Born ‎ Jul 5, 1838 at Jordon's Creek, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, USA, died ‎ Feb 8, 1870 at Inman, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, USA‎, 31 years, buried ‎ Feb 1870 at Mount Zion Baptist Cemetery, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, USA. Occupation: Sergeant in Company C, 13th Regiment, South Carolina Infantry, C.S.A.
The third child of Burrel and Delilah Wingo.

SOURCE: Jammie Seay and Other Allied Lines, by Lorene Burton Ambrose, page 135.

"Among those deserving of special notice of the Wingo family connection is George Washington Wingo, son of Burrel and Delilah (Foster) Wingo, who was born July 5th, 1838, and died of consumptive disease, contracted in the army, February, 1870. He
was raised on his father's farm and attended the schools of his neighborhood, some of which the writer also attended. He was much associated with him in his schoolboy days, and can testify to the genial and excellent traits of character with
which by nature he was happily endowed. He was a sergeant in Company C, 13th Regiment, S.C.V., commanded by Captain John W. Carlisle. In this battle-scarred company, which has left an unimpeachable record behind it, he was among the foremost as
a true and valiant soldier, ready at all times to discharge every duty which confronted him. He was in quite all the battles in which his company was engaged, and never was known to shirk the post of danger or responsibility. Some months before
the close of the war he was captured and imprisoned, where he was held until its close. Returning home it was found that he had contracted a consumptive disease, from which he never recovered. Some time before or during the war he married Mary,
daughter of Edward Ballenger. By this marriage two children survive, viz.: Rhoda, wife of Dr. Wm. H. Chapman, near Brannon, S.C., a prominent and influential citizen and physician in Spartanburg county; and Stewart Wingo, well known as a
progressive business man, and resident of Spartanburg city."

SOURCE: History of Spartanburg County by Dr. J.B.O. Landrum, pp. 404-405, 1900.

"Wounded in arm in Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia December 13, 1862 and sent to Hospital. Captured at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1863 and Prisoner of War Fort Delaware, Delaware, paroled and forward to City Point, Virginia for Exchange
February 27, 1865. Admitted to Chimborazo Hospital , Richmond, Virginia March 4, 1865."

SOURCE: United Daughters of the Confederacy, Records Department, N/A 267 Roll 269.

"Raised in the summer of 1861 as the "Forest Rifles", this company, known as Co. C, entered into the organization of the 13th Rgt., S.C.V. It belonged to Gregg's brigade, Hill's division, and Jackson's corp, Army of Northern Virginia. Left
Spartanburg August 27, 1861. This unit served in battles before Richmond, at Sharpsberg, Fredricksberg, Second Manassas, Cold Harbor, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, 'Spottsylvania Courthouse, Jericho Ford, Second Cold Harbor, and
Petersberg. Surrendered at Appamattox, April 10, 1865. Of 122 men enrolled, 26 were killed and 35 wounded."

SOURCE: History of Spartanburg County by Dr. J.B.O. Landrum, pp. 522-523, 1900.

G. Washington WINGO, July 5, 1838 - Feb. 18, 1870
Confederate Cross. 1861- Deo Vindice -1865


THIRTEENTH S0UTH CAROLINA INFANTRY

The Thirteenth South Carolina Infantry was organized during the summer of 1861. A large number of the regiment's members had seen prior service in the Thirteenth South Carolina Militia. Like almost all Civil War units the Thirteenth South
Carolina Infantry was frequently known by an alternate designation derived from the name of its commanding officer. Names of this type used by or for the unit are shown below.

Oliver E. Edwards' Infantry
David R. Duncan's Infantry
Joseph L. Wofford's Infantry
William Lester's Infantry
Benjamin T. Brockman's Infantry
P. Ludlow Calhoun's Infantry
T. Stobo Farrow's Infantry
Isaac F. Hunt's Infantry

In late September, 1861, the regiment was reported at Columbia, South Carolina, where it had been mustered into service. It remained in its native State until the spring of 1862. It was then moved to Virginia where it joined the Army of Northern
Virginia. The regiment served attached to that Army during the remainder of the War. Shown below are the specific higher command assignments of the unit.

Sept. 30, 1861 Attached, Department of South Carolina.

Nov. 18, 1861 Attached, 3rd Military District of South Carolina, Department of South Carolina.

July 1, 1862 2nd Brigade, A. P. Hill's Division, Longstreet's Command, Army of Northern Virginia.

Sept. 20, 1862 Gregg's Brigade, Hill's Light Division, Jackson's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.

Dec. 10, 1862 Second Brigade, A.P. Hill's Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.

May 1, 1863 McGowan's Brigade, Hill's Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.

July 1, 1863 First Brigade, Pender's Division, 3rd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.

Aug. 31, 1863 McGowan's Brigade, Wilcox's Division, 3rd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.

Dec. 31, 1863 Perrin's Brigade, Wilcox's Division, 3rd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.

May 1, 1864 McGowan's Brigade, Wilcox's Division, 3rd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.

The Thirteenth South Carolina Infantry took part in a number of various engagements during its career. These are identified below:

Skirmish, Bowling Green Road near Fredericksburg, Virginia. (May 1, 1862)

Seven Days Battles. (June 25-July 1, 1862)

Battle, Mechanicsville, Beaver Dam Creek (Ellison's Mills), Virginia. (June 26, 1862)

Battle, Eaines' Mill, Cold Harbor, Chickahominy, Virginia. (June 27, 1862)

Campaign in Northern Virginia (Second Bull Run Campaign). (Aug. 16-Sept. 2, 1862)

Battle, Groveton, Virginia. (Aug. 29, 1862)

Battle, Second Bull Run, Manassas, Groveton Heights, Virginia. (Aug. 30, 1862)

Engagement, Chantilly (Ox Hill), Virginia. (Sept. 1, 1862)

Maryland Campaign. (Sept. 6-22, 1862)

Skirmish, Martinsburg, West Virginia. (Sept. 11, 1862)

Battle, Antietam, Sharpsburg, Maryland. (Sept. 16-17, 1862)

Operations in Loudon, Faquier, and Rappahannock Counties, Virginia. (Oct. 26-Nov. 10, 1862)

Battle, Fredericksburg, Virginia. (Dec. 12-15, 1862)

Chancellorsville Campaign. (April 27-May 6, 1863)

Battle, Chancellorsville, Virginia. (May 1-5, 1863)

Gettysburg Campaign. (June 3-Aug. 1, 1863)

Battle, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. (July 1-3, 1863)

The 13th South Carolina Infantry participated in the Battle of Gettysburg as a component of Perrin's brigade, a part of Pender's division. This unit attacked through Heth's division on the afternoon of July 1, to finally drive the remnants of the
Federal I Corps from Seminary Ridge. George Washington Wingo was captured at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on July 5, 1863.

