We spent the night waiting for something to happen. Supposedly, Yankee cavalry was coming at us from the north. We were ready for them. We had been re-supplied with ammunition and wanted to give them a volley. Nothing happened. We heard firing from that direction but no rounds were directed towards us.
Had this been the early days of this war, almost all of us would be facing a firing squad. All of us, at some time during our wait, feel asleep at our posts. It could not be prevented. All are too weakened by marching and hunger to maintain a proper military watch. We slept though it meant that we might be ambushed and killed at anytime.
Lieutenant Williamson made his rounds and awakened Terry and both Crenshaws who were asleep while on guard. Terry later told me that all three expected to be court-martialed and shot. The lieutenant just let it go. He has always been a very good sort.
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| Executed by firing squad. Early this morning, without any breakfast, we resumed the march, now to the north. After marching some distance, I do not know how far, our cavalry scouts informed our officers that enemy cavalry was ahead of us. We turned about and marched back the way we came. By we, I do not mean the our regiment. We of the regiment, formed the rear guard. |
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| Cavalryman. |
We stayed there, once again making works, until a courier came from the direction of march to order us to retire carefully and be watchful. We were told that some friendly cavalry would be observing behind us and would alert us to halt and repeal the enemy. Some one hundred against five thousand. Of course, we would be victorious. Of course we would.
During our efforts to catch up to the rest of the brigade, we came across a two-wheeled cart, in quite bad shape, but it did roll without falling to pieces. The company placed all of our traps in the cart and took turns pulling and pushing. It was just lucky for us that the weather has turned very pleasant. It has not rained a drop today.
After Noon, we caught up to the rest. They had halted to rest themselves and we needed no orders to fall out and join them. Lieutenant Williamson saw our cart and told us that it was needed to transport the sick and wounded. We surrendered it for the greater good of our fellow soldiers. One of the officers gave up his horse and, with some help of a saddler, contrived some harness such that the horse could pull the cart.
For the rest of the daylight hours, we heard much firing of all types, none of it close enough to warrant much caution. We could see smoke from burning things all around us. They may have been our own wagons and ambulances or farm houses, we could not tell.We had fires for ourselves but nothing to cook over them. If that horse drops, we will eat it.
Before dark, the brigade was moved into an open field. There was a screen of our cavalry flanking us. We were advised, in very stern terms that the Yankees are very close by and that we would be marching around them. It would be necessary to silence everything that might clink or clank. The horse pulling our, "ambulance" was blindfolded. The two Crenshaws plus Vincent and Terry were detailed to ensure that the horse remained quiet.
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| Proper wartime ambulances. |
After dark, we marched, and we were, indeed, very quiet. We marched along a ridgeline and could see down towards a basin. There were numerous campfires visible and many people were active, none of them were Confederate. It would have been grand had we been allowed to swoop down upon them and slaughter them but orders were orders. We would have liked a chance at their haversacks.
We moved as rapidly as our silence would allow. We marched all through the night and did not rest until just before dawn.
I Send You These Few Lines
The circumstances of the day, the halts and the silent march, are chronicled in the brigade history.
The term traps refers to trappings, otherwise called accoutrements.
Article 46, of the Confederate Army Regulations, states:
Any sentinel who shall be found sleeping upon his post, or shall leave it before he
shall be regularly relieved, shall suffer death, or other such punishment as shall be
inflicted by the sentence of a court-martial.
Concerning the various mentions of weather conditions that Tooms writes about, there are several sources that are used to support this blog. Some of the first-hand accounts used here mention the weather.
Where is Lee taking his army?
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