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CHAPTERS FROM THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES; THE INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER IN CAMP, ON THE MARCH, IN THE GREAT BATTLES, AND IN PRISON.
LIEUT. R. M. COLLINS,
Co. B, 15TH Texas Regiment, Granbury's Brigade, Cleburne's Division, Army Of Tennessee.
ST. LOUIS: NIXON-JONES FEINTING CO. 1893.
CHAPTER XX.
SIX WEEKS IN FRONT OF CHATTANOOGA — HEAVY PICKET DUTY— HELL'S HALF ACRE—BIG GAME OF DRAW POKER — SIGNAL- SERVICE.
"As already intimated, after two or three days waltzing around in the valley, our line settled down, extending from the river above the city, of Chattanooga, from a point quite northeast of the city around south at the base of Missionary Ridge to a point quite northwest of the city, taking the high point of Lookout mountain commanding the river and railroads above and below the city, and the only route remaining over which the Federal army could get supplies was by wagons on dirt roads over Waldon's Ridge. Being in the immediate presence of the enemy, we beat the Confederacy out of about six weeks' drilling. We put in a part of September, October and a part of November in guard duty. The writer's brigade was near the center of the line. Guard duty was pretty trying; our line of pickets was about two hundred yards from the Federal line; we could see their pickets plainly, and when no big officer on either side was near, we would sometimes get up a temporary armistice, lay down our arms and meet on half way grounds and have a nice friendly chat, swapping our flat tobacco for Lincoln coffee, our little 8x10 newspaper, " The Chattanooga Rebel," for their big blanket-sheet dailies, such as the New York Herald, Tribune, Cincinnati Times and Louisville Journal. Sometimes we would strike Federals on duty who would have none of us; these were generally Pennsylvania troops. We could always get along with Ohio and other western troops, but those first named and all other eastern troops always seemed to have a big red mad on.
Our bill of fare was pretty tough; corn-bread and poor beef was about all we had as a rule, and when the rule was suspended, it was generally by a day's rations of bacon. The writer's mess consisted of Capt. J. A. Farmwalt of Hood County, Texas, and Lieut. Jerry Johnson of Johnston County; Lieut. John Willingham belonged to it but he was generally at regimental headquarters acting as adjutant; we kept a cook hired, by the name of Ad Huffstuttler, at $30.00 per month in Confederate money; guess he was a Dutchman by his name, anyway he could forage and cook like one; he would prowl around the butcher pen, get beef heads, feet, liver, brains, sweet-breads, marrow, gut and other parts that we had always seen thrown away and make up messes nice enough for a king. He also done our washing and mending. When the day for the draw of old Ned came around as the boys called it, Capt. Farmwalt would be our head cook; he would fry the grease out of the bacon, and with our corn-bread, water and the grease, make a dish he called " cush;" this with some of the cornbread burned to a black crisp, out of which we made coffee, was fine living; however, we " reckon " the hard exercises each day and the total absence of anything like dyspepsia or indigestion was what made it all go down so well.
It doubtless seems to the reader that the same routine of duty each day and night would get to be distressingly monotonous, but not so, there was something to be done every day, or some news going the rounds, and when not on guard duty, nor on the fatigue party list, nor putting some finishing touch in making our quarters more comfortable, and not writing letters home, or to two or three Georgia girls at the same time, we could go down to Hell's half acre. Now this was a place in front of and near the center of our main line, and just in rear of our picket line, it being some three quarters of a mile in front of our line of battle. Here the thugs, thumpers and gamblers from our army as well as from Atlanta and other cities collected to gamble, and you could get a square np and up whack at any kind of game from faro, monte, draw-poker, seven-up, down to thimble ring poker-dice and three card monte. We don't know where the boys got the money, but they had stacks of gold, silver, greenbacks and Con-federate. The place should have been called Hell's whole acre, for they had about that much ground worn as slick as glass, and more gambling going on than we have ever seen at one time since ; and more hard looking characters,—the Five Points of New York City could not beat it even in its palmiest days. While here President Davis paid us a visit. His presence did not create any perceptible enthusiasm in the army; the thoughtful men could plainly see that the grand army of Tennessee under Gen. Braxton Bragg had lost its grip..."
BIG FUN IS COMING! Are you?