Bristoe Campaign (Oct. 9-22, 1863)

Mine Run Campaign (Nov. 26-Dec. 2, 1863)

Wilderness Campaign. (May 4-June 12, 1864)

Battle, Wilderness, Virginia. (May 5-7, 1864)

Battles, Spottsylvania Court House, Laurel Hill, Ny River, Fredericksburg Road, Virginia. (May 8 21, 1864)

Combat, Ny River, Virginia. (May 10, 1864)

Assault on the Salient, Spottsylvania Court House, Virginia. (May 12, 1864)

Operations on the line of the North Anna River, Virginia. (May 22-26, 1864)

Operations on the line of the Pamunkey-River, Virginia. (May 26-28, 1864)

Operations on the line of the Totopotomoy River, Virginia. (May 28-31, 1864)

Battles about Cold Harbor, Virginia. (June 1-12, 1864)

Siege Operations against Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia. (June 16, 1864-April 2, 1865)

Engagement, Jerusalem Plank Road (Weldon R. R.), Virginia. (June 22, 1864)

Battle, Weldon R. R., Globe Tavern (Yellow House) and Black's Station (Six Mile House), VA (Aug. 18-21, 1864)

Battle, Ream's Station, Virginia. (Aug. 25, 1864)

Battle, Poplar Springs Ch., Peeble's Farm, Pegram's Farm, Chappell House, & Laurel Hill, VA(Sep. 29-Oct 2, 1864)

Engagement, Boydton Plank Road (Hatcher's Run), Virginia. (Oct. 27-28, 1864)

Battle, Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, Armstrong's Mills, Rowanty Creek, & Vaughan Road, VA (Feb. 5-7, 1865)

Appomattox Campaign. (1865)

Assault and Capture of Petersburg lines, Virginia. (April 2, 1865)

Engagement, Clover Hill, Appomattox Court House, Virginia. (April 9, 1865)

Surrender, Appomattox Court House, Virginia. (April 9, 1865)

An examination of the paroles granted at Appomattox Court House shows that the Thirteenth South Carolina Infantry was one of the largest units to surrender there. Not quite two hundred officers and enlisted men were still with the regiment when
it finally laid down its arms. Shown below are the numbers surrendered by company.

Staff 1 Colonel, 1 Lieutenant-Colonel, 1 Adjutant, 2 Assistant-Surgeons, 1 Sergeant-Major, 1 Quartermaster Sergeant, 1 Ordnance Sergeant, and 1 Hospital Steward.

"A" 1 Second-Lieutenant, 4 Sergeants, 3 Corporals, and 20 Privates.
"B" 1 Captain, 2 Sergeants, 1 Corporal, and 21 Privates.

"C" (from Spartanburg) 1 Captain, 1 First-Lieutenant, 1 Second-Lieutenant, 3 Sergeants, and 16 Privates.

"D" 1 Second-Lieutenant, 2 Sergeants, 1 Corporal, and 21 Privates.
"E" 1 Sergeant, 1 Corporal, and 10 Privates.
"F" 1 Captain, 2 Sergeants, and 4 Privates.
"G" 2 Sergeants, 2 Corporals, and 22 Privates.
"H" 2 Sergeants, 1 Corporal, and 7 Privates.
"I" 1 Second-Lieutenant, 1 Sergeant, and12 Privates.
"K" 4 Sergeants, 1 Corporal, and 14 Privates.

SOURCE: "THIRTEENTH S0UTH CAROLINA INFANTRY" by Institute For Civil War Research.

The 13th Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers was formed in the summer of 1861. The Regiment was the brain child of Oliver Evans Edwards who was born in Spartanburg District on November 9, 1819. In response to a call from President Jefferson
Davis about the 1st of July 1861, a large number of infantry companies were formed across South Carolina. Oliver E. Edwards had fought in the First Battle of Manassas. Answering the call of President Davis, Oliver E. Edwards returned to his home
county of Spartanburg, South Carolina and with the help of others organized five companies which would later become part of the 13th Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers.

Companies B, C, E, F, and I were all organized of Spartanburg County, South Carolina Volunteers. Company A was organized of Laurens County Volunteers; Companies D and G were organized of Newberry County Volunteers; and Companies H and K were
organized of Lexington County Volunteers. The men of the above companies left their home counties in August of 1861 and went to a camp of instruction at Lightwood Knot Springs, about 5 miles from Columbia, South Carolina, where the various
companies were organized into regiments. Here, the 13th was formed and elected its field-officers: Colonel O.E. Edwards, Lieutenant Colonel P.L. Calhoun, and Major T. Stobo Farrow. After about three months of instruction at Lightwood Knot
Springs, the 13th was ordered to the southern coast of South Carolina, near Pocotaglio, where it was brigaded with the 12th and 14th regiments. The 13th was present at the well known bombardment of Hilton Head by the Federal fleet. On the
evacuation of the position there, the regiment was successfully withdrawn, after some very muddy wading to the mainland. It was next stationed near Green Pond, near the line of Colleton and Beaufort counties. At this time, the 13th, along with
the 12th and 14th regiments, were formed into a brigade under the command of Brig. General Maxey Gregg. The brigade remained on the coast of South Carolina until April of 1862 when it was ordered to Virginia. Its first camp in Virginia was
around Milford Station, on the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad.

As stated, the 13th Regiment was originally part of Gregg's Brigade. After arriving in Virginia, Gregg's Brigade was composed of five South Carolina regiments, to wit: 13th regiment, 12th regiment, 14th regiment, 1st regiment and Orr's regiment
of rifles. These five regiments would remain together for the duration of the war as a brigade. Gregg's Brigade eventually became McGowan's Brigade and was a part of A.P. Hill's Division and became part of General Stonewall Jackson's Corp.
After Jackson's death at Chancellorsville, the brigade was made a part of the Third Corp. As a result of a wound received at Chancellorsville, Colonel O.E. Edwards also died. The 13th then was led by Benjamin T. Brockman, also of Spartanburg
County. Brockman was promoted to Colonel and he also died of wounds he received at "bloody bend" at the Battle of Spottsylvania Courthouse on May 12, 1864. After Brockman's death, the regiment for the first time was led by someone other than a
Spartanburg County native. Captain Isaac F. Hunt of Company D of Newberry County was made the commander of the 13th and promoted to Colonel.

The 13th Regiment remained a part of the army of northern Virginia until the conclusion of the war. The 13th Regiment was present at the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. Captain John Wilson Carlisle of Company C later recalled
General Custer of the Federal Army passing in front of the 13th waving a white flag as it was getting ready to go into engagement.

Of the 13th Regiment, 220 men were killed in battle or died of wounds. 262 died of disease and 678 men received wounds in combat.

Born ‎ Aug 18, 1842 at Inman, Spartanburg County, South Carolina, USA, died ‎ at Concord, North Carolina, USA. Occupation: Homemaker
REMINISCENCES OF THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES
BY
W.R. TANNER, SR.
COWPENS, SOUTH CAROLINA

[This account of the war was written by W.R. Tanner, Sr. of Company C of the Thirteenth Regiment. He wrote it sometime after the turn of the century and his daughter had it printed. An original copy is in the Spartanburg county library
archives.]

