descend the gentle slope. There Is a valley before us across which runs a plank fence, farther on, and up the side of the opposite hill, runs a rock fence nearly parallel to the first fence, and behind which Iles a bri gade or two of the Enemy’s best Infantry. On the ridge of Cemetery Hill they have one hundred guns to sweep the valley and just behind the hill Is General Hancock with 36,000 of the best soldiers in the north ern army. We move down the slope. There is a puff of white smoke over on the other hill and a shell comes whistling and bursts just above us, then another and another; faster and faster the shots come; they are getting our range and our men begin to fall. On the lines move, we reach the plank fence and the boards fly off all along our front, the skirmishers retreat before us. The enemy’s artillery are now raining shot and shell upon us and great gaps are cut through the line, but the men close up and continue to advance. A shell bursts right In my face and I am knocked down by a shot that strikes me In the left side, just missing the hip bone uy hali an inch. I roll on t'he ground gasping for breath. A member of my company, Osmond Bradford, stoops down and helps me up. I try to walk, but lose consciousness and fall again. When i open my eyes the line has moved on and the storm is roaring over me, but my brave comrade is kneeling by me, bathing my face with water from his canteen. As I look up he smiles ana says, “Old fellow, I thought you were gone.” Two of tne ambulance corps come up and putting me on a litter carry me to the rear, w*here a surgeon examines the wound and gives me an opiate. An ambu lance comes up and while putting me In It one of the mules is killed by an ex ploding shell. They take me out and go ing a short ditance we stop under a tree to rest, but a limb is cut off oy a shot and falls within a few feet of us. Anoth er ambulance comes up, and I am put in that with other wounded men and the driver moves off at a. rapia gait to get us out of further danger. Others have told how the division moved forward being fearfully cut to pieces at every step. Garnett was killed, Kemper was down, desperately wounded, and Armlstead’s horse was killed; but he con tinued to lead his men on foot. Colonels were now commanding bri gades, and captains were commanding regiments. The rock fence was reached, the blue coats rose and poured a murder ous volley right into their faces. A mo ment the.line halted and staggered, as so many men went down, but steadying themselves, the whole line bent forward, gave the southern yell, charged and went over the stone wall and in turn poured into the blue line a terrifice fire which compelled them to give way. The gray coats moved on pushing the blue before them up the hill, but the merciless lire from a hundred guns were tearing their lines Into shreds. The brave Armistead had come up with the remnant of his column; his flags had been shot away, but taking off his hat and placing It on the point of his sword, he raised it above his head and said: "This way, my men, follow me!" They arrived at the top of the lalll and were In among the enemy’s guns. Three lines of blue coats were rapidly advancing to meet them, but the remnants of Pickett s glorious division, obeying Armlstead’s last command, closed up and charged Into the ranks of 36,000 blue coats and held their position for a quarter of an hour. Armistead fell dead while leading this last charge. Those who were not killed or captured slowly fell back. The enemy followed for a short distance, then stop ped. The remnant of the division retired to the place whence they started and faced about to fight again, when the enemy should make his grand advance all along his line, as General Lee fully expected him to do. But no counter move was made on the part of the enemy. General Lee, having rearranged his line of battle, waited all that night, all the next day and until midnight of the second day when he slowly withdrew his whole army, retired across the Potomac river into Virginia and halted to rest. The enemy followed him to the river and stopped. Thus ended the battle of Gettysburg. CATLETT CONWAY, Sergeant Co. A, 7th Va. In. of Vols. Richmond, Va. In the Rear of the I Oth Ga. One morning shortly after the battle of Seven Pines I strolled off from the camp with a party of eight or ten other young men of our regiment, and almost uncon sciously wandered into a place of such genuine enjoyment that we remained away for three or four days, regardless of roll-calls or other military require ments. We had a very happy time Indeed, and the remembrance of it constitutes one of the bright spots In the dark background of my war memories. A forbidden fruit is always the sweetest, so our happiness on this