My Cave Life in Vicksburg Part 9

As ever.

HOLLY SPRINGS.

You wished me to keep a journal for you, dear J----; but I answered that a journal would be a dull compound of dates, with three lines setting forth the vapidity of most days; and I would rather write events as they pa.s.sed.

You replied that my letters must be voluminous if they were satisfactory.

Do you not already repent the remark? I rejoice, if length is pleasing, my letters are satisfactory.

The battle of Corinth was a b.l.o.o.d.y failure. Oh the blood that has flowed in this wonderful and most appalling warfare!--the tears and the suffering! Can there be nothing done to a.s.suage the fierce pa.s.sions of men? Oh! J----, could you see, as I have, the torn and mangled human beings brought from the field of battle, with loud cries to G.o.d for death!--for mercy and for death!--you, like me, would ask anxiously, "Can nothing do away with this death?--this anguish? Can no appeal be made by which peace may come to us?" But woman weeps, while man strikes!

Holly Springs, with its white verandahed houses, its pleasant gardens, wide streets, and hospitable homes, is the most pleasant of Southern towns; though crowded and teeming with soldiers and officers.

The inhabitants seem uniting in the efforts to entertain. Generals V---- D----, P----, L----, and T---- have each their respective headquarters in the town. A week ago I attended a review of the troops under Generals L---- and T----. They presented a fine appearance: most of them were newly uniformed and renovated from their prison clothing. General V---- D----, who is called the finest horseman in the army, galloped up and down the line on a fleet, beautiful black horse, followed by General P---- on a large bay that galloped heavily and with less speed.

There were many ladies present on horseback, scattered around the field, with generally a gay group of officers surrounding them. Day before yesterday we rode out to a large review of the Missouri troops under General P----. There were spectators from the whole country around: many came up on the cars from a distance. Such imperishable renown have the Missouri troops gained in the late battle of Corinth, that all are anxious to witness their review, and cheer the brave fellows who have suffered so much. Although driven back and obliged to retreat, their gallant struggle over two rows of superior fortifications in the face of a galling fire, the Southern people will never forget.

General P---- is greatly beloved by the people also; though the heads of the Government are strongly opposed to him. It is natural, of course, that President Davis should suppose a regularly educated military man would be more likely to understand the science of war than a man who had not made it his study. But why does he cripple so efficient an officer as General P---- certainly is, so as almost to render him inefficient?

The Missourians on review looked fresh and lively. General P----, attended by his staff, stood near us in the pause, while we waited the arrival of General V---- D----. One of General P----'s staff officers started across the field to carry a despatch, when his horse, stumbling, fell on the gra.s.s, rolling the brilliantly uniformed gentleman over and over on the sod, much to the amus.e.m.e.nt of the spectators, who cheered him l.u.s.tily. I felt sorry for him; and although some of his friends were talking to me at the time, I could scarcely conceal a smile. But the men, who, half a mile distant, have been drawn in line, now wheel, form, and march around the little hillock in the distance. See, the sun glances on the bayonets of the guns, as they ascend, and in coming down over the brow of the hill, the regular swing of the line and glance of the steel show the discipline they have been under.

Now they pa.s.s by the general, who sits a little behind General V---- D----, and near General Q----. Among the artillery, I saw the Lady Richardson, captured and brought away from Corinth. As they come on, and pa.s.s by General V---- D----, they salute; which is answered by his raising his cap to the colors, disclosing a proud, youthful head, surrounded by curls. He is immediately before me, and I do not see his face, which is marked with deep lines I have noticed before. In the evening, after the review, I attended a party given to the generals here collected. The house was crowded; the generals, with their staff and other officers, were there, and some of the lovely ladies of Holly Springs. The supper was handsome. Toasts were drunk to Generals P---- and V---- D----, and all went merry, &c. But in the midst of a conversation, an officer told me that the Federal forces were advancing on Holly Springs, and that probably the Confederate forces would evacuate the town in a day or two. So, dear J----, there is no telling where I will be when I write next.

JACKSON.

I know you are smiling, as you see Jackson written at the head of my letter--smiling to think how systematically I have bowed myself out of one town after the other, as the Federal troops have bowed themselves in; yet you know the old saw, "He that fights, and runs away," &c.; though I can take no comfort in this, as fighting has been my abomination since the war began. I have always, in peaceful times, had an admiration for heroes in brilliant uniforms, and would now, if the hero could possibly a.s.sure me that the brilliant uniform would always be filled with life. But how can one feel a pleasure in the gilt trappings of a friend, when they know that they may possibly serve as an anxiously sought target for some sharpshooter. You do not wonder at my quotation in favor of a retrograde movement in this frame of mind, do you? For the last week or two I have pa.s.sed from one state of excitement to another, so that I am glad indeed to find a quiet resting place.

From Holly Springs the army under Generals V---- D---- and P---- retreated to Abbeville, where they remained stationary for a time. One day the inhabitants of O---- were alarmed by the distant booming of cannon. A great excitement prevailed, and various rumors went the rounds. One that the Federal troops had reached the Tallahatchee; another that they had crossed, and a battle was progressing between the Federal and Confederate forces.