A partial experience and history of W.R. Tanner, Sr., during the War Between the States. I volunteered in May, 1861, for twelve months in Company C. Thirteenth South Carolina Regiment, Captain Stobo Farrow; Lieutenants, D.D. Duncan, J.W.
Carlisle, A.G. Douglas, Charlie Petty, Wilford Harris; Orderly Sergeant, Monroe Powell; Second Sergeant, Lem Morman; Third Sergeant, Frank and Wash Wingo, Corporals. We formed on Morgan Square, Spartanburg, and marched to the Union Depot to the
music of a fife and drum played by the McDowell Brothers. We went in Camp of Instruction nine miles north of Columbia. After three months of drilling we were formed in line and asked that all who would enlist for the war to step forward three
paces. There were two of us stepped forward; in a few minutes the whole line went forward. From Columbia, we went to Edisto Island; from there to Port Royal, then to Coosawhatchie on the railroad from Charleston to Savannah, Ga.

During the battle of Bull Run or First Battle of Manassas we were ordered to Richmond. We entrained at Coosawhatchie and went through Charleston, Columbia and Charlotte. The engineer running the train was a Yankee. Monroe Powell had been a
conductor on that part of the railroad. He said that the engineer would wreck his train at the speed he was running, for there were so many sharp curves on that road. We told Powell to get on the engine with the Yankee and tell him the danger.
Powell went, but the engineer would not listen to him, so near High Point on a curve several box cars ran off the track and it turned over against the side of the cut. Several men jumped out and were caught between the cars and the bank and were
killed and crippled. Several of the soldiers loaded their guns and started to shoot the engineer. He cut loose his engine from the balance of the train and left and was not seen any more. We arrived at Richmond without further trouble. We
spent the night in Chimborazo Hospital and there got stocked with body lice, of which we never got rid of until after the surrender. The seven-year itch came next. We hung on to that during the war. We were sent, as well as I remember to Orange
Court House or near there; then to the Shenandoah Valley under General Jackson. We were in quite a number of battles in the valley. I cannot remember all or as they came. I kept a diary of every camp, bivouac, town, river, road and battle, but
lost it with my coat, hat and shoes just before the surrender, as I was wounded and thought to be dying and our army was retreating from the trenches around Petersburg. The wounded were sent to the Southside Railroad, from there to Farmville. I
cannot mention the battles as they were fought nor give the dates. New Market, Harrisonburg, Cross Keys, Port Republic and many others from Winchester to the Potomac up and down the Shenandoah Valley, Cedar Mountain, Cedar Run, Bristow Station,
Culpepper and Orange Court House. We were finally ordered to the Peninsula on James River. I think our first battle there was Cold Harbor and crossing the Chicahominy at Mechanicsville entered the Seven Days' Fight around Richmond. Our brigade
supported General Lane's or General Scales', I do not remember which. They advanced through an open field to Malvern Hill, where the Federals were behind breast works with a number of cannons which almost swept the field with grape shot,
cannister and shells. The brigade in our front were moved down; the killed lay so thick you could walk on them for several hundred yards. As I remember this was Malvern Hill. There was a small stream running between us and enemy's breast works,
a marshy swamp on each side of it. In the swamp the Second South Carolina Brigade, General Maxey Gregg was Brigadier General, to which I was a member. We were held in reserve of General Lane's or General Scales' Brigade. We were exposed to the
enemy's fire of miney balls and shells. A shell burst over us and a piece weighing several pounds, just brushed my knee, filling my face and eyes full of mud, as well as several others near me I had rather be in the firing line than in the
reserve line, for you are as much exposed without taking any part, and you would rather be active. At dark the enemy fell back to as second line of breast works. General McClellan had fortified as he advanced up the peninsula. The battle
continued for seven days, at Frazier's Farm, Gaines Mill and others. This and the battle at Seven Pines were the nearest the enemy ever got to Richmond, until after the surrender, but during these battles they were within five miles of Richmond.

After the seven days battle in the Chickahominy swamp thousands of soldiers had fever and hundreds of them died. I had high fever, but did not report sick. I never reported sick, I would go to the doctor for medicine. Dr. Kennedy, our
Regimental Surgeon, recommended boneset. I drank boneset tea for several days and broke up the fever. We could not get quinine, which was the medicine we needed to break up the fever, therefore, the doctor recommended boneset tea. This boneset
was a weed that grew in the swamp. We got the herb and put a pinch of the leaves in a quart of water and boiled it down to a pint and drank it. This was the doctor's orders to us in order to get rid of the fever. We were encamped at Laurel Hill
for several days. McClellan was concentrating his army on the Rappahannock. General Lee sent General Jackson around the enemy's right flank to Manassas Junction at Louise Court House. We were ordered to leave our knapsacks. We rolled our
blankets, tied a string around the end and put them over our shoulders, left our undersuits, soap, combs, writing material and everything except blankets, haversacks, canteen, gun and cartridge box. We marched almost all day and night, a good
deal of the time double quick time. We lived on roasted ears of corn. When we came to a field of corn there would be a detail of three men from a company to gather arms of green corn. Each man would get two ears of corn, shuck it and eat it raw
as we marched. We were not allowed to have any fire day or night, as it would attract attention of the enemy.

We got to Manassas Junction where the Federal army had their supplies, consisting of clothing, provisions, and munitions of war. There must have been fifteen or twenty side tracks, all full of box cars. We set fire to the stores as we were not
able to carry them away. We filled our haversacks. About this time here came General McClellan and all his army, consisting of one hundred twenty five thousand. Jackson had only twenty five thousand, but we formed a battle line and fought for
three days. The third day General Lee and Longstreet came in our right; we could hear Longstreet's cannons booming -- the word carried down the line, "Longstreet had come!" Such another yell has never been heard. We drove back the enemy at this
battle. I was detailed on the infirmary corps, as the detail from our company was sick. That was the hardest day's work I think I ever did. I stayed right at the line until some one was wounded then carried them back two or three hundred yards
to where there were other details waiting who would take the wounded to field hospitals. I carried several wounded men on my back. The fighting did not cease until dark. Our line and the enemy's line of battle were not more than seventy-five
or one hundred yards apart.

About nine o'clock, Col. O.E. Edwards of our regiment came to my company, Company C, and said he wanted two men to volunteer to go with him to get the body of Captain A.K. Smith from between the lines. He said he had asked all through the ten
companies in the regiment and had not gotten a single volunteer. He said as Colonel he had authority to detail men to do this, but in this casewe took our lives into our own hands, therefore, he would not command us, but only asked for
volunteers. The body was in a few yards of the enemy's line and they were liable to fire a volley into us at the least noise they might hear. Captain Smith was a special fried of mine, so I told the Colonel I would go and finally another man,
Mark Sexton, volunteered. The Colonel cautioned us to be very careful not to make any noise. When we got within ten feet of the body the Colonel stepped on a dry stick which broke with considerable noise. We could hear the enemy cocking their
guns, click, click almost in our faces. The Colonel whispered to us to lie flat on the ground and be still. This we did for about ten minutes, then crawled to the body rolled it on the litter and carried it in the rear of our line and with our
bayonets dug a hole deep enough to get the body on a level with the surface, then covered it with loose dirt. The Colonel marked with his knife, A.K.S. on a tree at the head of the grave.