CHAPTERS FROM THE UNWRITTEN HISTORY OF THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES; THE INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A CONFEDERATE SOLDIER IN CAMP, ON THE MARCH, IN THE GREAT BATTLES, AND IN PRISON.
LIEUT. R. M. COLLINS,
Co. B, 15TH Texas Regiment, Granbury's Brigade, Cleburne's Division, Army Of Tennessee.
ST. LOUIS: NIXON-JONES FEINTING CO. 1893.
CHAPTER XX.
SIX WEEKS IN FRONT OF CHATTANOOGA — HEAVY PICKET DUTY— HELL'S HALF ACRE—BIG GAME OF DRAW POKER — SIGNAL- SERVICE.
"As already intimated, after two or three days waltzing around in the valley, our line settled down, extending from the river above the city, of Chattanooga, from a point quite northeast of the city around south at the base of Missionary Ridge to a point quite northwest of the city, taking the high point of Lookout mountain commanding the river and railroads above and below the city, and the only route remaining over which the Federal army could get supplies was by wagons on dirt roads over Waldon's Ridge. Being in the immediate presence of the enemy, we beat the Confederacy out of about six weeks' drilling. We put in a part of September, October and a part of November in guard duty. The writer's brigade was near the center of the line. Guard duty was pretty trying; our line of pickets was about two hundred yards from the Federal line; we could see their pickets plainly, and when no big officer on either side was near, we would sometimes get up a temporary armistice, lay down our arms and meet on half way grounds and have a nice friendly chat, swapping our flat tobacco for Lincoln coffee, our little 8x10 newspaper, " The Chattanooga Rebel," for their big blanket-sheet dailies, such as the New York Herald, Tribune, Cincinnati Times and Louisville Journal. Sometimes we would strike Federals on duty who would have none of us; these were generally Pennsylvania troops. We could always get along with Ohio and other western troops, but those first named and all other eastern troops always seemed to have a big red mad on.
Our bill of fare was pretty tough; corn-bread and poor beef was about all we had as a rule, and when the rule was suspended, it was generally by a day's rations of bacon. The writer's mess consisted of Capt. J. A. Farmwalt of Hood County, Texas, and Lieut. Jerry Johnson of Johnston County; Lieut. John Willingham belonged to it but he was generally at regimental headquarters acting as adjutant; we kept a cook hired, by the name of Ad Huffstuttler, at $30.00 per month in Confederate money; guess he was a Dutchman by his name, anyway he could forage and cook like one; he would prowl around the butcher pen, get beef heads, feet, liver, brains, sweet-breads, marrow, gut and other parts that we had always seen thrown away and make up messes nice enough for a king. He also done our washing and mending. When the day for the draw of old Ned came around as the boys called it, Capt. Farmwalt would be our head cook; he would fry the grease out of the bacon, and with our corn-bread, water and the grease, make a dish he called " cush;" this with some of the cornbread burned to a black crisp, out of which we made coffee, was fine living; however, we " reckon " the hard exercises each day and the total absence of anything like dyspepsia or indigestion was what made it all go down so well.
It doubtless seems to the reader that the same routine of duty each day and night would get to be distressingly monotonous, but not so, there was something to be done every day, or some news going the rounds, and when not on guard duty, nor on the fatigue party list, nor putting some finishing touch in making our quarters more comfortable, and not writing letters home, or to two or three Georgia girls at the same time, we could go down to Hell's half acre. Now this was a place in front of and near the center of our main line, and just in rear of our picket line, it being some three quarters of a mile in front of our line of battle. Here the thugs, thumpers and gamblers from our army as well as from Atlanta and other cities collected to gamble, and you could get a square np and up whack at any kind of game from faro, monte, draw-poker, seven-up, down to thimble ring poker-dice and three card monte. We don't know where the boys got the money, but they had stacks of gold, silver, greenbacks and Con-federate. The place should have been called Hell's whole acre, for they had about that much ground worn as slick as glass, and more gambling going on than we have ever seen at one time since ; and more hard looking characters,—the Five Points of New York City could not beat it even in its palmiest days. While here President Davis paid us a visit. His presence did not create any perceptible enthusiasm in the army; the thoughtful men could plainly see that the grand army of Tennessee under Gen. Braxton Bragg had lost its grip..."
BIG FUN IS COMING! Are you?
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