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Old Series—Vol. 25, No. 122.
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THE CONSTITUTIONALIST
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 1874.
UNION POINT.
Meeting of the Veterans of the Old
Third Georgia--A Welcome from
Capt. Sanders—Address of Colonel
Claiborne Snead—The Convention of
Grangers and Speech of Gen. Col
quitt.
Union Point, July 30, 1874.
The events of to-day were, briefly,
these : The arrival, about one o’clock,
a. m., of Col. Claiborne Snead and the
members of the old Confederate Light
Guards, and Burke County Guards, of
the Third Georgia, who left Augusta
Wednesday evening, and Col. H. Clay
Stevenson, of the Chronicle and Sentinel,
I should perhaps add that the Colonel
waaaccompanied by a pipe and tobac
co bag. Gardner’s colored band, from
Augusta, came with them, and ever
and anon, through the still hours of
the night, astonished the natives of
the quiet villages, wood-yards and
water-tanks along the route.
While we were sitting by the side of
Col. Stevenson and his pipe, the Colo
nel chanced to remark that the car in
which we were riding was an unusually
elegant one. The mental conviction be
ing forced upon us then and there that
the Colonel meant to give that car a
puff at somo rare moment when he
should not be puffing the pipe, we se
cretly, but firmly, resolved to puff the
car ourselves, in this, our very first
letter to the Constitutionalist. It was
an unusually elegant and comfortable !
car (and we have done much riding in j
many cars in our time.) The road i
whereon this car was running was (and j
is yet, for that matter) the Georgia |
Railroad, of which John P. King is |
President and S. K. Johnson Superin-1
tendent. This information is not, of I
course, intended for the innumerable
multitude in Augusta and the State of
who dady read the Constitu
tionalist, for with them the names of
John P. King and S. K. Johnson are
familiar as household words, but for
its thousands of readers in other States
and countries.
All that was done to-day by the of
ficers and members of the regiment
present was to hold a preliminary
meeting preparatory to a permanent
organization to-morrow. As that will
be reported to you in full, it would be
superfluous to crowd your limited
space with the particulars of to-day’s
informal and preliminary proceedings.
For the same reason we will not give
you now the names of members pres
ent yesterday. Others will be here to
day—all who are coming—and we will
give in our nest a complete list of all
here.
The boys are in high spirits over
their meeting here after the long years
of separation since “ the cruel war was
over,” anl many a joke is cracked and
many a prank played after the fashion
of the soldier days.
The programme for to-morrow is a
speech of welcome by Capt. Sanders,
of Crawfordville, and the address by
Col. Snead. As we did not arrive until
one to-day, we were precluded from
getting a letter to you for this morn
ing's paper.
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
Gen. Colquitt addressed the Patrons
of Husbandry, yesterday, in a speech
of more than an hour’s length, upon
the subject of “ Direct Trade.” As his
speech was followed by the sale of
.s>Boo worth of shares in the Direct
Trade Union of the Patrons of Hus
bandry in Georgia, it would seem that
the farmers were convinced of the truth
of'what he told them about the advan
tages to be derived therefrom. A good
deal of the success in selling the
shares, though, must be attributed to
the extraordinary begging powers of
Col. Butler, of Madison, who is soon to
travel all through this and the region
round about Augusta,[makingspeeches
in the interest of the Patrons and the
Direct Trade Union.
Forty thousand dollars worth of
shares has been sold, and Col. Butler
and Gen. Colquitt are going to make it
a hundred thousand before they quit.
The agent of the Union is now in New
York, and will sail for Europe to-mor
row or Monday to make the necessary
European arrangements and connec
tions. As all the farmers in this coun
try will soon have an opportunity of
hearing either Gen. C. or Col. 8., we
will not fill our columns now with a
synopsis of the General’s remarks yes
terday.
Union Point, 31st July, 1874.
Crowds came in this morning from
every direction. The day is perfectly
beautiful, and the lovely ladies of this
section are out in large numbers. The
proceedings to-day were inaugurated
by the election of the following named
gentlemen officers of the Permanent
Organization :
Col. Claiborne Snead, President.
Col. J. S. Reid, Ist Vice-President.
Maj. John J. Jones, 2d A r ice-President.
Capt. A. A. Winn, Secretary.
Lieut. S. J. Bell, Assistant Secretary.
Capt. A. Phillips, A. Q. M.
Commodore G. N. Dexter, Ass’t.
Rufus K. Reaves, Commissary.
\V. E. Luckie, Ass’L Commissary.
Dr. Jno. T. Kiliey, Surgeon.
Dr. W. T. Hollingsworth, Ass’t Sur
geon.
Rev. J. M. Stokes, Chaplain.
Capt. C. H. Andrews, Historian.
The title of the permanent organiza
tion is “The Veteran Survivors of the
Third Georgia Regiment.”
•Capt. Sanders delivered the following
address of
WELCOME TO THE VETERANS.
Fellow-Soldiers and Friends : May
I not add the dearer word brothers for
together we have received the fierce
baptism of fire, and our blood has min
gled on a hundred fields of battle. As
a substitute for my brother officer, who
was selected to meet you with words
of gratulation and welcome on this oc
casion, I make my appearance to
day, for the first time in the roll of
orator. While my words of greeting,
may not be adorned with such flowers
of Rhetoric, or fall from my lips in
such harmonious accents or such fin
ished periods, as from his, yet they will
-come from a heart as full of joy at this
liappy meeting, and which is §s true to
the ties and memories of the past as
any that beats in all this assembly.
In behalf of my company, and of all
the good people of Greene, X extend to
you a most hearty welcome. We re
joice that the ball set in motion, weeks
pgo, by cur comrades of Cpmpany D,
Ibe P ail a
hai culminated to-day in this happy
reunion of so many of the surviving
members of the noble Third Regi
me nt.
We thank you for having designated
Ur ion Point, a place known duringthe
war to every soldier who passed over
the Georgia Railroad, for its lavish hos
pitalities and the beautiful ladies who
dispensed them, as the point of meet
ing. Their doors have never been
closed to fair women or brave men, and
to-day they stand wide open to receive
you as welcome and beloved guests.