About 12 o'clock that night a wounded Yankee was begging pitifully for a drink of water. I could not stand to hear his cry for water, so I called him and told him to answer me every time I called and I would bring some water to him. I called
loud enough that his men could hear so they would not shoot me. I gave him a drink, poured what water I had in his canteen, fixed his knapsack under his head and made him as comfortable as I could. He asked my name and company and regiment. I
told him W.R. Tanner, Company C, Thirteenth South Carolina Regiment. He said, "The Lord bless you." I asked him his name, and as well as I remember, it was Gray or Grayer. Twenty-five years after the surrender I saw in the New York Sun where
Gray or Grayer had died and willed, W.R. Turner, Company C, Thirteenth North Carolina Regiment, $10,000.00 for giving him a drink of water at the Second Battle of Manassas. I always felt like it might have been intended for me. If there has not
been much change, I could go very near the spot where I gave him the drink of water. It was the extreme right of the Federal army and extreme left of the Confederate army. A railroad cut was about eighteen feet in front of us.

The next battle was Oxhill. The enemy fired on us from ambush as were marching along the road. We had been without anything to eat for three days. A brigade in front of us mutinied, swore they would not go further without food. A wagon with
several barrels of crackers was sent back, and three crackers issued to each man, after which we started on. Just then the enemy fireda volley on us. There was a cloud over us and I never experienced such thunder and lightening; it was almost
incessant. We soon drove the enemy across the Potomac into Maryland. Gen. Lee's intention was to invade Maryland, hoping to give the Marylanders a chance to join the Confederate army, but very few joined. Seeing our soldiers ragged and
barefooted, there was little inducement. General Lee instructed General Jackson to drive the enemy from Martinsburg to Harper's Ferry and capture them with the garrison at Harper's Ferry, which he did. He captured 12,000 soldiers, seventy
cannons, 13,000 small arms, a number of wagons and other supplies. We completely surrounded the Heights of Harper's Ferry when they surrendered. I never was so glad as I when I saw the white flag go up. General Jackson received orders to join
Lee in Maryland, where he and Longstreet were. McClelland and his whole army were pressing them and had all the crossings on the Potomac, except Shepardtown. It was twenty miles from Harper's Ferry to Shepardtown ferry, so General Jackson paroled
the prisoners captured and made a forced march to Shepardtown. It was a hot day in July. General Jackson's orders were to march in files of four abreast, and if a man stepped out of file the captain of the company was to shoot him down. I never
disobeyed an order or command of any of my superior officers but one time on that march. We had marched about ten miles without water. We were crossing a creek about forty feet wide and about knee deep. I held up my canteen in the water until
we crossed, then raised it up and found there was no water in it. I stopped to let it gurgle in the canteen for a minute and Captain D.R. Duncan said, "Fall in line." I said, "I will have water or die." The captain said no more, and I got enough
to wet my throat. I afterwards apologized to the captain. As we crossed the Potomac we filled our canteens. We just got to the ford in time. The enemy was planting a battery of three pieces in the road. My company was in front, the first to
cross. We formed in line and charged the battery. If they had been ten minutes earlier they could have commanded the ford. With grape and cannister we drove the men from the cannon and joined Generals Lee and Longstreet on their left. The
battle of Sharpsburg, -- the Yanks called it Antietam -- was said to be one of the most daring battles of the war. With McClellan's army in front, General Lee fought them for three days and retired across the Potomac at his leisure. I was
wounded in this battle. A miney ball went through the calf in my left leg making a flesh wound. I did not stop for it. I waded through the Potomac and marched and fought right on. It soon healed up.

The next battle was at Fredericksburg on the Rappanhannock River, December 1862. General Jackson was left in the Shanandoah Valley, but General Lee ordered him with his corps to Fredericksburg, about 150 miles away. We were just in front of the
town about 9 o'clock at night, the Pioneer corps had cut a road through the woods. On Mars Height's I remember running over a stump about knee high, and fell. It seemed to me about twenty feet down a steep hill. We lay in battle line all night,
fought the next day until nearly night, when the Yankees set fire to the woods, which kept us from advancing on them until they crossed the river. General Maxey Gregg, our brigadier general, was killed in that battle. General Jackson had all
arrangements made to make a night attack; had the doctors of the different regiments to put a white bandage on th arm of each soldier so that we would know each other from the Federal soldiers, but General Lee would not consent to this. I, among
others, was glad he objected. This battle was fought December 13, 1862. General Burnside, who relieved General McClellan, commanded the Federal army.

The next battle was Chancellorsville, Burnside being relieved by "Fighting Joe Hooker." General Jackson was some distance below Fredericksburg on the Rappahannock, Longstreet at Suffolk, 120 miles from Lee. General Hooker crossed the
Rappahannock and advanced on General Lee's left to Chancellorsville. Jackson came to Fredericksburg and made a flank movement on Hooker's right -- going by Catherine Furnace and came into the Plank road completely in the rear of Hooker's army.
Right in sight there were two Irish soldiers cooking, about 100 yards in the rear of the enemy's line. I asked the captain to let me capture them. I walked up behind them and told them to surrender. They looked up and said, "Faith, and let me
get my coffee." They had oyster cans on the fire making coffee. I took both prisoners; it was near sundown. We filed to the right, formed line of battle in the rear of the enemy, with instructions to advance on them as the sun rose next morning.
General Jackson was killed that night by his own men as he rode between the lines to establish his line. His instructions was to fire if the enemy advanced, and his men heard him and his staff riding between the lines. Thinking it was the enemy
advancing, they fired, wounding him, from which wound he died. Hooker was driven back across the Rappahannock. As I remember, this battle was fought in May, 1863.

