Reminiscences of the Civil War, 1861-1865

Although many histories have been written and tradition has furnished its part toward the perpetuation of the memory of the exciting times of the civil war, very much occurred that has never been recorded. Monuments may be erected and histories written, but unless the veterans now living get busy and refresh their memories, and the memories of their comrades very much that happened, and ought to be preserved in durable form will with the passing of the main actors pass into oblivion. The Confederate Soldiers now living are all old men, and each one could, and ought to contribute items of information that would be interesting to the children and adults of future generations. These scenes, anecdotes, incidents and historical facts ought to be written by the soldiers themselves, for by no other means can a correct history of the war period be handed down to posterity.

I undertake my part of the task well knowing the information that I shall try to give will not be pictured in a graphic style to please the overeducated critic, but I feel assured that though written in a plain style the facts narrated will be read and appreciated by many who will not depreciate the information given, on account of the lack of embellishment or absence of the style so pleasing to the


 lovers of eloquence, poetry, song and graphic story.

The following pages written by a plain confederate soldier who spent three years in the war instead of at college are submitted to the public upon the merits of the information given, without claiming any literary merit. Feeling that I am performing an imperative duty that I owe to the cause and my country, I respectfully dedicate the reminiscences to the soldiers of the late war who were my comrades while passing through the trying ordeal.

In another decade by the sweep of time,

Many of the Veterans will fall out of line;

After a score of years very few there will be

For people then living to entertain or see.

The few that are left will be old and alone,

And quietly waiting for the summons to come;

Not until the last one shall have passed away

Will justice be done to the heroes of that day

Monuments will be erected on the ground where they sleep

And generations to come will their memory keep,

Patriots will pause with trembling and fear

And reverently on their graves drop a tear.

A responsibility now rests on veterans passing away

To rescue from oblivion the doings of that day.

We may not with a facile pen

Give a glowing description of scenes and men.

We can in a plain and plausible way

Give a rough sketch of the doings of that day.

After we have gone to our final home,

These sketches will be read by generations to come.

Let us be up and doing and work with might

And though late in the day commemorate the right.