occasion seemed much enhanced by the element of sinfulness that was in it. I was somewhat unwell that morning, and although I wanted no medicine, I re ported to the doctor to get excused from duty for that day, and, as my invariable custom was, I threw away the medicine he gave me as soon as I could do so un observed, and returned to my quarters to enjoy my holiday. Soon after my return I was aroused from my repose by the drum sounding for the well known long roll, which was the signal for the imme< diate assembling of the men for some emergency, and was generally understood to mean for us to prepare for an engage ment with the enemy. As usual It pro duced great commotion in the camp. Men rushed to and fro excitedly. Mounted couriers dashed recklessly through the camp, non-commissioned officers stouted vociferously “fall in,” “fall in,” some of them occasionally emphasizing the com mand with a profane epithet. The sick were ordered to assemble at the doctor’s quarters, and there we received the rather indefinite order to “go back to the rear,” and in the excitement and hurry of the moment, the order was given us without any limitation of time or distance. We started off immediately, and although the excitement In camp proved to be a false alarm, no effort was made to have us re called and we went on, Ignorant of the new turn of affairs in camp. We traveled leisurely along, stopping occasionally for such amusement as our varying environ ments suggested, and finally stopped to rest In the shade of some trees In front of a neat, trim cottage that nestled in a spacious, well kept flower garden. We lingered long around those charming premises, admiring the bright flowers, the well pruned shrubbery, the vine-clad trel lises and inhaling the fragrant perfumes that pervaded the air. Two young men, in the meantime, had wandered away, and while prowling around the premises, had discovered that the occupants of the house were gone. They by some means effected an entrance into the house, and after opening the front door, invited us in. We found the house elegantly furnished, the pantry well stocked with provisions and the garden teeming with vegetables. We kindled a fire In the stove at once and proceeded to cook dinner, with which we served our selves in elegant chinaware on very fine table linen. No thought of remaining away from camp over night had up to this time been entertained by any of us, but before we were ready to start back there arose a very J>ad thunder storm, which kept us indoors until dark, and then the CHRISTMAS IN THE PETERSBURG TRENCHES The field works erected in defense of Petersburg, Va., beginning at the Appo mattox river’s southern bank and thence running southerly and westerly, were held during the winter’ of 18G4-65 by General Bushrod Johnson’s division. Four brigades constituted this division. Ex-Governor Henry A. Wise, of Virginia, commanded one, Ex-Senator Matt W. Ransom, of North Carolina led a second, a third was from South Carolina and Grade’s brigade from Alabama was the fourth. Georgia was represented In this brigade by one company in the Twenty-fifth North Car olina regiment. Bab Phinlzy was captain of this company, and instead of feeling an alien he was probably better known and certainly as well liked as any officer in the brigade. His high spirits never quailed before the miseries of the times. During the winter he was appointed or elected a justice of the peace. He bld us good-bye with tears In his eyes. He Informed us that he was a judge, and though It was hard to credit. It was believed that he would preside over one of the courts of record—a court of law and equity. Strange to say, Wise’s brigade had seen but little warfare until the selge of Pe tersburg began. The others were seasoned veterans. During the autumn of 1864 two brigades were in the intrenchments and two were withdrawn for rest and recuper ation every two weeks. More or less fight ing was going on dally and the stress and strain on the men In the trenches were terrible. On one occasion the enemy made a heavy demonstration in Wiso's front .and it was so formidable that part of the brigadd were driven from the works. Ran som’s brigade soon appeared and drove the Federate back and the former situ ation was re-established. When the brigades alternated In the trenches their ingenuity was taxed to make their condition less severe. Planks and boards were highly prized to make bunks, and when one brigade left the trenches and did not carry with them al! their belongings the Incoming brigade, es pecially the Twenty-fifth North Carolina, appropriated to its use thenceforth and forever whatever was left behind. Wise’s brigade, being nearer home, had more of these‘conveniences than any other. On one occasion, when