Drum Taps in Dixie Part 16

CHAPTER XIV.

WINTER QUARTERS.

How many of our readers who are old enough to remember back so far can tell what kind of a winter we had 40 years ago? Probably not more than one in a hundred, unless it be some of the survivors of the army of the Potomac, or the army of the James, for the winter of 1864-5, was one of unusual severity, and there was much suffering among the troops in the trenches before Petersburg and Richmond.

Possibly it may interest some of the present generation to know how the soldiers, who were only provided with little shelter tents, managed to keep warm through the winter months when it was cold enough down there for ice to form on all of the streams.

Usually four men would go in together and build a little hut out of logs, sticks, pieces of boards or whatever they could pick up, c.h.i.n.king the cracks with Virginia mud, which, when hardened, no amount of rain or wind would loosen. The roof was usually made from their tents unless enough split timber could be got to lap one over the other.

From old barrel staves, small limbs and the same Virginia mud a chimney would be built at the end of the hut, connecting with a s.p.a.cious fireplace.

On one side a double bunk made from saplings and covered with gra.s.s, leaves or hay, over which was spread a blanket with knapsacks for pillows, formed the beds.

It was a credit to Yankee ingenuity to see the devices the men had for conveniences. Candlesticks were made out of bottles or cans filled with sand. Cracker boxes were converted into handy cupboards or tables and little cellars were scooped out from under the bunks.

In the drummer boys' quarters, drums were used for writing stands and card playing tables, while often a checkerboard would be sketched on the head of the drum and for men b.u.t.tons would be used, and with plenty of rations we managed to be quite comfortable except when on picket.

LEE'S SOLDIERS COLD AND HUNGRY.

The question of supplies is a vital one to an army, and how to clothe and feed the confederate soldiers was a most serious problem to the southern leaders in the last year of the war.

The "Johnnies" with their threadbare clothing and scant rations suffered everything during the cold winter of '64-5. Of tea and coffee they had none except in their hospitals. The only thing they had a superfluity of was tobacco, and this they were ready to swap for coffee or anything to eat.

In front of our corps was a strip of woods where the blue and the gray used to meet on friendly terms, cut wood, swap coffee, tobacco, papers, stories, etc.

The reader of this who is of the generation since the war will hardly believe, I presume, that men of the two armies, who had fought each other so hard for more than three years, could meet between the lines without displaying any animosity toward each other, but such occurrences were not rare.

I recall a story about how a "Johnnie" helped a "Yank" carry his supply of wood into the Union lines. The boys were engaged in cooking and when the rebel sniffed the pleasant aroma of Uncle Sam's old Government Java and other things that were not being furnished by the C. S. A. commissary department, he said: "I'm dog-goned if it don't seem right smart comfortable here with you'uns and now that I'm here I guess I'll stay!"

Considering the great privations that they suffered, and the hopelessness of the struggle it is a great wonder that the desertions from their side were not more frequent than they were.

A BOX FROM HOME.

If any of you ever have a father, son or brother in far distant parts, don't forget to send him an occasional box of good things from the old home. He may have an abundance, but even then he will appreciate the loving remembrances; but if he is undergoing the hardships and privations of a soldier's life it will touch his heart more than any other act of your life.

Two of our mess were remembered with a bounteous box of good things the Christmas we were in the trenches before Petersburg. Talk about your banquets! Your Delmonico spreads; your nine-course dinner! They cannot compare with that Christmas feast of home made mince pies, fruit cake, plum pudding, old fashioned twisted doughnuts, raspberry jam and other good things from home.

And even those who were without mother or sister at home received through the Sanitary or Christian commissions many evidences that their devotion to their country's cause was lovingly remembered by the patriotic women of the North.

Those were stirring days, and even the little children worked for the soldiers. Their little hands were busy rolling bandages, knitting and helping the various "Aid societies."

Among my wartime keepsakes is the photograph of a little Pennsylvania girl, 10 years old. It came to me in a "Soldier's Companion" containing needles, thread, b.u.t.tons and other articles useful to a soldier. The child had made it and tucked a dainty little note inside with her picture, requesting the recipient to write to her, which I did from the front of Petersburg and received a very beautiful letter in reply.

WHERE BOARD WAS HIGH.