Though an Augusta soldier has long
since plucked the fairest flower that
then adorned her Soldiers’ Home, to
day she has many fair daughters left
to perform all the rites of hospitality.
By selecting our native county as the
place of meeting you have not only
given us the pleasure of taking you by
the hand as comrades tried and true,
buz you have afforded us the addition
al nappiness of presenting you to our
mothers, our wives and our children,
and saying to them, “ These are the
brave men who stood shoulder to
shoulder with us through four years of
unparalleled hardships and dangers ;
whose unswerving patriotism and un
flinching valor nerved our own hearts
to nobler deeds of daring ; who freely
divided with us the last cup of water,
the last crust of bread, and who watch
ed over and supported us. when sick
or wounded, with all a father’s strength,
a mother’s tenderness.”
Third Georgians! After a separa
tion of nine years we meet again, to re
new the ties of affection, to strengthen
the links of friendship formed and ce
mented during our unhappy civil strife.
We meet again to revive the many
pleasant recollections of the past, to
extend the hand of brotherhood to the
living, and to let fall a tear of sorrow
and affection to the memory of the
dead.
While I retrospect the past, a thou
sand recollections crowd upon the mind.
Thirteen years ago, in obedience to the
call of the sovereign State of Georgia,
you—her gallant sons—flew to arms
and marched to defend the soil of the
noble old Commonwealth of Virginia,
against an army of invasion, just as,
ninety year's ago, the sons of Virginia
had marched to defend the soil of
Massachusetts.
A band of gallant youths, with hearts
fired with patriotism and tilled with
visions of military glory, taking a hur
ried leave of home and friends, you
hastened to Augusta to organize the
gallant Third Regiment, which so no
bly illustrated Georgia on the battle
fields of Virginia, Maryland and Penn
sylvania. There, on the balmy Ist of
May, 18(51, you met together for the
first time, to pledge fidelity to Georgia
and to each other.
As it had been but yesterday, I re
member my own Spartan mother, as
she approached to buckle on my knap
sack and bid me God-speed. Present
ing me a Bible with one hand, my mus
ket with the other, she bade me be
true to God and the land of my birth ;
to go forth with a mother’s blessings,
and followed by a mother’s prayers;
to win a soldier’s laurels or to find a
soldier’s grave.
My heart yet glows with happiness
as I recall to mind the lovely daughters
of Augusta, whose slender fingers plied
the nimble needle in stitching our uni
forms, while their ruby lips distilled
honeyed music sweeter than a Syren’s
song.
Oh ! how are youthful hearts swelled
with thoughts of high ambition, and
glowed with rapture, as they pictured
to our imagination—our return from
the wars—covered with glory and fair
woman’s smiles.
Long after my uniform had gone to
tatters, and been numbered with the
things thr t were, visions of the bright
eyed girl who made it, still lived fresh
and vived in my memory, driving away,
on the long weary march, all thoughts
of blistered feet and empty haversack,
filling my dreams with pictures of
more than mortal happiness, and mak
ing the hard root, upon which I reclin
ed my head at night, feel softer than
downy pillows are. Some of the honey
distilled from her virgin lips, “as she
kissed me for my sister,” and bade me
fight as her knight, still lingers around
my mouth.
God bless the beautiful girls of
Georgia, w r ho made us feel, that to die,
in the effort to win their approbation,
w T £ts sweeter than to live for all else
besides. While I live, I shall always
love them, and I love to live to love
them.
With hearts buoyant with youthful
hope, confident in the justice of your
cause and in your own prowess, you
hurried to Virginia, eager for the fray.
Little did you then imagine that the
dread prophecy of the Harpy Celeno.
“Te famea accisis coget dapibus consu
mere mensas,” at which the stout knees
of the bravo Trojan bands smote to
gether with fear and trembling, would
be more than fulfilled in your expe
rience. Even the dauntless heart of
iEueas quailed before the prediction
that ere he reached a peaceful haven,
hunger would compel him to consume
his half-eaten trencher with his meat;
but often you found yourselves with
neither trencher nor 'meat to satisfy
the fierce cravings of your hunger.
During a long and trying conflict you
stood shoulder to shoulder with
unwavering devotion to the flag you
loved. Your fortitude knew no limit
of endurance; your courage quailed
before no danger. Opposed to a powT
erful and well disciplined army, supe
rior in numbers and in all the appli
ances of war, you ever offered a daunt
less front to the foe, and never refused
the gage of battle. During those four
years of doubtful, sanguinary conflict,
belonging to an army rarely equalled,
never surpassed, in the annals of histo
ry. you ever stood bravest of the brave,
rarely yielding an inch of ground upon
which your feet once had pressed. Al
ways readier to charge upon the foe
than to receive their onset, you never
once wero the last to advance or the
first to retire. Though most of your
bodies are pitted with bullet marks,
you bear no scars upon your backs. —
Never was a grander spectacle present
ed to the world than you offered to
their wondering gaze (luring the last
sad year of the struggle. With de
creasing numbers, but unabated reso
lution, you opposed your breasts, a
serried wall of defense, against the
great army that was pressing toward
the Confederate Capital. Again and
again did you decimate their ranks in
despeiate conflict, only to see them re
filled the next day with fresh recruits.
But in vain, was your valour, in vain
the libations of blood you poured out
like water in defence of a cause, that
fate had decreed should perish.
The defences around Richmond were
soon to be abandoned, because the
brave hearts that had manned them
were moldering beneath the sod.
And new comes the saddest and
grandest page of your history,—your
retreat from Richmond to Appomattox.
