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Recollections of the Civil War by J. B. Lightsey
Part Two
From the February 9, 1908 Jasper County Review
After repulsing Sherman at Peach Tree Creek, Hood remained at Atlanta
about a month, during which time Sherman was massing and recruiting his
forces, but would not attack Hood.
Having recourse to his flank movement, again he caused Hood to evacuate
Atlanta, destroying much military goods which it was impossible to remove.
The explosion of shells for some time was much like a battle, the incessant
detonations were heard for miles, and was by many mistaken for another big
battle.
I was taken quite sick just as we were marching to Atlanta, and dropped
out of ranks, lying down a short distance form the road.
I remained there until the entire army had passed, not being able
to travel until the next day. My case developed into billious remittant
fever after having a chill and a roasting fever every other day for several
days.
Knowing that camping nearby the roadside was dangerous, I too, took
to the woods none too soon, as the blue coat gang soon passed by following
in the rear of Hood, which cut me off from my command. When able to travel,
my command had to so far ahead of me there was no chance to overtake them.
I had to spend another day and night on this cheerless spot.
Up to this time I had retained my gun and accouterments, but now feeling
too weak to carry the, and thinking they might not be needed, they were
discarded, with but little regret.
About this time, a stray bullet from the enemy, which was nearby,
came uncomfortably near me and thinking to find shelter, resolved to call,
but here I found mans inhumanity to man exemplified. The farmer even denied
me shelter in a woodshed, saying if the Yanks, who were near, should find
a Reb hiding they would tear up his place in retaliation for hiding a Reb.
I did not have much dust on my feet, but gave them a shake and departed
in an unthankful mood, but as is often the case, providence directs our
footsteps, and what we think bad for us turns out to be a blessing in disguise.
Polking slowly along brooding over my ill luck, and expecting to be compelled
to spend another night in the comfortless condition of the previous nights,
I came in view of another house. Being quite thirsty, I decided to make
another effort to find a shelter, and this time as I called at the gate,
instead of seeing a churlish man, a handsome matron came and invited me
in with a smile on her beautiful face.
After giving me water and hearing my tale of suffering, she insisted
that I remain over night, and her hospitality was accepted and highly appreciated.
She and her married daughter after making a fire, which I sat by and
thoroughly drying myself, prepared a nice supper of fried chicken, ham,
eggs, and biscuits, and sure enough coffee.
From the February 13, 1908 Jasper County Review
I was breaking a fast of several days, and it was my off day from
the fever, and you may well imagine there was ample justice done to the
vitals. Then preparing a good bed in a private apartment for me; they bade
me good night, and as I tumbled in the bed, the first on which I had reposed
in near six months, I thanked the Lord for his last and best gifts to man-a
good woman, and wondered who invented the first good be, thinking he or
she ought to be immortalized.
What a contrast to my bed of wet leaves the night before! And to further
show the goodness of Providence in being denied shelter by that selfish
brother of this widow, as she informed me to be the case that night. The
enemy came to his house that night and relieved him of much of his goods.
Had I remained with him it is probable I would have been captured
and sent to another prison on Rock Island. The widow blistered her brother
soundly, saying he was too mean for anyone and she would not have treated
a dog as he treated me. Next morning they provided me a good breakfast,
and invited me to partake of it, but alas; that sneaking chill laid hold
of me again and my appetite was gone. The ladies spread some quilts on the
floor before the fire, with pillows for my head, and gave me some stimulants
and let me shake a while. In the meantime, hearing a noise up the road,
she saw a regiment of Yankees coming towards her home. She asked me if I
wished to hide from them and I told her that I certainly did as I was in
no condition to go to Rock Island. She then hustled me off to the room that
I had occupied the night before, and turned the key on me, just in time.
The regiment halted in front of her gate and stacked arms and began to cook
their rations. There was a glass window in my room and I could, from my
bed, see them but they could not see me, as I was all covered up to the
eyes. Two of the officers came in and spoke to the widow, and she gave them
chairs and asked them to be seated. They complied, resting their chairs
against the wall of the room occupied by me. I could hear them talking,
and though they said some things I didn't like, thought best not to contradict
them.
They gave the Rebs Hail Columbia! I had to grin and endure it. I remained
quietly in bed watching them cook breakfast, notwithstanding my being so
sick and my serious condition.
From the February 20, 1904 Jasper County Review.
They remained here until about 5 oclock P.M., when the bugle gave
the signal to fall into ranks, and much to my relief the marched away.
As soon as they were out of sight my door was unlocked and the lady
inquired how I was getting along.
