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Old Series—Vol. 25, No. 122. Terms of Subscription. Daily, one yoar *lO 00 6 months 5 00 3 months 2 50 Tri-Weekly, one year 6 00 “ 6 months 260 Weekly, one year 2 00 “ 6 months i oo 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.^