I With despair in, your hearts but de
j fiance in your eyes, you still rallied
AITTGATSTA, G./Y., SATURDAY MORNING, AUGUST 1. 1874.
around your flag and your Chieftain ;
and left to History another “retreat of
the ten thousand,” not surpassed in
heroism, by the retreat of the Greeks
from Persia. Fighting your way by
day, scarcely halting for an hour’s rest
by night, your fortitude and heroism
shone forth, during that eventful week
with ever increasing lustre. You did
all that was possible for human en
durance and courage to achieve. At
length, exausted by hunger and fatigue,
your weary limbs refused to move, and
your arms fell from your nerveless
grasp. And the flag, which you had so
often borne to victory, which you had
wreathed with glory, and which you
had learned to love, with a devotion,
equal to your love to woman, was furl
ed forever. Oh! life had in store no
bitterer cup than was then presented
to your lips. But the gloom of that
dark day, on which the great heart
of our honored chieftain was
broken, —on which the proud form
of Gordon (the noblest of Geor
gia’s noble sons), which had never
shrank from mortal danger, was bow
ed in anguish ; that day on which every
heart was filled with sorrow, every eye
was dimmed with tears, is relieved by
the magnanimity displayed by the
brave army in blue. Never did that
army pay you a higher compliment or
do themselves a greater honor, than
by their conduct and words on that oc
casion. From the Commander-in-Chief
down to its humblest follower, you re
ceived words and acts only of consider
ation and kindness. Not a word of
boasting or of insult was heard from
all that great army.
The truly brave ever must and will
honor the brave. If the adjustment of
differences, at the close of the war, had
been left to the brave men who had
faced each other in battle, the gulf of
separation would have been bridged
over and complete harmony restored
before the end of a single year.
Fellow-Soldiers : It is a source of
congratulation to us all, in this our
first reunion, that our own State has
recovered from the effects of war;
that our waste places have been re
built ; that our State Government is
well administered, and co nmands the
respect and confidence of all parties;
that our laws are honestly oxecuted,
and that the greatest harmony exists
between all classes of our people.
I rejoice to see many evidences of a
I’evival of the ancient military spirit of
our people, without which no State or
people can long preserve their liber
ties. Let us revivo this spirit in our
own breasts and awaken it in the
breasts of our children.
While deep down in our hearts we
will ever cherish the memory of the
banner which represented our loved
“ Lost Cause,” let us re-adopt the
grand old flag of the Union. ’Twas
the loved flag of our fathers ; let it
also be ours. Our grandsires made it
glorious by their valor, and consecra
ted it with their blood ; let us—their
children—still claim it as our birth
right, and defend its honor as our own.
Third Georgians I With mingled
feelings of joy and sorrow I cast my
eyes along your ranks for the first time
since the fatal field of Gettysburg.
Left wounded upon the field, I was
carried to a Northern prison and held
captive till the war was over. From
that day I was prevented from sharing
with you your hardships and dangers.
Like the Hebrew captive, I could only
look Southward from my prison win
dow at morning, noon and night, and
pray to the God of Battles to preserve
and shield you.
I see before me the familiar faces of
many who have endeared themselves
to me by the possession of every man
ly grace, every soldierly virtue. As
my eye rests upon their noble forms, a
thousand incidents of camp and field
flit through my mind, and my heart
leaps to give them a joyful welcome.
I see before me strange faces, to
whom I shall offer the hand of friend
ship and brotherhood for the first time
to-day. I read their history when I
see them in your ranks. They came to
you during the last trying years to
swell your depleted numbers.
Patriotic and brave, they desired to
go where brave men were needed—
where the battle shouts rang fiercest,
and where gallant blood flowed freest
—in the ranks of Lee’s infantry, and
they came to you. I am glad to see
them here, and with all my heart I bid
them welcome. But I look in vain for
the noble forms of many who were
wont to be seen in the front rank of
battle, and whose shout of defiance or
of triumph 1 have often heard ring
loud and clear above the musket’s
rattle.
I miss the tall form of your first
chieftain—the brave and noble Wright
—whose clarion voico could stir your
hearts to deeds of wildest daring. I
miss the gallant Sturgis, the fiery and
impetuous Hays, than whom two truer
men never offered up their lives upon
their country’s altar. I miss the beauti
ful and boyish form of Perry, the darling
of the regiment, whoso soul was al
ways waked to ecstaey by the cannon’s
roar, and for whom the humming of
bullets made music sweeter than the
song of biros.
The commanding form and eagle eye
of Armstrong; the manly grace and
open countenance of McWhorter ; the
young and gifted Hillyer, uniting in his
person a woman’s tenderness, a Hamp
ton’s chivalry and a sage’s lore, have
all gone from your midst forever.
The courtly Luckie and the gallant
McCrea are no longer seen at the head
of their companies.
The chivalrous Dennis fell by my
side on the glorious field of Manassas,
and died as he had lived—without fear
and without reproach. But the day
would not sffiee to repeat the names
and recount tho virtues of our com
rades who, to-day, fill a soldier’s hon
ored gaave.
In the bloom of youth, with every
pulse beating high, with health and
hope, they have offered up their young
lives, a rich sacrifice upon tho altar of
patriotism ; but have they died too soon
who died so well ? To-day they sleep
beneath the sod—unknelled, uncofi led,
but not unsung. When the granite
shaft above ther graves shall have
crumbled into dust their names and
deeds will still live in songandinstoiy,
and fair women will bedew their memo
ry with tears and strew their graves
with flowers.
“ Duke et decorum est, pro patria mori .”
Let us (my comrades) who survivo
cherish their memories and emulate*
their virtues. As the Angel of Death
shall sound the rec J 1 from tho battle
of life for one and another, and our
circle ever narrows from year to year
may the survivors be drawn into closer
and closer bonds of union.
Let it ever be the proudest boast of
your lives that while some of Georgia’s
sons deaf to the calls of patriotism
sought only how to fill their coffers
and loved their gold more than their
country’s weal—that you were prompt
‘to offer life and fortune in her defense.
Wealth may vanish like the morn in"
dew, but a rich legacy of glory ana
honor is reserved to your children for
ever.
‘For gold the merchant plows the main,
The farmer plows the manor;
But glory is the soldier’s prize.
*,The soldiers wealth, his honor.”