relieved by Ransom’s brigade a Virginian said as the soldiers passed each other: “Don't you fellows tako the planks we are leaving here. You can use them, but leave them when you go out. Don’t take them away, like you did before.” “We never took you-uns plank nor nothin you-uns ever left,” indignantly answered a tarheel mountaineer.” "Yes you have; you take all we leave,” replied half a dozen Virginians. “Yes we-uns did take one thing you’uns left ’bout six weeks ago,’’ retorted one ot the Carolinians. “One thing! You own up to one do you? We’d like to know what it was we left that you say you took.” “These lines,” was the silencing answer. It is difficult to realize the life the sol dier led in the Intrenchments east of Petersburg. The llne.s of the contending armies were less than a quarter of a mile apart, and about a mile from the river >at the point the ,Confederate line pre sented a salient angle they were opposed by a re-entrant of the federate on Hare’s Hill, crowned by a fort of twenty-four guns and mortars, some of the latter throwing a two hundred pound shell. Not a day or night passed but what more or less firing was going on and the south ern soldiers gave the place on Hale’s hill the appropriate name of Fort Hell. More than a year before Ransom’s bri gade had been encamped on Major Hare’s place and then an incident occurred which I will here relate, as it will ex plain something further on. Colored women visited the brigade often bringing cooke'd food of various kinds, which they disposed of to the soldiers. A member of the 49th North Carolina bought a meat pie one day and when eat ing it his suspicions were aroused. He carried it to the regimental surgeon, who examined it and pronounced it dog meat. Each regiment of the brigade had a sou briquet and sometimes two, and hence forth the 49th was known as the dogeat ers. To return, some men were killed and wounded dally. Rains flooded the ditches and fuel was extremely scarce. The men were furnished with a small supply of coal from the mines of Chesterfield coun ty, which they tried to burn in the open air or on the fireplaces of their clay chimneys. The dally ration was at the temptation to remain in those comfort able quarters and sleep In clean, dry beds was too great to be overcome. After breakfast next morning we discussed the propriety of returning to camp, but it was agreed that, since our leave of absence was unlimited and our fare so much better than we could expect In camp, we had better tarry a little longer. We were amply provided with means of amusement. We found a checker board; some of the men had brought their decks of cards with them, and there was a piano to practice upon, though none of us could play a regular tune. I being an In veterate bookworm, found the library my chief attraction. Os course we all knew very well our conduct was altogether wrong, but our moral sensibilities had been so blunted by former misdeeds that conscientious scruples interfered very lit tle with these enjoyments. We refrained from any malicious or unnecessary dam age to the property and were much trou bled over the supposed ruin of a lamp we had used. None of us had ever used a lamp nor knew anything about the principles of lamp lights. We found one in the house and after learning to light It, we used It to light up the room. But be fore we left It went out and all our efforts to relight it were unavailing. We feared we had ruined it entirely and regretted very much that we had ever molested It. After lamps became more common, In la ter years, I have been led to suspect that the only damage we did to that lamp was to exhaust the oil. On the fourth day of our sojourn we planned to have an extraordinarily swell dinner and all hands worked faithfully most of the morning In Its preparation. Some worked on pies and pastry in the kitchen while others gathered and prepar ed the vegetables for cooking. We got everything on the stove in due time and the process of cooking went on very sat isfactorily, but about noon, while we were engaged in spreading the dinner on the table and congratulating ourselves upon the success of every detail of our plans, we were interrupted by the sudden ap pearance of Colonel Alfred Cummings, the commander of our regiment, who was re turning from Richmond on horseback and had recognized some of our party who happened to be in the front yard. He raised a storm of reproaches against us and compelled us all to come out to him Instantly and form ourselves into line to be marched back to camp. It was the most inopportune interruption of happy prospects that could be imagined. We left our big dinner partly on the table and the remainder on the stove cooking, and all untasted. We explained to the colonel the Indefiniteness of