Remaining there that night and resting well, I was aroused at the
usual breakfast time to partake of a good breakfast, and bidding them farewell,
the good lady asked for my haversack which was filled with nice biscuits,
ham and fried chicken. She then asked if I had any money, and I replied,
"Not a red cent." She then begged me to accept five dollars, saying
that it might come in well before overtaking my command.
I often think of that good widow's kindness to me, a stranger, and
am satisfied that she has long since been rewarded for this unmistakable
evidence of a Christian spirit.
After leaving this good Samaritan's home, I had to make quite a detour
through the woods to avoid the bluecoats, who where still nearby.
Late in the even coming to a large two-story house near the road,
and finding it vacant, I resolved to go in and spend the night there as
I was about exhausted after my days walk through the woods.
Finding a bold spring of good water near, refreshing myself from its
bubbling stone fount, I betook myself to the inside, threw down my knapsack,
spread my blanket, and was soon in dreamland. Being the sole occupant of
the house with the exception of a few huge rats, my slumbers were not much
disturbed although there was a large cemetery near the house, and I still
had enough of my early superstitution left to cause me to be lonely; and
a slight display of anything out of the ordinary might have revived the
old time belief in hobgoblins.
Next morning quite early my shake came on followed by the fever. Here
I remained prone on my back all day and the next night, seeing neither a
friend or foe. Next morning, being clear of fever, and rested enough to
travel, I bade a lasting farewell to the old house, and the rats.
Finding that I was on the track of my command travel was somewhat
accelerated by following the trail of the command, and about sundown being
in ten miles of them worn out and exhausted, dropping down by the roadside
watching our cavalry go by, many of them home boys, and brothers in the
church. I was then forcibly reminded of the parable of the good Samaritan,
as none of them offered me any assistance until George Calhoun passed by,
and seeing my sad plight, he inquired what I was doing there.
After telling me story he jumped off his horse and said:"Mount
my horse and I will take you to the command." We reached them about
midnight and he then had to ride ten miles farther to overtake his command.
up to this time I did not much appreciate George, as he was thought to be
rather wild, but this act of the good Samaritan caused me to shed many tears
at his untimely death from the hands of a brutal Negro, Lewis Morgan, who
was hung in Paulding for this dasterdly assassination.
From the February 27, 1908 Jasper County Review.
My comrades were glad to see me come into camp, and they physicked
me up on willow bark tea in lieu of quinine, which did not improve my condition,
and they soon hustled me off to the hospital at Cuthburt, Georgia. As is
often the case, this was providential in saving my life, as the hardships
of our boys in Hood's foolish march to Tennessee, where at the battles of
Franklin and Nashville our losses were severe and demoralizing.
Many of the boys were barefooted and bloody tracks were seen in snow
every where they went. The cars on which I went to the hospital were box
cars with flat tops, and were so crowded that many of us had to ride on
top of the cars, and if it had not been that a slow rain was falling, we
would have been badly burned, and the sparks from the engine flew in our
faces like snow in a snow storm.
We found Cutburt a nice little town, and in the hospital, which was
crowded, were many good doctors and nurses. I was place under a doctor from
this state and he seemed to be partial to the boys form home and the result
was good for me. My trouble had developed into billous remittent fever of
a typhoid type, and I was very sick for about 20 days after which I was
convalescent.
A few days later, my doctor permitted me to go before the examaning
board to ask for a furlough.Desiring to make my case out as bad as possible,
and knowing by a former experience how sickening the taste of tobacco was
to me, I got a chew from a man on the outside and went in chewing it, getting
before the board a sure enough sick man with a woe-begone expression.
"Where did you come from" said the examiner. "From
Jasper County, Mississippi," was my reply.
Turning to the clerk, he said "Give him a furlough for 60 days."
Getting out of their sight and taking emetic, and dispersing with
my chew of tobacco, which had been swallowed, I felt much better, and have
had no use for tobacco since. Reaching home in 'tater-dinging' time with
my appetite well improved, you may be sure I was not laggard when it came
to eating.
We had plenty of hog and hominy as cotton planting had been stopped.
My furlough was extended forty days, and by that time my command was again
under Joe Johnson and back in Georgia. Returning to my command, accompanied
by my brother David, we spent a few days at the home of David Dixon who
was a noted Georgia Planter, and an uncle to my wife.
We soon reached our command at Greenwood, North Carolina, after the
surrender, and were disbanded there, footing it a good part of the way home
as the railroads were all badly torn up.
This ends my story.
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