At the conclusion of Capt. Sanders’
address, Col. Claiborne Snead, the vet
eran Colonel of the regiment, was in
troduced, and, in a most eloquent man
ner, spoke as follows:
My Comrades —Centuries ago a great
explorer crossed an unknown sea, and
traversed the hills and glens of a hith
erto unexplored country. Ascending
the tallest peak of the isthmus that
connects the North with the South
American Continent, the calm, blue
waters of the Pacific burst upon his
view ; when, beckoning his companions
to come and see what he had seen, he
joyfully pointed to anew ocean daz
zling in the sunlight of Heaven. We
are all explorers in this mundane
shpere, passing over mountains and
hills, through vales, down rivers, on
and ever on to the great ocean of eter
nity. And while pausing this day in
contemplation of a grand discovery—
the glorious spectacle of the reunion
of my comrades of the Third Georgia
Regiment -I would that my voice could
reach every veteran of the old Confed
eracy, aye, I would that it might ride
on the wings of the wind and penetrate
tho confines of earth itself, and I would
appeal to all mankind to come and see
what I have seen, and feel what I have
felt.
Nino years ago that flag upon which
the starry cross is now scarcely discern
able, ceased to wave over us. Darkened
by smoke and torn by shot and shell,
carried in triumph through every im
portant battle of the historic Army of
Northern Virginia, and never desecrat
ed by the hands of an enemy, it went
down in a blaze of glory at Appomat
tox. Though no fault of ours it was
furled, and sorrowfully wo parted for
our homes, satisfied that the cause for
which we had fought -the cause of
separate independence—was finally
overthrown. We indulged in no mawk
ish grief, no unmanly tears, but we felt
a deep, agonizing sorrow at the loss of
the dear cause for which we had strug
gled so hard and so long.
We believed our defeat undeserved,
that it was an outrage on suffering hu
manity, a crime against civilization, a
wrong without a parallel—so great a
wrong that the earth should have been
clothed in sackcloth and ashes in uni
son with the thunders and lightnings of
Heaven that knelled sympathizingly on
that day on the demise of so sacred a
cause.
Nine years, however, have passed
since tho storm of war rolled over this
land, leaving sad desolation in its track
and many lowering clouds behind.
Nine long, weary years have come and
gone, filled with suffering and oppres
sion, full of orrow and unjust humilia
tion ; and to-day, standing upon the
soil find beneath the blue skies of our
own loved Georgia, we are proud to re
count the glorious history of the old
organization and the immortal careeer
of our first commander, Gen. A. R.
Wright.
But while scanning your ranks with
pride and pleasure, a feeling of sadness
comes over me to which I must first
give vent. I miss some of the brightest
jewels that adorned your crown—some
of the choicest spirits that ever went
upon a field of battle in this or any
other age. Where are they? They rest j
upon the historic fields of their heroic !
fame. They have ferried over the dark
stream that separates time from eterni
ty, and there, upon the opposite bank,
the gentle St urges, the generous Walk- j
er, the knightly Hamilton, the cool
Hayes, courtly Luckie and a host of
others, led on by the peerless Wright,
who lately joined them, pass in review.
To me, standing on this side of the
river, they point to a career w r hich, like
the face of the sun, has no spot to
blemish its beauty—a career that dis
plays all that is noble and chivalric in
man—a career so bright in their blood
as to dazzle even the stars in brilliancy.
Though their brave hearts beat no
n ore, though their lips are forever
closed, there comes wafted hence, sweet
and sad as the murmur of falling waters
amid flowery groves at eventide,.a silent
yet thrilling appeal to guard and per
petuate their memories. It is an appeal
that reaches the heart and touches a
responsive cord in the bosom of every
true son of Georgia. And I would that
I possessed all the ability necessary to
a proper response thereto ; I wish that
for one moment I possessed the golden
chain of Mercury—tho fabled god of
eloquence—that I might tell what mor
tal heart feels, but what mortal tongue
cannot adequately express. But this
respouse can here bo made ; They have
left their impress so indellibly stamped
o 1 the sands of time that the tramp
of succeeding ages can never obliterate.
Though tho historian may not properly
record, and the muses may fail to weave
in poesy and song all of their glorious
dee* 1 , yet the waters of our near Oco
nee, which pass through the centre of
that State they loved so fondly, and for
which they died so nobly, ceasing to
flow towards old ocean, may turn its
course back to the mountains; the
ocean itself in the circles of time may
cease its roekings and its tlirobbings ;
but this generation and generations to
come will never cease to remember
Wieir matchless valor.
In tho early part of may, 1861, the
following companies, constituting this
regiment, assembled in the navy yard
at Portsmouth for the purpose of or
ganization ; The Confederate Light
Guards, commanded by Capt. E. J.
Walker; tho Wilkinson Rifles, by Capt.
W. A. Beaflo; the Brown Rifles, by
Capt. R. B. Nisbet; tho Athens Guards,
by Capt. H. C. Billups; tho Young
Guards, by Capt. A. H. Leo ; the Home
Guards, by Capt. J. S. Reid ; the Daw
son Greys, by Capt. R. L. McWhorter ;
the Governor’s Guards, by Capt. J. R.
Griffin ; the Burke Guards, by Capt. W.
C Musgrove, and the Blodgett Volun
teers, by Capt. Foster Blodgett.
The election resulted in the choice of
Ambrose 11. Wright for Colonel, James
S. Reid, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Au
gustus H. Lee, Major. W. W. Turner
was selected as Adjutant.
C. H. Andrews was selected Captain
of the Home Guards, vice Capt. Reid,
promoted ; and John F. Jones, Captain
of the Young Guards, vice Capt. Lee,
promoted.
In a short time the Blodgett Volun
teers were transferred from tho regi
ment, and the Clarke County Rifles,
commanded by Capt. Herndon, substi
tuted in their place.