The next battle was at Gettysburg, Pa. As I remember, General Lee reviewed his army at Culpepper Court House, went around General Hooker's right flank and swept the Federals from the Shenandoah Valley; crossed the Potomac River, the State of
Maryland and on into Pennsylvania. I remember bivouac near Chambersburg. Next day we marched to Gettysburg Heights; our division was the first to get in the battle at Gettysburg. My company fought right in the town. We advanced through a field
midst grape shot and cannister, the enemy was lying behind a stone wall. Just as we drove them from the rock wall, I had loaded my gun, pulled back the hammer to put on a cap, the tube fell off; it had blown out the last time I fired. I turned
to the Captain at my rear and told him my tube had blown out. There had been several of our men killed. As I started to get a gun from one of them, my cartridge box worked around my right groin; a minnie ball came from my right, struck my
cartridge box, hit two other balls, the three mashed together as large as a silver dollar, went through a tin box and almost through the back of my cartridge box. It came with such force it almost turned me around, and deadened my leg for some
time that I could not move it. I finally hobbled back to the field hospital; the wound had swollen as thick as my hand and nearly as wide as two hands and was blue. On the way to the field hospital passed a spring where several men were; two or
three of them wounded; one man had his gun. An old man who looked to be one hundred years old, lived near the spring was standing on the porch. The man with the gun asked him for a drink of milk. There were several jars of milk in the spring
branch; he wanted the milk for a wounded man he said and the old man said he wished the wounded man had been killed. The man with the gun cocked the gun leveled it to fire on the old man. I threw up the gun and told the soldier he was a coward
to shoot a man not armed. A few hours later after I went to the hospital, Lieutenant Petty came to the hospital as he thought he was badly wounded, but found that the wound was only a slight one, and he said to me: "Rufus, let's go back to the
line." I got a stick and hobbled back. That night we threw down a stake and ridered fence, set fire to it and fell back keeping the light between us and the enemy so they could see our movements. We marched all night, nearly all the army
traveling the same road. The mud was nearly knee deep, and about three o'clock my leg gave out. I told the Captain I could not keep up any longer, so he said come on as fast as you can. We were bringing up the rear. Louisiana Zouaves was
bringing up the stragglers, those who were sick, broken down, etc. I found I was getting pretty close to them, could hear the men who were sick and weak begging for mercy when the Zouaves would jab them with their bayonets. I said to myself,
this won't do, so I went about fifty yards from the road and let them pass. I kept pretty well up, then when daylight came the column in front balted and I caught up. We were near the Potomac River. General Lee went ahead and put a pontoon
bridge across the Potomac River. As the troops were crossing in front of us the enemy mounted a brigade of infantry and made them drunk. They rode right in amongst us. A large dwelling had been burned and there were thousands of bricks, so we
fought them with brick bats. When the word for us to fall back was given, we had to double quick. The enemy planted a battery and tried to cut the pontoon bridge, but General Lee planted cannon, we called it "Long Tom," and sighted it himself,
and the first time he had it fired it dismounted one of their guns and we got across safe. This battle was fought in July, 1863.

General Hooker had been relieved and General Meade was in command of the Federal army. We were encamped near Culpepper and Orange Court House; had several skirmishes while there, Bristow Station, Orange, Culpepper along the Rapadan and Rapahannock
Rivers; but the next general battle was the Wilderness. General Meade was succeeded by General U.S. Grant, and in May, 1864, crossed the Rappadan and the Rapahannock Rivers. This was one of the bloodiest battles of the war. In this battle was
bloody bend, a position contended so long and with such fury that there were trees more than a foot in diameter cut down my minney balls. I am told that the stump of one of the trees cut down by minney balls in that battle is in the museum in
Washington. Grant was driven back across the Rappahannock without carrying out his plans. There were several days of this battle, probably ten or twelve.

The next battle was Spotsylvania Court House. General Grant had boasted that he would destroy Lee's army, but he sent an order to Washington to send him every man that could be raked and scrapped up. He failed to destroy Lee's army as he had
promised to do. He changed his plans and went in a different direction to capture Richmond, going to Cold Harbor. This was the second battle of Cold Harbor, and as in all other general engagements, there were hundreds and thousands killed and
wounded. In every engagement the federal losses were greater than ours, though we generally fought with from two to three to our one, and the enemy would bulk their troops more than we did. We generally went in single file in order to protect
our right and left flanks. There were several heavy skirmishes that I was engaged in, as I was under General Stonewall Jackson from the First Battle of Manassas until the surrender. I kept a diary of every camp, bivouac, town, battle, roads and
rivers; but when I was wounded, just before the surrender, as I remember, in the battle of Five Forks. I was hurried to the Southside Railroad from the field hospital in an ambulance. I was not able to help myself, so my coat, hat and pieces of
shoes with my diary were left behind. I cannot remember dates and many of the skirmishes that I was in.
The first man that was killed in our company was Henry Alley; I remember Captain Carlisle emptied his pistol at the enemy. The battle of Fussell's Mill, seven miles below Richmond, there were three of our company killed; Sergeant Lem Norman,
Howard Bobo and Charles Baker. We made three assaults and were repulsed each time. The third time Lem Norman, Howard Bobo, Charles Baker and myself went within twenty yards of the enemy's breastworks and saw that unless our line was changed our
company would be cut to pieces. There was a shower of bullets fired at us. As I looked in the direction of Lem, Charles and Howard, they all fell dead. There was a thicket of small pines behind me, and I ran back and lay down until the firing
ceased; then went back to my company and told the Captain if Colonel Edwards would come to our company, I would tell him how the enemy's line was situated. The Captain sent for the Colonel, and I told him if he moved up the right of our line a
hundred yards before the left moved, I believed we could take the enemy's breastworks. He moved up the right and gave the command to charge. The whole line charged yelling the Rebel yell. We captured the line with five hundred negroes the rest
ran. The Richmond paper came out saying that five hundred negroe troops had been captured and that they went up with the Chicahominy fogs. I never thought that was quite right, but it might have been necessary to warn the other negroes not to
join the enemy and fight against us. One of the negroes said something saucey to a member of our company and he cocked his gun and would have shot him, but I knocked his gun up, and told him he was a coward to shoot a prisoner.

I could give many more incidents that happened during the four years of war, as well as battles not mentioned. Some instances showing the spirits of the soldiers, notwithstanding their hardships - half fed, half clothed and most of the time
barefooted. Long marches at double quick time; heavy fatigue duty; cutting roads, throwing up breastworks, and cutting and carrying poles to crossway the roads, running through limestone sections in Virginia, and standing guard around camp on
skirmish line and Vidett Post, besides provost guard duty, scattered through the country to keep the soldiers from straggling off from camp hunting something to eat. I never got into the guardhouse but one time during the war. Mark Sullivan, a
member of my company and I left camp to hunt dewberries. We had got just out of sight of camp and got a pint of berries when we looked up and saw the provost guard coming. We could have out run him to camp, but thought we could get a few more
berries, but he was faithful to duty and arrested us and carried us to the guardhouse. I was humiliated and sent for Captain D.R. Duncan to come and release us. He laughed at us and walked away, but about two hours later had us released.