I have in my possession a portion of an old copy of the "Macon Confederate," which was obtained on the picket line one day, in which it is stated that, "board at our hotels is $30 per day, which includes three meals and a room."

"If a man is single and wishes to reside here he can obtain board at a private house for $150 to $200 per month."

"A family can rent a small house, with a small yard and garden for, from $1,500 to $2,500, according to location."

"By close economy, subsistence and clothing for one year can be purchased at the market for a family, say of five, for $5,000, so the whole expense will be about $8,000, during the 12 months."

"RETRIBUTION."

Another item tells of the presentation of a beautiful sword to Gen. John McCausland of the confederate army.

"The blade is of the best material, and the scabbard beautifully mounted and richly embossed.

On the blade is inscribed: The citizens of Lynchburg to Gen. John McCausland, June 18, 1864: Embossed on the scabbard is a chalice, and above the word "Retribution," symbolizing the destruction of Chambersburg by fire which was putting down the poisoned chalice to Yankee lips for the atrocities committed by them in the valley. Below appears the coat of arms of Virginia, and in another place is seen the coat of arms of the ancient Roman Empire."

CHAPTER XV.

LAST STRUGGLE AND DEFEAT OF THE LOST CAUSE.

Grant's and Lee's forces occupied intrenchments more than 30 miles in length reaching from Richmond around to the left of Petersburg. The effective soldiers of Grant's army were about 125,000, including the Army of the James, while Lee's forces numbered about one-half, but they were veterans, every man of them, for on the southern side there was no expiration of service.

The confederacy was in sore straights. The strenuous campaign of 1864 had put every man into Lee's army that it was possible to get without robbing the cradle and the grave. The losses the confederates suffered that year could not be made good while the North sent Grant a fresh man to take the place of every one put out of action.

Sherman had marched his army through Georgia, devastating the country, thence up the Atlantic coast, and was, in March, 1864, in North Carolina, only about 150 miles south of Petersburg. Gen. Thomas had cleaned out Hood's army, and fighting Phil Sheridan had laid waste to the Shenandoah valley and driven the rebels from out its borders. And then the policy adopted by the north of the non-interchange of prisoners--a policy which, though effective against the enemy caused thousands of brave men to die slowly by starvation in the prisons of the South--kept out of the Confederate ranks men enough to make two armies like Lee's. The Union forces were well fed and warmly clothed during the winter of '64-5, while the men in the southern ranks were in rags and on scant rations. There was no hope for the South unless Lee could extricate his army from the intrenchments at Richmond and Petersburg and join his forces with Gen.

Johnston's army and transfer operations farther south.

Gen. Grant learned of Lee's intentions and forced the fighting before his plans could be put into execution.

The movement commenced March 29. "Phil" Sheridan and his force of cavalry was sent around Lee's right with the 5th and 2d corps following.

The 6th and 9th corps of the Army of the Potomac, with some troops from Butler's army, were to hold the lines at Petersburg.

The writer's regiment was then, as in the previous year's campaign, with Grant, attached to Hanc.o.c.k's 2d corps, but that superb commander was no longer its leader, having been called to Washington to organize a veteran corps and Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys, who had long been chief of staff of the Army of the Potomac, had taken his place. He was an able commander but could never inspire his troops with the enthusiasm of Hanc.o.c.k, yet it is understood he was rated by military critics as the most skillful officer of the civil war.

The weather had been good for several days, but the day the troops began to move a rain set in and it just poured, and as the country was flat and swampy, with the soil a mixture of clay and sand, the roads soon became nearly knee deep with a stiff batter, making it extremely difficult for the men to march, and in places the roads had to be corduroyed to make it possible for the artillery to proceed. The boys good-naturedly made the best of it, and if a staff officer rode by would inquire if the pontoons and gunboats were coming.

NOTES FROM AN OLD DIARY.

On March 29 our regiment struck tents at camp near Patrick's Station and marched three or four miles, forming a junction with Sheridan's cavalry, halted near Hatcher's Run and threw up breastworks; left them late in the day and marched through a dense woods; halted on the other side and threw up more works; advanced at daybreak the morning of the 30th; heard musketry firing about 9; halted and built breastworks again.

About 1 p. m. the enemy opened on us with artillery, throwing both solid shot and sh.e.l.l; several wounded.