As thus constituted, this was the first
organized r d meilt of Georgians that
stood upon . ie soil 6f Virginia to hurl
back the threatened invasion of that
noble old Commonwealth, They ar
l.ved upon the banks of the beautiful
Elizabeth river before the secession of
the State, and organized amid the
smouldering fires and crumbling walls
of Gosport Navy Yard. They were no
band of adventurers ; they wero neither
soldiers of fortune or of pleasure, but
! the very flower of our youth, at the
I bidding of whose State they enlisted,
| and cheerily went forth to meet the
j shock of battle, carrying with them
j their great hearts, every impulse of the
! soul and all the energies of their na
| ture.
j A few months thereafter the regi
ment, under the command of the la
mented Wright, was sent up the Eliza
beth river, and through the canal con
necting the river with Albemarle
Sound, to reinforce Fort Hatteras, that f
was besieged by sea and by land.*
While in transitu, and when only four
companies had arrived in Pamlico
Sound, the unwelcome tidings were re
ceived of the fall of the fort to which
they were proceeding as a reinforce
ment. Hence they landed on Roanoke
Island, which, in a narrow strait be
tween Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds,
guards the entrance to the latter,
through which Norfolk and the whole
of Northeastern North Carolina can be
assailed. Here, one day after the sur
render of Fort Hatteras, and within
two hours’ sail of the enemy, solitary
and unaided, they planted the Confed
erate flag, and worked continuously
for mouths—working by day, and the
moon shining on or the darkness of
night still enveloping them at work
building entrenchments and batteries
at this and adjacent points for the pro
tection of the inland coast of North
Ce rolina.
On the Ist day of October, 1861, re
ceiving information that a Federal
steamer had been seen just south of
the Island, Col. Wright at once deter
mined to intercept and capture her;
displaying at the very commencement
that acuteness of forethought, wisdom
in contriving and decision in acting
which rendered his subsequent career
so brilliant. He improvised three small
steamers, placed guns upon them and
ere,vs from the regiment to work them,
took with him three companies armed
with Enfield rifles—tho Dawson Greys,
the Governor’s Guards and the Athens
Guards—add with this force moved
down tho sound to attack the enemy.
In less than- two hours the object of
the cruise was plainly seen ; and when
within range a brisk fire was opened,
which was promptly responded to. Ad
vancing rapidly, with the intention of
grappling and boarding the foe that
exhibited so much spirit in her respon
sive fire, when immediately her colors
were struck, and then up to the mast
head went tho Confederate flag amid
deafening shouts of the victors. A
crew of forty-nine men were captured,
besides army stores including one
thousand new overcoats, with which
you decked yourselves on your trium
phant return to Portsmouth. This was
the first naval success in North Caro
lina, the first capture made by our
arms of an armed vessel; and more
than all, it was a naval victory achieved
by infantry marines.
By the capture of this steamer, Fan
nie, it was ascertained that the enemy
had established a camp at Chicama
comico, on Hatteras Island, forty miles
from Fort Hatteras, and near tho
Southern extremity of Roanoke Island.
The twentieth Indiana regiment had
there gone into camp, whither the Fan
nie, when captured, was proceeding
with commissavy and quartermaster j
supplies ; and it was evident the enemy ;
intended the new position as a base of j
operations against Roanoke Island.
Col. Wright seeing a crisis at hand, i
and appreciating the danger of being j
isolated aud attacked at a disadvan- '
tage, promptly determined to move!
forward and strike the first blow. Pass- |
ing with his regiment down Palmico !
Sound, he arrived off Chicamacomico j
and about three miles therefrom, on ■
the 6th day of October. Nearer to the
shore they could not get because of
the deep draft of the vessels, except
the Cotton Plant, upon which Col.
Wright, with three companies and two
howitzers, commanded by Lieut. Stur
ges, proceeded two miles nearer, and
then, leaping out in the water, advanc
ed, wading a portion of the way up to
their waists, and opening fire upon the
enemy, who stood in line of battle upon
the beach twelve hundred strong, ac
cording to the muster-roll. They re
treated hastily and In great disorder in
the direction of Fort Hatteras.
The l o-:t of our regiment effected a
landing in the same way as the three
preceding companies, when there com
menced a chase which has been proper
ly styled the Chicamacomico races—
the enemy running pell-mell for twenty
mil 3, and pursued with a loss to them
of e’ght killed and forty-two captured.
At one time Col. Wright, being in ad
vance of the command, overtook the
rear guard, who fired upon him, bring
ing down his horse ; but with one hand
seizing a si.mil drummer boy that he
held in front as a shield, and with pis
tol in the other hand, he advanced,
capturing the Sergeant-Major and four
oth aof Iv's regiment, The daring and
skill displayed by Col. Wright through
out the whole affair won the implicit
confidence of his men, which ho retain
ed du .1 t the entire war.
This brilliant victory, achieved with
the loss of one man, established at
once the character of the regiment, and
at the same timo exploded the falla
cious idea that tho Western were su
p ior to the Northern men of the Fed
e_..l army. Tho truth is, there was no
real difference between them, nor be
tween them and us, except our personel
as a body was somewhat better. We
were one peoplo, ar '.mated by the
spirit of liberty and fighting for sepa
rate independence, possessing the dash,
impetuosity and mercurial tempera
ment pecu’iar to all Southerners of tho
Caucasian race. They had the cool
ness, steadiness and perseverance
common to all Northern climes,
and inspired with the cry of the
old flag and tho Union, were fighting
for our subjugation, and made drafts
upon Europe, Asia and Africa to ac
complish tho result. That was all tho
difference. Major General Huger, the
department commander, appreciating
the self-sacrificing devotion and ar
duous labors of men hitherto little ac
customed to manual work, and withal
the signal gallantry—approaching
moral sublimity—lately displayed at
Chicamacomico and in the capture of
the steamer Fannie, ordered them
back to Portsmouth where they en
tered, welcomed by waving handker
chiefs, by martial strains and by roar
ing cannon. Rome, in her palmiest
days, never gavo her conquering
legions a grander triumph than was
awarded the Third Georgia Regiment
on that day by the sons and daughters
of Virginia.
After the departure of the Third
Georgia Regiment Roanoke Island fell
a prey to Burnside, who attacked it
with overwhelming land aud naval
forces; and thus tho whole of North
eastern North Carolina, and even
Portsmouth by way of Dismal Swamp
Canal, was thrown open to tho attacks
of the enemy. Uouoe this regiment
was sent to the head of the canal, and
was scattered in companies from Eliza
beth river to South Mills, to watch and
resist any invasion that might be
made. Your commander here engaged
in an expedition which more than any
feat of arms attested his devotion to
country and his willingness to die, if
need be, an ignominious death in her
| service. A large force of the enemy
I occupied Elizabeth City, and it was of
| the utmost importance to ascertain
I dieir numbers and intentions. In the
j emergency, Col, Wright, accompanied
j by Maj. Lee, went forth to perform the
dangerous duty. Eluding the enemy’s
pickets, they entered the city disguis
ed as citizens, where they remained ior
several hours conversing with Federal
soldiers, from whom the desired infor
mation was obtained. In the silent
vigils of the night they made their
way out of the lines, and at once pre
pared to anticipate the coming storm,
destined in a few days to civminr tein
a glorious victory to our arms at Saw
yer’s Lane.