I never reported sick but one time during the war. I got furlough in 1863. On my way home there was a sick soldier on the train who asked for a drink of water. The train stopped to get water, so I went to the water tank and filled my canteen
and gave him a drink. I asked him what was the matter with him. He said he had just left the hospital with smallpox. I got on the front end of the car and stayed there until I saw him get off the train near High Point, N.C. I told my father
about it and told him if I got sick I was going to Columbia and report. Later I took cold and had some fever, so I got my knapsack, bade the family goodbye and reported to Dr. Hallbark at Columbia. He had me put in the third story of the
hospital in a back room and kept me there for twenty-one days. I asked him to give me a permit to go to my regiment a few days after I had reported, but he would not. I was more anxious to see the boys than I was to get home. I finally told
the doctor I was going the next morning, so he gave me a permit and transportation. There had not been any battle during my absence except a part in the Wilderness. I had brought a recruit to our company, which entitled me to a thirty day
furlough. I had sent in my application, but feared it would not be granted during the battle, but a courier came galloping up to my captain and handed him a paper. My heart sank, for I was satisfied it was my furlough, but it had been
countermanded. Captain Duncan called me and asked what I would take for that paper, holding it up to me. I said, "Captain, if it is signed by General Lee, it is not for sale." He said it was signed all right. Several of the boys gave me money
to carry to their folks, as we had recently been paid off. I had $15.00 or $20.00 for the different ones. I put the money in my breast pocket as their was danger of being robbed. I struck out for Guiney Station, ten miles to walk. I caught
the train for Richmond, got there about nine o'clock at night, and went to the transportation office. It was crowded with people, and every now and then officers would yell, "Lookout for pickpockets." The man just behind me kept pushing and
crowding and all the time he was feeling inside my hip pocket. I had my knife open in my hand, and intended to make a mark on his hand if he put it near my breast pocket. I got home safe and delivered the money.
I believe I will change from the gloomy side to the cheerful. I remember marching through Lee county at the foot of a mountain where there was a small log hut on the side of the road some thirty or forty yards from the road. An old man, who
looked to be ninety or one hundred years old, dressed up in his homespun clothes, and a boy about twelve years old, was tieing a necktie on the old man. We soldiers had not seen a necktie for two or three years. I pretended I thought the boy was
choking the old man, and leveled my gun on the boy and told him I would shoot him if he did not stop choking the old man. My ignorance gave the officers and boys a good laugh, but the old man thought I meant it, and he explained that the boy was
fixing him up to see General Lee, and asked how long before he would come along. The old gentleman seemed proud to see us all. There was a spring or fish pond there, an acre of ground was walled in a with a wall about five or six feet high and
the water boiled up inside the wall. I head the name of the spring, but have forgotten it. There were a lot of geese and ducks in the water, and we were allowed to stop long enough to fill our canteens. If we had been allowed to spend the night
there, the number of geese and ducks would have been reduced. While we were encamped near Laurel Hill I made the acquaintance of a family by the name of Kell, who had a daughter named Maggie, a niece of Georgia Patterson, who lived in Richmond.
I went to the house one day to buy some milk. Two soldiers had been there before and drove off the only hog they had. I followed them for some distance, but could not find them. This ingratiated me in their good graces. Mr. Kell had sixty
acres of bottom land on the James River planted in wheat. The enemy ran their gunboats opposite the field and would not let him cut the wheat. We soldiers got passes and with our pocket knives cut and threshed the lot of it. There was a man by
the name of Hoover from Lexington, who crept to an old house near the gunboat and shot one of the gunners. They steamed up, got out where they could throw grape and cannister till they swept the field. I had gotten one bushel and I got Kell to
carry it to the mill for me. I spent many pleasant evenings with the young ladies. We kept up correspondence until I was wounded, after leaving the trenches around Petersburg. I was wounded at Five Forks near the last battle before surrender,
in my left thigh just above the knee with a socket ball. This ball separated in the middle and had a copper washer in the center. When it struck you it would separate, leaving the copper washer in the flesh, which would poison the wound and
cause blood poison. Half the ball lodged against the bone in my thigh; the other half went under the bone, grazing the artery, which came near causing me to bleed to death. It happened in an open field and none of the infirmary corps were near.
I saw I was bleeding to death and asked the captain to send someone with me to the doctors or field hospital. He said: "Rufus, you know it is against army regulations to send a man from rank or file." I told my brother to take me out. Captain
J.W. Carlisle turned his back and walked away. He could not consent and would not object. My brother got me about 75 yards and I fainted. When I came to I told my brother to take off my suspenders and tie them over the wound as tight as he
could, then go to the woods nearly a quarter of a mile away and find a man with a stretcher; if he could not, to get a good strong rail or pole. He found a man from the infirmary corps and brought a fence rail. I had them spread out my blanket,
put me on it and take me to the field hospital as soon as they could . While my brother was helping, I was praying with all the power I had for the Lord to spare my life. Finally this thought came to me: how foolish to be praying to live, when I
should be praying for the witness of the Holy Spirit that I was prepared to die.

I had joined the Methodist church when I was twelve years old and went to the altar for prayer; but always had doubt as to my acceptance of Christ. It was customary in those days for old people to tell their religious experiences and they saw
great signs when they were converted -- a great light shown around them or some other sign. I had never experienced any of those signs, therefore, I had my doubts. I prayed for the witness of the Spirit that I was accepted to Christ. When I got
it I was perfectly resigned to the will of the Lord. As well as I could compute time under the circumstances it was not more than fifteen minutes till I had the presentation that I would live. When I got to the field hospital Brother Alonzo had
the doctor to see me. He looked at me and turned away from me and said to the nurse, "it is no use to try to do anything for Tanner, he is as good as dead." I heard what he said and told brother to tell Dr. Welsh to come back; he came and
stooped over me and asked what he could do. I said, you ought to know what to do; put a tourniquet over my wound and screw it up and stop the flow of blood and give me something to keep in circulation what blood I have left. He said all the
tourniquets were in use. I told him to get a long strong bandage and wrap it tight over the wound; he did so and gave me a half a pint of liquor which I drank. If I had drunk a tablespoon before I was wounded it would have my head going round.
The field hospital was in a large body of woods; no house near. There had been troops camped there and they had built little log huts, and I was put in one of these.

The doctor got orders to move all the wounded back to Southside railroad as our army was falling back and we would be captured. The doctor had sent two or three ambulance loads and had all ambulances loaded and ready to start with the last load;
it was then getting dark. James Sprouce, a nurse with the doctors and a man I knew, had his knapsack on his back, passed by the door where I was. I asked him if they were moving, and he said they had been moving all day; had all the ambulances
full and ready to start. I told him to tell Dr. Welsh he must make arrangements for me to go or he (Sprouce) must stay with me. There were two young men in the rear of ambulance lying on their backs; the doctor had them put on their sides and
wedged me in between them. We went about two miles and one of them died, and they left him beside the road, and before we got to the railroad the other man died, and they left him beside the road too. I was put on the train in a box car in which
cattle had been shipped. We were laid on the floor and carried to Farmville hospital. There were twelve wards, two hundred and fifty men to a ward. In three or four days our army came through Farmville in a few yards of the hospital. The
Federals were about a mile north of town. They threw several shells through the ward I was in; aiming to set the building on fire. I told the head nurse to hang out a yellow flag. He said he did not have one, and I told him to tack a copperish
lined quilt on the end of the hospital. He did and they ceased firing at once. They threw several shells over in the town, and the ladies son found the hospital was a safe place and ran in there for protection from the shells. It was pitiful to
see them come into the hospital and drop down on the floor between the bunks on which the wounded men lay. It was like partridges running to a briar patch from hawks.