the orders under which we had been so long absent, but he refused to believe it until we got back to camp and had our statements corroborated. We all expected some pretty severe punish ment for the violation of army regulations, especially since the colonel himself had personally caught vs, but to our intense gratification, no further notice was Aver taken of it. Colonel Cummings was pro moted to brigadier general and was one of the south’s best soldiers. PRIVATE D. L. WALDEN, "Tenth Georgia Regiment. best about four ounces of meat, half a pound of flour, sometimes little coffee brought through the blockade of Wil mington; tobacco and some salt. Few had an overcoat or more than one blan ket. There were but few who in their secret hearts did not foresee the rapidly approaching end. But the merciful author of our being has implanted In each soul a seed which germinates and flowers in defiance of every obstacle. Men can bear up surprisingly when associated In mis fortune, and we had faith in that leader who never had failed us. We believed that General Lee would not permit us to be sacrificed when the struggle became hopeless and so long as he remained there were thousands who resolved to adhere to him. But had a chance shot killed him any time during that winter it is uncertain whether any other general could have held the army together, so evident was the desperation of the situation and so great was their confidence in him. Several weeks before Christmas some good hearted person, probably’a woman, suggested that Virginia give a dinner—a real old-fashioned Christmas dinner to the army of Northern Virginia. The few news papers that remained gave a hearty sup port to the proposal, and It was a theme in many bomb-proofs and picket holes. It became resolved upon, and we were told that we should have an old time, “before the war,” dinner, such as the high-bred, hospitable gentry of “ole Fer glny never tires ” used to set before their guests. Sunday, the 25th of December, 1864, was an ideal day to be the anniversary of the Nativity. Clear, yet not cold, nature seemed in sympathy with the blessed time. The sun came up and the first day for many months looked upon the armies who were not carrying on the work of death. It seemed as though each had agreed to suspend their deadly efforts for one day. A head could appear for a sec ond or two above the parapet and in full sight of the enemy and not have a dozen minnie balls fired at it. Both sides sodh discovered that the orders to fire at an enemy whenever in sight were being dis obeyed. The men had suspended their work without being so ordered and in a few’ minutes they were passing in full sight of each other, shouting the compll ment& of the season, giving invitations to cross over and take a drink, to come to dinner, to come back into the Union, to con»e over and get a plug es tobacco and other amenities, which were a singular contrast to the asperities of war. Several , times a group of three or four from each side would dash out from the trenches In spite of the commands of the officers and meet midway, have a rapid exchange of drinks, tobacco and other objects. To a visitor ignorant of war it would have ap peared Incredible that the men thus fra ternizing had been trying to kill each oth er for years. Some time after noon a Yankee who was very tipsy staggered up to the trenches occupied by the Thirty fifth North Carolina regiment, and after trying in vain to climb over, begged to be helped. He was pulled across and was soon asleep. This seemed to be getting too strong, and upon Its being reported to General ransom, he ordered the man to be sent back as soon as possible and a rifle to be fired, but not at the enemy. The Forty-ninth regiment was nearest the general’s bomb-proof, and according ly a rifle was discharged upward from it. This was the first shot that had broken the peacefulness of the day in the writ er’s hearing. I was in the trenches when it was flred, and instantly every man who had been exposing himself was out of sight of an enemy. Perfect silence fol lowed. Everyone, not knowing the cause of the single discharge, expected some thing much more important to succeed. But the quiet was profound until the ex planation circulated through the Confed ’erate lines. When Bob Phifer, of Com pany D, Thirty-fifth North Carolina regi ment, reared his burly form above the parapet and called out, “Say, Yank, let’s talk some more. Bring a drink to the picket holes and I’ll carry some tobacco,” the answer came from a soldier in blue, who also showed himself, “No, some of you Johnnies fired at us.” “ 'Twas only one of them d—d Dogeaters who shot In the air. You won't get hurt. Come on,” repeated Bob, whose supply of liquor was exhausted and who wished