It will be borne in mind that Pasquo
tank river is at the head of Dismal
Swamp Canal, and runs into Albemarle
Sound at Elizabeth City. Tho Third
Georgia Regiment, with a battery of
Western Virginians, under the com
mand of Capt. McComas, were on the
southern side of the river, scattered, as
I said before, at a distance of fourteen
miles. The enemy, spelling Elizabeth
City and the banks on the southern
side as a feint, moved up tho river in
transports, landing a brigade of six
regiments and a battery, under com
mand of Gen. Reno, on tho northern
side, near Camden Court House, on the
19th of April, 1862, with the intention
of coming up to aud crossing at South
Mills—thus to cut us entirely off, for
there is no other outlet through Dis
mal Swa up.
But Col. Wright, no way disconcert
ed, with the battery of artillery, sup
ported by the Dawson Greys, the Home
Guards, the Brown Kifles and Burke
Guards, boldly advanced out two miles
from South Mills to meet the foe. With
the milit yp~ ceptio sofa twie sol
dier, he selected for the battle field
Sawyer’s lane, which runs pe .pendicu
lar to the Camde i Court House road,
up which the enemy were advancing,
dense woods being in tho rear and
with open fields in front. And so that
the enemy might havo no protection in
their advance, some houses were burn
ed in front, and fences after being torn
down were thrown into ditches, run
ning parallel to our lines, and fired.
Sending hurriedly Major Leo fdr the
Young Guards and Athens Guards that
we e left to bum IV uotauk bridge,
ard for the otln ; companies that had
to march several miles to reach the
field, calmly he went before that small,
band, and disguising noth 'ng, truthful
ly told them of tho numbers of the en
emy ar.d the dangers which environed
them. There ho stood like a god of
war, inspiring them with his own in
trepid spirit and unflinching courage,
and his voice rang out along the line
clear as the notes of a bugle : Though
you may fight ten times your number,
nothing is impossible with men like
you determined to conquer or die.
At mid-day the enemy made their ap
pearance, marching by the flank in files
of four at a route step, when Captain
McComas opened with his artillery,
firing ricochet shots down the road. —
Immediately deploying into iine, they
moved forward in columns of regiments
to take the battery. First one regiment
and then another was put forward until
three separate and distinct charges
w 7 ere made and as many times they
wero driven back in great confusion.
Finally, the last charge was being made
by the Hawkins Zouave Regiment of
New York. Dressed in crimson uni
forms, they steadly moved on in splen
did order,'with heat’s erect, carrying
their ai .ns at at: ail and firing not a
gun. They coine within one hundred
yards of the battery, which seems to
be lost.
Well do I remember that memorable
moment as the gallant Lie at. Col.
Reid directed the company I had the
honor to command (the Confederate
Light Guards) to their position, who in
fact led all the rest of the reserves to
their posts. Just before reaching the
lines the pulseless form of the chivalric
McComas met our gaze as it was be
ing carried off the field, and the ago
nizing cry of his men pierced our ears,
“ Boys, save our battery,” as they were
trying to limber up the guns to prevent
capture: Col. Wright, in his si it
sleeves, throwing up his cap high away
in the air, cried out, “ Hurrah boys,
.give them .”
Gatheiing strength for one supreme
this regiment heroically hurled
back an entire brigade, killing and
wounding over one hundred. Our loss
wab twelve wounded and five kfiled—
the latter I here record, for the' 1 ’
names deserve to be written in letters
of gold: Private Mallory, of the Burke
Guards ; private Lowrey, of the Clark
Cou’uy Rifles; and private May and
Widener, of the Confederate Light
Guards.
Theso brave comrades fell upon a
battle field where \icto .y perched upon
our banner, notwithstanding tho most
fearful odds and under the most gall
ing fire. In propoi J rto tho r ’umers
and personel respectively engaged on
each side, it is unsurpassed by any en
gagement of the war. It is unexcelled
by any of the conflicts of war, ranging
back even to the morning of timo.
The regimen: again reorganized by
tho election of the following command
ing officers of companies : Confeder
ate Light Guards—Capt. Walker ; Wil
kinson Rifles—Capt. Carswell; Brown
Rifles —Capt. Nisbet; Athens Guards—
Capt. Billups ; Young Guards—Capt.
Jones; Home Guards—Capt. Andrews;
Dawson Grays—Capt. Grier; Govern
or’s Guards—Capt. Hamilton ; Burke
Guards—Capt. Corker ; and the Clarke
County Rifles—Capt. McCrea. Ambrose
R. Wright was elected Colonel; Jas. S.
Reid, Lieutenant-Colonel; and Jonh R.
St urges, Major.
Many changes and mutations in rank
subsequently occurred from disease
and from death and wounds in battle;
lino officers being promoted to field
officers, and privates rising to tho rank
of Lieutenants, Captains and to the
position of Adjutant of the regiment.
Heretofore I have given a detailed his
tory of its operations while an indepen
dent command in the Department of
Norfolk ; but now I shall be more gen
eral, f©r upon the evacuation of that
department our commander was soon
promoted to a Brigadier General, and
wo became a part of Wright’s celebra
ted brigade, merging our individuality
into that of the grand army of the
sainted Lee. Your fame henceforth
became theirs, and their glory yours.
You gained still greater renown by
your gallantry, as well as by the in
creased lustre reflected from the union
of tho whole patriot band, which from
that time till the end was like the
waters of the great ocean—but one.
Passing over the fight at Frazier’s
Farm, in front of Richmond—where
you drove back for more than a mile
the 16th Massachusetts Regiment, kill
ing eighteen and capturing a score or
more, mourning yourselves the loss of
five, I come to a general engagement,
the first in which you participated, but
one that severely tried the souls of all.