I was at Farmville for three months after the surrender before I was able to go home. It was just five miles from Farmville to Appomattox where General Lee surrendered. After the surrender we were in the hands of Yankee doctors; they were very
kind. They had negro boys waiting on the wounded men. One day an Alabaman asked the negro boy to bring him a drink of water; the boy cursed him and told him to wait on himself. The soldier reported him to the doctor and the doctor had him
arrested, tied his thumbs with a cord and threw the cord over the joist in an old barn and drew him up until his toes just touched the floor and let him hang for two hours. When the doctor had him let down he pulled off his hat and said,
"Gentleman, I will do anything you ask me to do; I never had so much punishment in my life." Mr. Love, who had a son at Farmville wounded, came for him; the doctor gave permission for his son to go. Mr. Love said he would help me as far as we went
together. I asked the doctor if I could go and he said I was not able to go yet. I told him I thought I was, so he said he would let me go the next morning. When he came in I asked him again and he said well if nothing else will do, go. I
thanked him.

Frank Trimmer was wounded in both legs, and a young man named Caldwell, who lived above Spartanburg, was also wounded; his sister had come after him. Mr. Love said he would assist all of us as far as we went together. None of us could go on the
train any further than Chester, S.C. as the bridges were burned between there and Columbia. Mr. Love had written his people to meet him there so he left us at Chester, but he got us in an old buggy shop before he left. One of the Sergeants o fmy
company Rush Hudson, lived at Chester. I asked the young lady, Miss Caldwell, to go out and find him. I thought he could get us something to eat. We had had nothing since morning. He came and I asked him if he could give us some food. He put
both his hands over his face and cried like a child, said his family of six did not have a meal in the house. There was a Yankee garrison there and he would go and see the officer in command and ask him to give us something to eat. Sargeant
Hudson brought the officer to see us and he was very kind and sympathetic; said he had nothing on hand but his wagons had gone to Weldon to get some rations, as soon as they come he would send us something. They came about nine o'clock that
night. The officer came himself with a file of soldiers and brought coffee, sugar and crackers to us all. I got the lady, Miss Caldwell, as she was the only one that could do anything, to go to a citizen and get a coffee pot and make a pot of
coffee. We ate and slept well that night. The officer came back the next morning. I am sorry I have forgotten his name. I would like to always remember it. I found that if we could get across to Fish Dam Station, as I remember about fifteen
miles from Chester, we could go to Spartanburg on the Union and Spartanburg railroad, as it was then called. I asked the officer if he could send us; he said there is preaching at that church at eleven o'clock; I will bring file of men, press in
buggies and carriages enough to carry you all. He sent the soldiers along to bring back the vehicles. We got within a mile of Broad River at sundown, and spent the night with a Mr. McGee, a refugee from Charleston. Sherman had taken all their
stock -- horses, cows, hogs, chickens, corn, meat and flour except what they had hid out. Mrs. McGee would not let the Yankee soldiers come in her house and said she would not give them anything to eat, but we finally prevailed on her to send
them a plate to the carriages where they ate and slept the night. She would not let them put their foot in her house. I was sorry for the men, for they were kind to us. Their Captain told us if the soldiers did not wait on us and do what we
told them to do, to write him and he would punish them severely. We only had to write and thank him for his and the soldiers' kindness. Next morning the file of men carried us to Fish Dam Ferry. The ferry man put us across and an old negro with
an ox cart took us to Fish Dam Station, now Carlisle Station, I believe. The old darky was very kind; he had a two wheel cart with a deep bed. It was a hot day in August, and five of us crowded in the deep cart bed, suffering with heat. The old
darky stopped and broke some bushes and put them over the top to make shade. We thanked the old man for his kindness. Later on he wanted us to thank him some more so he said: "Boss, dat brush over de bed am a great condition." We said it
certainly was. He said he was glad to see white folks coming back home and the war was over; times is mighty hard, scarcely can git enough to eat.

Coming back home on a furlough in 1864, I bought a snack to eat at a town we passed through. I paid $1.00 for a bisquit and a chicken wing. I remember one evening going into bivouac in Virginia, I took my canteen and struck out to hunt some
buttermilk. I found a house half mile away. A lady came to the door and I asked her if she had any milk to sell. She let me have a quart for 25 cents, shinplaster. We did not have silver change; 10 cents, 25 cents, and 50 cents paper money we
called shinplaster. Back to the woman that sold me the milk, she was the largest woman I thought I had ever seen, and I asked her what was her weight if she did not mind telling me. She said she did not mind telling her weight or age; she was
50 years old and weighed 400 pounds; her sister, who came to the door just then was 52 years old and weighed 450 pounds. About that time a hawk dabbed down in the yard and grabbed a chicken. An old lady came running across the yard slapping her
hands and hollowing at the hawk. She was their mother and had celebrated her one hundredth birthday not long before. I went back to camp and told my officers and they accused me of exaggerating or straight out lying. I told them to go with me
and I would show them. They decided to have Colonel O.E. Edwards, or colonel, go too; so they sent for him and by the time he came there were fifty, I guess, going. They all doubted my story, and said if I had deceived them they would have the
colonel put me in the guard house. When we got to the house I called and asked if they would mind to come out in the yard. They came and I introduced them to the Colonel and Captain and asked them if they would mind telling their ages and
weight; they did. The Colonel, as well as the rest, were very much interested. Several threw in shinplasters of which they were very proud. I am sorry that I have forgotten their names; I had them in my diary which I lost when wounded.

Well, I am jumping from one thing to another, sometimes a good ways apart. I do not remember riding on the train but once after we were put under General Jackson; that was when General Grant besieged Petersburg. I disremember whether we were in
the Shenandoah Valley or at Charlottsville. I remember we marched all day and until nine o'clock at night when we halted on the campus, in front of a college dormitory. The girl students came to the windows, waved their handkerchiefs and we gave
them a Rebel yell. Just then we got orders to march. We marched most of the night. We went to Guinie Station on Richmond railroad, ten or fifteen miles southeast of Fredericksburg. Just as the train rolled into the depot at Petersburg the
enemy commenced throwing shells and solid shot from their cannons. We were hustled out of the train and the train backed out and got away as fast as possible, as there was danger of the enemy destroying the engine. We were marched through the
city on General Lee's right flank where we could be used for either flank if needed. We were sent several times to the right for miles to stop calvary raids that attempted to destroy the railroad. Going south from Richmond once, we were sent to
Dinwidy Court House to stop a calvary raid. It rained and sleeted all day and night. Next day it cleared up and the wind rose high and cold. We bivouaced in a straw field grown up in small pine trees; that was the only wood we had to burn. I
thought we would all freeze, but we scraped the ice away and finally got fires started and ate a bite, then rolled up in our worn blankets and went to sleep. The next morning we found the enemy had gone back, so we marched back to the ditches
around Petersburg. We were called out of the trenches several times; had several skirmishes, if I remember right, at Stoney Creek. Having lost my diary I cannot recall all the battles I was engaged in, but am satisfied not less than forty-five or
fifty. I was under General Jackson, whose troops were called "Jackson's Foot Calvary," so we did not need to ride the train and were in most of the battles and skirmishes. Sometimes in going over in my mind the scenes that came under my
observation during the war, I feel like I would be glad to have another whack at the Yankees. Their inhuman acts, destroying property wantonly, and many houses burned; stacks upon stacks of wheat containing thousands of bushels of wheat; houses
where families had left fleeing for their lives. The Yankees had torn the keys out of the pianos, riped open the feather beds, strewed the feathers over the floor, got barrels of molasses and poured over them; destroying everything in the house.
On a march in the valley when we were driving the Yankees back across the Potomac I saw a hog the Yankees had caught and cut the lean part of the ham out and turned it loose. One of the Federal Generals, I have forgotten his name, gave orders to
his officers to burn every house and barn and literally destroy all property. Some of his officers were carrying out his orders, others said they would quit the army before they would obey the order. I saw one house, or where it had been
burned. Several chimneys were standing; the owner was a General in the Confederate army. This house was in Maryland. We passed through Frederick City. I saw several ladies in upstairs windows waving their Confederate flags and handkerchiefs;
they did not dare let their neighbors see them waving. When General Lee carried his army through Pennsylvania he gave orders not to interfere with any citizen's property, if any one did, he would punish them severely.