for more. ' DO YOU SHOOT? - __ If you do you should send your name and address on a postal card for • WINCHESTER GUN CATALOGUE. , JJ S « s / REE l It illustrates and describes ail the different Winchester Rifles, Shotguns and Ammunition, and contains much valuable information. Send at once to the Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New WONDERFUL CLUBBING BARGAIN By special arrangement we are enabled to I and interest of Its contents, and la undoubtedly ! offer the American Agricultvxibt. the leading | the beet and most practical pspsv et . agricultural weekly of the Middle ana kind. Southern States, in olub with this paper, at The readers of this Journal know its votaa an exceedingly low figure. The Ambkkun INo words, therefore, descriptive of it STS NNN Agriculturist is remarkable for the variety | in this announcement ■HXeRICAN —' .Agriculturist, THE LEADING AGRICULTURAL AND HONE WEEKLY It* Farm Feature* Such as Live baa reliable Special Coi jeep end eata st the lt» rarm roam res, stocks Dairy- General and Local Market Centers all over ing. Horticulture, Poultry, Market Gar- the United States. dening, and other topics, written by Practical _i|„ _ Short Stories, and Successful Farmers, supplemented with TWHIliy re»LUF— S Lateqt FSwIC Illustrations by able artists, combine to make Jons, Fenny Work. The Good Cook, Talka it invaluable to those who “farm for a living.’’ w ith the Doctor, Puzzle Contests, Library The Latest Markets and Commercial Ag- Corner, and Young Folk’s Psge, combine to riculture. Crop Reports in their season, make this departmeat of as much value and ia- Condensed Farm News, and Letters among terest as most of the Special Family Amen, the Farmers are Leading Features In which THE MAGAZINE FOItML Each fasos the Amkrioan Agriculturist is not excelled. It cemes out with a neat cover, Mto M pegs* i QAMPI P PLIPV ot Ambrioax Agriculturist will bo mailed to you by sildrossing n 0 A WILL L>Ul I AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST'S* Laftsyetto Place* Now York. OUR SPECIAL OFFER Semi-Weekly Journal .......31,00 American Agriculturist 1.00 $2.00 Both One Year for Only SI.OO Address all orders to The Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Ga. The Semi-Weekly Journal reaches the subscribers twice a week, and ths New York World three times a week, which will give you five papers per week, all for sl£o. Address The Jour* nal, Atlanta, Qa. BY E. B. SANDERS, Ransom's Brigade. By this time every man who had the means and desire to become drunk was in that condition. Some had received sup plies of food and drink from home, which, of course, were divided with the many who had not. The shot before spoken of was the only one I remember to have heard during Christmas. The calm was main tained until the following day. There was mueffi activity, frolic and fun in the trenches,but the day, compared with many which preceded and followed, was one of Sabbatical calm. I attended church in the forenoon in the city and heard the Rev. Dr. Platt, who 'was esteemed by many to be the most eloquent preacher of Petersburg. Besides my own rations 1 was a guest at three different dinners, afld ate at each what would be ■ full meal to a sufficiently fed man. I expected cholera morbus, but escaped. It is a melancholy proof of the destitu tion to which the people of the grand commonwealth of Virginia had reached in 1864, with her armies, one hostile, tear ing her bosom, that the dinner Intended for General Lee’s army was a complete failure so far as I know. The part for Johnson’s division reached us about the end of the first week in January. I was directed by General Ran som to divide the dinner sent to his bri gade among the five regiments which constituted it. I suppose the brigade con tained between twelve and fifteen hundred men. My task was not difficult. Each regiment was nearly equal in numbers, and the dinner was divided Into five equal parts. One man could carry easily the quantity distributed to one regiment and not be much weighted. After all had been divided as nearly equal as possible, there was a jar containing about a quart of apple butter. Despairing of dividing this, I took it for my share, and it was very good. • I have been informed by several of them who did it, that on the nights of Christmas eve and Christmas the soldiers from both sides fraternized In the picket holes and agreed not to shoot during Christmas and tried to reach an agree ment by which they would not endeavor to kill each other when momentarily ex posed above the parapet. They could not succeed in the latter altogether, but one man has told me since that after that day he nevey tried to kill a soldier on the other side, except In the battles he partic ipated in during the ensuing