The town grew wide awake. Wagons pa.s.sed and repa.s.sed. Numerous families were seen walking rapidly toward the depot, carriages filled with ladies and children driving swiftly in the same direction. My friends were preparing to leave also. I had received a telegram from M----, telling me to be in readiness to take my departure during the afternoon. My preparations were made. A gentleman came on the down train to accompany me, when, to our great disappointment, pa.s.sengers were not allowed to go on the train, for the hospital patients were all to be taken off before pa.s.sengers could be accommodated. My friend was, however, by particular favor, allowed to ride in a baggage car with my trunks. The next day, Sunday, how little it seemed like the Sabbath! pa.s.senger trains were to run if the stores could all be transported. So a number of friends, with myself, took our seats quite early in the cars at the depot, and waited patiently hour after hour, hearing most distracting rumors, until my patience had become nearly exhausted.

In the afternoon, great was my joy on seeing M---- enter the car. The army was retreating from Abbeville. Our friends resolved to take their carriage and cross the country to Columbus. M---- said he could get an ambulance for me, but I would be obliged to keep up with the army, as the Federal forces were following closely. The cars were vacated quickly, and I saw the last of my friends. An ambulance came up, and I was soon riding rapidly southward. That night we stopped at a roadside house. During the next day the greater portion of the army pa.s.sed by, and encamped below the house we were in for the night.

The next morning was gloomy, dark, and disagreeable. While I waited for M---- to come with an ambulance, Gen. P---- invited me to ride with him.

The roads were in the most miserable condition, and for a time we drove on a corduroy road.

Just imagine me, dear J----, on a corduroy road, jolting through a swamp, with my child in my arms; the general talking in the calmest and most urbane manner. Yet the gloom of the day was over me, and I felt dismally miserable. Soon the rain began to pour down. We were at this time on the high road, which became every moment worse, from the travel of the artillery, the greater portion of which was before us. Immediately behind the general's ambulance drove the carriage of a lady, who had been compelled, like myself, to abandon the cars.

How incessantly the rain poured down! Now and then the ambulance would drive on the side of the road, stopping to let the infantry pa.s.s. Poor fellows! wet and begrimed with mud, plodding with blankets and knapsacks strapped on their backs, and guns on their shoulders; troublesome accompaniments at any time--far more so now in the driving rain. At the foot of the hills we would frequently be obliged to halt, sometimes for an hour, awaiting the pa.s.sage of the artillery over the brow of the ascent.

The Federal troops were close in the rear. The horses strained and pulled, but the mud was so deep and heavy that the wheels became clogged, and I looked anxiously up, expecting to see some huge cannon, impelled by its weight, return to the base of the hill. Frequently the soldiers would be obliged to wade through the deep ruts of mud on the hillside, and give a new impulse to some wavering piece, a.s.sisting the horses, and pushing the weighty gun-carriage with united strength.

In the rain sat the staff officers on their dripping horses; and, giving orders from the ambulance window, the old general urged on the men. I wondered at the patience, the kindness with which he spoke to all; rapidly and cheerily to the staff officers: "Ride on, and see what obstructs the road;" and in a tone of sympathy, through the rain, to the straggling soldier: "Keep up, men, keep up." "We camp near, do we?" he called out in clear tones to the inspector. And the men raised their drooping heads and pressed forward at the encouragement in the well-known voice. I see the power of kindness with these men, dear J----. There are few general officers in the Confederacy so well-beloved by their men as General P----, yet he is only kind and perfectly just.

That night we stopped beyond Water Valley, at a house where the poor hostess tried to make us comfortable, and gave us much of her company, telling us that she was "cousin to Stonewall Jackson's wife and Hill's wife;" but she "reckoned they did not know it, and wouldn't think much of it, if they did." She brought in a large baby, and sat down by the general's side, telling him that she was going to name that baby after him. The general was as affable as usual; but I frequently turned to the window to conceal my amus.e.m.e.nt.

Suddenly I was startled by her turning quickly to me, and asking if I "would ever think her any kin to Stonewall Jackson's wife and Hill's wife." Never having seen either of the above-named ladies, I conscientiously answered I did not know as I should.

Wakened by the bugle call the next morning, I hastily arose, and in a few moments was ready to depart. We had proceeded but five miles when an aid-de-camp rode up, and told General P---- that General Pemberton wished him to return to Water Valley immediately, as the Federal forces were quite near, and the Confederate soldiers must make a stand. We alighted and sat a few moments in a negro cabin. Then the general mounted and rode toward Water Valley, followed by his staff officers. The lady and myself proceeded on with the wagons beyond Coffeeville, where the train halted and prepared to camp for the night. As yet I had not heard from M---- since he rode off with the general, and I scarcely knew what to do. The soldiers were thrown out on picket duty around the trains, as a Federal force was also to the left of us, near the little town of Charleston.

Heavy skirmishing was going on at Water Valley, we were told. As no house was near, the gentleman who had charge of the lady and myself told us that he would put up a pleasant tent, and make us quite comfortable. So a tent was pitched on a little hillock near, and I rested comfortably during the night. Early in the morning we were on our way, the remainder of the army having come up. At length we reached Grenada in safety, yet sorely pressed by the Federal troops.

Thus you see, dear J----, that I am unlucky enough to be identified with some retreat or threatened city. From Memphis, or over the greater distance that separates us, we can span our love; and through all, I am

Yours.

THE END.