The division to which we were at
tached (Huger’s) after marching and
countermarching on the Williamsburg
and Charles City roads, and vice versa,
numberless times for one day, and on
the next going through the same pro
voking and bootless task in the jun
gles of White Oak Swamp, thus letting
McClellan slip through the net work
contrived by the genius of Lee for liis
capture, on the afternoon of the third
day—the memorable Ist of July, 1862 —
you reached the deep and woody ra
vine at the foot of Malvern Hill. The
winds moving to and fro these giant
oaks were soon destined to whisper
sad requiems to departed heroes, while
the rippling rivulet, meandering there
through, was to change color as it
commingled its waters with some of
the best blood of Georgia. Except
Holmes’ division, in isolated woods
two miles and a half off, Wright’s bri
gade was on the extreme right of the
army, and for some reason unexplained
found itself subject to the orders of
Maj. Gen. Magruder, who immediately
gave the order—“Cnarge!” Not a sin
gle gun up to this moment had been
fired on either side. To this order Gen.
Wright protested that it meant simply
destruction, for it was not within the
power of man with his little brigade to
stand much less to assail to any advan
tage the infantry and artillery of Mc-
Clellan on the heights beyond, which
he had reconnoitered. But no, the or
der must be obeyed. Up the hill side
and through the intervening trees you
moved to the open space—a wide clover
plain with no risings or underlations as
far as the eye could discern, and dotted
with neither tree nor shrub—running
up to the crest of the hild studded over
with fifty pieces of artillery, when im
mediately a lurid flame burst forth,
causing the very earth to tremble
beneath your feet, and knelling the de
parture of souls for eternity.
Though the order must be obeyed,
yet Gen. Wright, seeing that it was im
possible to pursue it literally in that
direction, ordered the brigade back to
the woods, where amid bursting shell
and falling trees ho fiied to the right
for some distance, coming out again
into the open plain in a hollow, unob
served, and throe hundred yards nearer
the enemy.
Tho command being again given to
charge, your commander, Maj. Sturges,
remarked to a captain : “ I have a pre
sentiment that I shall not survive this
charge, but I am willing to die for my
country.” The accomplished Hamil
ton, conversing with me, said : “ This
is murder, but nevertheless I will stand
it,” at the same time buttoning up his
coat and putting on his gloves as if to
prepare for interment. At tho very
commencement of the charge the for
mer fell, pierced through the brain,
while the latter, fearlessly entering the
fiery ordeal, was consumed by it.—
Closing up the gaps as fast as ' hey
were made, you still moved on, near
ing the guns of the enemy, when
they limbered up, and then suddenly
there arose out of a hollow in front
a long line of infantry that pour
ed in a destructive fire. There the con
flict raged for a full half hour, when
finally they wero rolled back and you
occupied the ground from which (hey
wero driven. About this time, far on
our left, Cobb’s Brigade, Toombs’ Brig
ade, and brigade alter brigade were
seen deploying into line, and the firing
became general along the front of Mc-
Clellan’s position. The sun went down
and the moon rose upon you in posses
sion of the field you had so gallantly
won—every other brigade except Ma
hone’s having retired to some conveni
ent position to renew the fight next
morning. Major-General Magruder, in
an official letter of the 6th of July, af
ter alluding particularly to “ the mili
tary skill and intrepidity ” Of Gen.
Wright, says this, and Mahone’s Brig
ade “ occupied and slept upon the
field of battle which was won from the
enemy.” But more than the testimony
of (tie man or a dozen commanders, the
detailed list of casualties —143 killed
and wounded—made out by Adjutant
Walter Perry, speaks in thunder tones
of the gallantry and sacrifices of the
Third Georgia on that eventful day.
In less than two months you wero on
the historic field of Manassas, fighting
nearly over the same ground where the
lamented Bartow fell the year previous.
Oh, that our entire people had been an
imated with the unconquerable spirit
of the noble martyr who uttered the
parting sentiment; “ Never give it up.
lam dying. I look over this to dis
tant fields where the ‘ brave will trem
ble and the pious even doubt the favor
of God.’ Never give up this battle,
and novor tire in succeeding conflicts
till the cause is finally won ! ”
Several brigades having been re
pulsed and driven out of the woods at
the point where Gen. Wright with his
brigade was ordered in, you not only
held your position, but actually drove
the enemy through tho woods and over
a field in the rear. Your loss in killed
and wounded was thirty-two. Maj. A.
B. Montgomery, your commander, after
being shot in the thigh, remained on
the field the entire day and following
night, displaying great coolness and
fortitude.
Rapidly followed Sharpsburg—the
third general battle—in less than three
months.
Before becoming actually engaged
you moved forward under artillery fire
more than mile, when coming to a
picket fence in an aple orchard, imme
diately to tho left of Sharpsburg, it was
torn down in less time than it con
sumes to tell it, and you were brought
to closo quarters with the foe. Gen,
Wright, while fearlessly leading the
the brigade under a shower of grape
on the right flank and musketry in
front, was shot in the breast and thigh,
and forced by his men in a litter from
the field. Yet a further charge was
made, causing tho enemy to break and
run, in which Lieut. Col. Nisbet and
Adjutant Berry fell at tho head of the
regiment; the former seriously wound
ed, and tho latter mortally, being rid
dled by seven balls.
From recent extensive marches
through Virginia and Maryland, and
(immediately previous to tho fight)
during the entire night from Harper’s
Ferry to Shepardstown and in the
morning, without scarcely a halt, this
regiment was reduced to one hundred
and thirty-eight men, seventy-two of
whom were killed and wounded. It
was by far the most sanguinary battle
of the war, in proportion to the num
ber engaged, and was a decided vic
tory, as one object for which it was
fought was accomplished—to draw the
army and its trains safely from Mary
land.
In the order of succession the next
battle was that of Chancellorsville,
commencing on the 2d of May, 1863,
and continuing for several days.’