fifteen weeks. Many visits wre made on that day, and friends from the same community in distant states, who had been long sep arated saw each other, some for the last time. To the entire army, as I was in formed, it was a day of cheer, one bright spot in the gloom of present distress and Impending defeat. That Christmas day taught many of the soldiers of both armies that their enemies were such only in name—that in reality there was no hatred between them as human beings, and that they were all subjects of the same feelings and pas sions, when the star of the south sunk forever at Appomattox courthouse, and these same men met for the last time without attempting to destroy each other. If a harsh word passed from those of our army to any of the other during the days the paroles were being given, I never heard of it. Thousands of good wishes were given by the soldiers In blue to us who were going to our homes, and they surely must have been the sincere speech of the heart; and some of the seeds may have been planted the previous Christmas. CASTOR IA For Infants and Children. ’he Kind You Haye Always Bought iguaturn of It has been often remarked that respon sibility begets conservatism. Those who expected or feared that President Roose velt would be a rough rider in politics and a wild-animal hunter in statesmanship will find an answer in his message.—ln* dianapolls Journal. I CURE BLOOD POISON I have studied and treated blood poison for twenty years My ?rtglnsl method of treat ment has proven successful in some of the , worst cases on record. My treatment Is thor ough and cures the diseases to star cored. Write me fully about your case. J. Newton Hathaway, M.D., 38 Inman Bldg , Atlanta, Oa. — T 1 TITPO d * lre • monthly Bardatur that I. A 111 MiX cannot fall will ol ease address with UA LI IXIU stamp. Dr. Stevens. Buffalo. N.Y. TELEGRAPHY taught thoroughly and quickly; positions aa* cured Catalog free. Georgia Telegraph Schoch Senoia, ttk. ?-3aDaySoreSx wF tarnish the week and Wash yen free, yes week la the locality whore yon lire. Send »• yew eddnee sad we will explain the trasmees tally, reeeoaher wo twemtee a clear preM of 83 for everyday's woek,abeolutely sore. Write at eaee. boiaj. ■jurcracToaag co, BezOSs, ITT TTTOI7PT7 habit positively cured at home, YV H IM\ Pi I without pain or detention from , HUILILUI business. AU correspondence strictly confidential. LITHIA SPRINGS CLRB CO., B. H Veal, M’gr., 70S Austell B’ldg, Atlanta. Ga. . BLOOD POISON ■ Either primary, secondary or tertiary Syphilis use of Met vary or loaide of rotaan, vy u» wot> derful Herbalis Compound, a few weeks’ use of which makes a clean, healthy being, after complete failure with the Hut Springs and other treatment. Full information; OFFER EXTRAORDINARY., We prepay express charges anywhere tn Georgia on all goods from >1.75 a gallon up. provided order is for two gallons or more, all | shipped to one address. For $2.40 1 We will send you a gallon of our elegant | Daniel Boone Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey— ! express prepaid. You often pay or *•* i goods not as good. For 83.26 only wo will de«} liver four quarts of our famous Charges prepaid to any part of Georgia We sell Qt GM, XX Rye J » IJ-W Peerless Rye ........ ......... .9 J™ Elk Run Bourbon .. .........I J 0 J-OJ Blue Grass Rye ......w.....« . 0 3 Old Private Stock ......••.•••m.mw • I Mt. Vernon Rye. 7 years 01d...„, M L 0 8.68 Original Monogram Rye J- J • Pennbrook Penns Rye .....'l-SS 8-W Best Double Stamp Gin ......_ IW Corn Whiskey, Gin, Brandies and sweet goods from 81.25 a gallon up. Wines from 750. a gallon up. • ' • . We are the only people to Macon *P uln < the famous Kennesaw Cora. Only 8* ® PW gallen. Best in Georgia. SCHLITZ, the beer that dope not mate you bilious or give you headaches No charge for Jugs. Sam & Ed Welchaelbaum, •* 451 Cherry St., Macon, Ga. _— . I 1 j . BIG KENNEL SHOW ON AT MADISON SQUARE NEW YORK, Dec. 19.—The first bench show of the Ladles’ Kennel Association of America was begun at Madison Square ; Garden yesterday. New dogs from England In the bull dog, collie and terrier classes were benched. There was a strong lot of fox terriers present. Including English and American J champions. • /I The awards follow: Class 1: Rough coated St. Bernards, j puppies, dogs, first, the Challenger, Co* i lumbla Kennels. r” * ) Class 66: Pointers, puppies, dogs and • bitches: first, Westlake Faust, Westlake , Pointer Kennels, Scranton, Pa * Class 110: Field spaniels, novic* dogs; first Othello, Mrs. Clement R. Newboide, Philadelphia. If your subscription has expired and you wish to get our next Issue send us a money order or register us >l, select , your premium, and your subscription will be renewed for one year. Don’tj delay.