We bivouacked near Chambersburg. I went to a house to buy a chicken and found it was closed up. I called and finally a man cracked the door and I asked if he would sell me a chicken. He said there had been four or five men there and rocked and
killed every chicken on the place. I asked him if they did not pay for the them, and he said no. I told them if they would report them to General Lee, he would punish them. He then opened the door wide and inside the house were several women.
They all came to the door and told me if I could find a chicken on the place that I might have it; that I had acted a gentleman and they would give me a chicken. I went to the barn and found an old rooster. I offered to pay for it, but they
would not take pay, so I thanked them and hurried back to bivouac and put my chicken to boil. It was 4:00 o'clock. I boiled it till about 10:00 o'clock that night and left it on a good bed of coals, and boiled it again next morning for two
hours. We were ordered to fall in line and march. I took my chicken out of the kettle. I was never able to stick a fork in that chicken. I got my knife out and cut it up and divided it with the boys.

At Mose Neck, on the Rappahannock, our company was posted on guard; the enemy was just on the other side. That was during the winter of 1863. Our meat ration had been very slim. Sometimes we did not get any meal for three to four days, and never
more than a quarter of pound for a two days's supply. While we were on guard duty one night there was a flock of sheep in a cane break in front of us, so we decided we would have some mutton. We drew straws to see who should catch the sheep, and
it fell to my lot to be one of the five or six who should catch the sheep. We got them hemmed up near the bank of the river. Fred Parham and I were close together. Fred said, let's lie down, and as they come over us we can grab their leg and
hold them down or get a handful of wool and hold them. We laid down and soon here came a big old ram right toward Fred. He raised up and the ram tried to jump over him and struck him in the breast. He fell over and said: Oh, Lord, I am killed.
I could not keep from laughing. He got better in a few days. We all had a good laugh. We saw General Lee and General Jackson often during the war.

One day during the Seven Days' Fight around Richmond, General Lee rode up right in the rear of my company. In the edge of the woods our skirmish line and the Yankees skirmish line were firing. The miney balls were flying pretty thick. Four or
five of us begged General Lee to go to the rear, still he sat there on his horse. Finally we told him if he did not go to the rear we would not go forward. He turned the old Traveler and rode away. He knew we were going to have a hard fight,
and he was often at the most dangerous places; so was General Jackson. More than once they were requested to go back out of danger.

On one occasion, going through the Shenandoah Valley, we were marching in files of four at quick time, when the order came -- halt an open ranks. Two files on each side of the road. General Jackson was coming to the front. In a short time we
could hear the Rebel yell. It seemed miles away at first, but soon it came nearer and plainer, as it went down in a hollow or down under a hill; but as it rose it was clearer. Presently General Jackson with his staff came. The general on his
claybank horse came in gallop, a smile on his face, his hat raised. We all expected a hard battle, but that Rebel yell, I think, drove the enemy across the Potomac. If that rebel yell could be reproduced by a picture show I would willingly give
$10.00 to hear it.

Many incidents occurred in the Valley, some of which came under my observation, and others which I heard of that were true. General Bagsby, commander of the calvary force in the Valley, performed many daring feats of which I remember hearing.
He would frequently make raids on the enemy's rear and capture their wagons and stores. Once he captured a general headquarters wagon loaded with hams, wine and brandy. On another occasion one of General Jackson's staff officers had carried an
order from General Jackson to General Ashby and saw dust rising in front.

The staff officer, I remember right, was Major Surrey, said he would ride forward to see what it meant. The enemy ruched on him and took him prisoner, and he was carried to General Banks or Fremont's headquarters. A newspaper reporter present
said that the general had made brags that he would capture General Ashby. About that time a Federal courier came in and told the Federal general that General Ashby and some of his men were right near by. The General ordered several of his picked
soldiers to saddle their horses and said to the newspaper man if he wanted a write up to go and see him capture Bagsby. Surrey said, "General, I would like to go along." Well, I will put you under a guard and let you go," so they struck out.
Bagsby had placed several of his men in ambush on the roadside; Ashby and his other men rode on. After the Federals had passed the men in ambush fell in behind them, captured the Federal General and his men and retook Major Surrey.

In connection with the incidents which took place during the war I must not neglect to give one or two which happened after the war. After I came home C.P. Huggins, a chum of mine, who belonged to the same company, and I captured a Yankee fly, a
small tent just large enough for two to sleep in. He carried one half and I carried the other, till he was wounded in the arm in the battle of Fussell's Mill, from which wound he lost the entire use of his arm. When I came home wounded and not
able to work for eight months, I went to Sampson Bobo and asked him what he would charge me for board per month until I got able to work; then I would work for him for pay. He said he would be reasonable. I insisted that he tell me how much. He
said, "Would six dollars a month be too much." I said, "Can you afford to board me for that?" Meat was forty cents per pound, flour twenty four dollars a barrell and other things in proportion. My war chum, C.P. Huggins, was teaching school
within a mile of my father's, so I went on crutches for eight months. One day during school I felt something like a splinter in my leg, and went down in the woods and examined and found a piece of lead protruding from the wound. I tried to pull
it out, but could not, so I sharpened my pocket knife and cut on each side of the lead and finally got it out. It was the size of a silver dollar. My wound then began to heal. I was wounded with what was called a socket ball. It was joined
together in the center with copper washer between. The ball would separate when it struck anything and leave the washer in the flesh which would poison and cause death from blood poison. My leg sloughed and I feared I had blood poison. One half
of the ball went through my leg, grazed the artery and came near bleeding me to death before I got to the field hospital; the other half struck the bone and lodged there. It worked up and I cut it out with my pocket knife. I soon got so I could
work. I went to work at the Hurricane Shoals Iron Works. Mr. Simpson Bobo was Agent for them, as it was called, but it is called President nowadays. I worked for him twelve months. He called me into his office the first day of January and
settled with me; paying me for my year's work. I knew how much was coming to me, so I counted it before leaving the office and found he had paid me forty-eight dollars too much. I told him he made a mistake in my account. He said show it to him
and he would correct it. I told him he had not taken my room and board, and he said that is all right, go along. I wanted to pay it, but he would not take it. I was so full I could not thank him enough. I have shed many tears since, when I
think of his kindness.