Gen, Wright, under the immediate
supervision of Stonewall Jackson,moved
his division on the left of the plank
road leading from Fredericksburg to
Chancellorsville, with his right, resting
-New Series—Vol. 2. ISTo. 18
thereon—the Third Georgia Regiment
being deployed in front as skirmishers,
pushed forward, driving the enemy a
mile and a half to thier outer line of
works. Carrying the rest of the brig
ade two miles on the west to “the
Furnace,” which was threatened, this
regiment was left in their advanced po
sition in the woods, where it contended
with a whole brigade till sunset brought
relief, holding its ground even against
one attack made in column of regi
ments.
The next day Jackson’s men moved
in a long, steady stream by the left
flank to gain the enemy’s right and
rear. The sight of the Southern
Achilles, as he sat on his charger, with
India rubber coat, and cap drawn down
on his face, quickly moving those thin
lips and flashing a piercing eye as he
gave his directions, awakened the un
bounded admiration of all, to • whom
the very presence of Jackson was a
precursor of victory. On the morning
of the third day, amid the booming of
guns on the distant left, coming slowly
but gradually nearer, Gen. Wright
moved the brigade forward on the line
of breastworks that had an abattis of
fallen timbers in front, while behind
was a large force with heavy batteries
to protect them by direct and flanking
fires.
This was one of the severest lights
for an hour, the enemy pouring in a ter
rific lire of grape, canister and schrap
nel. But the roaring of Jackson’s can
non coming still nearer and louder on
the enemy’s right, you charged the
breastworks, driving them back to their
second line of trenches —rifle pits in the
field around the Chancellorsville House.
From these you were momentarily re
pulsed in endeavoring to enter; but
just here Jackson, having opened lire
on our immediate left with a strong
battery of long range guns, the brigade
moved forward in column of regiments
—with the Third Georgia in front—
leaped the rifle pits and drove the
enemy from the field. Hero our com
mander, Major Jones, had an arm shot
off just at the time when the Seven
teenth Connecticut, with its Colonel.
Lieutenant-Colonel and Adjutant, were
captured by two companies of this re
giment.
While the army was victorious
around Chancellorsville, Sedgwick’s
Corps, fourteen miles below, had cap
tured Marye’s Heights, and were ad
vancing in our rear. But Gen. Lee
turned upon him with two of liis vic
torious divisions, and attacked him on
the high range of hills along the plank
road above Fredericksburg.
Wright’s Brigade being followed
around the base of the hill leading up
to Dowman’s house, made a decisive
charge under tho eyes of Gen. Lee,
which was highly complimented by bin;,.
The loss of this regiment in all, killed
and wounded, was 92.
This was the most glorious victory
of the war. Fought upon a field of the
enemy’s own choosing and against odds
of at least three to oue, it shed undying
lustre upon the immortal Lee. Attack
ed in front and rear by overwhelming
numbers, but rising to the height of the
occasion, like a tiger at bay, he first
springs on one and then on the other,
until finally there he stands,
“As some tall cliff that lifts its awful
form,
Swells from the vale and midway leaves the
storm,
Though round its breast the rolling clouds
are spread.
Eternal sunshine settles on his head.”
Passing through Virginia and Mary
land into Pennsylvania, on the 3d of
July, 18G3, wo come to the field of Get
tysburg—the Borodino of tho war.
Like that dread field in Russia which
lost to Napoleon his magnificent em
pire, this caused our fortunes to wane
a,nd our arms to gradually fall.
Standing on a ridge, we could see a
long range of hills, running parallel to
our position, occupied by masses of in
fantry and artillery, with an interven
ing apace of what seemed to be a level
plain. At 5:30 o’clock General Wright
ordered an advance down through the
woods into the open fields below. Rush
ing down the hill-side into a valley
broken into small ridges and hollows,
we were greeted by a sheet of fire roll
ing out from the opposite side, tho
smoke extending and ascending until
it darkened the rays of the sun. But
on we moved, scarcely seeing one hun
dred yards ahead, across the Em
metsburg road, until you came
to a rock fence, from behind which
a fire of musketry riddled your serried
ranks. Leaping over it, seizing artil
lery horses, shooting down the riders
and cutting the traces from the caisson.,
you press on over these guns up to tho
crest of the hill, where thirteen other
pieces of artillery are captured—thus
cutting entirely in twain the army of
Meade. If tho same advance had have
been made on our left a different his
tory might have been written wherein
Gettysburg, instead of being •* the Iliad
of our woes,” would have been the
Salamis and Maratlian of our indepen
dence. But without help and having
penetrated too far, assailed on the
right, on the left, in front and partly
in our rear, wo were pushed back
down the hill —this regiment losing
in killed, wounded and captured at
least ono half of its number.
Papers in Virginia about the time
and since have lauded Pickett’s Divis
ion as having mado the charge, going
farther over this very ground than any
other body of men. And while I would
not, if I could, detract one iota from
that grand division, or pluck ono leaf
from its well-earned crown, yot it is due
to tho vindication of tho truth of His
tory to say that they did not even get
to the rock fenoe, much less to the
heights beyond, over which Wright’s
Brigade passed on the preceding day.
If there is any doubt, here is the testi
mony of one who knows, and who dealt
out impartial justice to his followers :
Gen. Lee, in his official report, says :
“ Wilcox and Wright’s Brigades ad
vanced with great gallantry, breaking
successive lines of infantry, and com
pelling him (the enemy) to abandon'
much of his artillery. Wilcox reached
the foot, and Wright gained the event of
the ridge itself, driving the enemy doivn
its side.”
In this connection, I will state from
my own personal knowledge, received
from the Ups of Gen. Lee, that ho knew
and roooguized as well merited your
fame as a regiment. In passing through
Augusta to Florida a short time beforo
his death, whither he was going with
tho vain hopo of recruiting a shattered
constitution and a broken heart, I re
marked to him : “General, all Georgians
feel attached to you, and so far as the
regiment is concerned which I once had
the honor to command—the Third
Georgia—their attachment simply
amounts to worship.” “Ah (he replied,
the tears gathering in his eyes), I re
member them well, they were a part of
Wright’s Brigade. Say to them that I
shall never cease to love them.”
Hero I bid farewell to our friend and
lamented first commander, for, being a
captive myself for several months,
[Concluded on Fourth Fage.^