Army life of Frank Edwards, confederate veteran

Preface

My Comrades and Fellow Citizens : —

It is conceded by all nations that in the great struggle between the States from 1861 to 1865 the soldiers of the South won imperishable glory by their patriotism, faithfulness, bravery and self-sacrifice in defense of justice and honor.

1 was mustered in the service of the Confederate Army in August, 1861, in Richmond, Virginia.

I am not boasting; I did everything in my power to discharge my duty as a Confederate soldier. I was never arrested during the four years, and hardly ever failed to stack arms with the company, even in forced marches of thirty-five miles, and even forty-five miles. I was in most all of the great battles that were fought, from Seven Pines to Manassas ; from Sharpsburg to Maryland, to Fredericksburg, to Chancellorsville ; from there to Gettysburg ; from the Wilderness to bpottsylvania Court House, where General Gordon made that wonderful charge ; and at the final battle and subsequent surrender at Appomattox Court House. I was in a great many battles, but fortunately was never wounded — except slightly at Chancellorsville and slightly at Fredericksburg.

I will not undertake to give you the history as I saw it, of all the battles. I have heard a great many say "the yankees never fought," l)ut I tell you they never failed where I was. I was always ready to let go.

In the winter of '61 and '62, our command was on the Potomac, just below Washington City. In February, '62, I was sent to Richmond with the measles. I remained there one month. About the 15th of March, '62, Senator B. H. Hill was to speak at the capitol, Richmond. President Davis and his cabinet and a good many officers of the Confederate Army were present. I was convalescing at the time. I was not an officer, but I put a little red strip on my collar and in the dark you would have to look the second time to see whether I was an officer. The meeting was at night. I was there, one for Hill from LaGrange, Georgia. Everybody wanted to hear the great orator from Georgia. The great hall was full and overflowing. I considered myself fortunate indeed. Senator Hill arose to make his address ; he certainly had the attention of that magnificent body of men. Just at that moment Col. Gus Bull, of LaGrange, and General Pettigrew, of North Carolina, entered the hall. As they arose the officers arose to greet them. The Hon. Alex Stephens was near the speaker's stand. Senator Hill motioned to Mr. Stephens to come over, together with General Joe Johnston. They whispered together a few moments and then Senator Hill arose and said : "The program for the present will be changed. Colonel Bull from Georgia will address you. Colonel Bull is one of my best counsels, and besides is from LaGrange, Georgia, the dearest spot on earth, my home. You will certainly be entertained." Colonel Bull arose and said, "I am certainly unprepared for this occasion." About that time the whole house arose and cheered for Colonel liull. Colonel Bull came around to the speaker's stand. It seemed that the building trembled, so great was the uproar in his honor. I desire to say this much for his home people and for the State of Georgia : The speech that he made that night has never been equaled but a very few times, if at all, in the great capitol building of Virginia, and you know some of the nation's greatest orators and statesmen have been reared in Virginia. I never heard such applause as was given Colonel Bull on that occasion. Do you have any conception as to how I felt? I was listening to the Colonel of the Twenty-fifth Georgia regiment, of which I was a member.

My comrades and friends, if for no otlier purpose have I lived for forty-six years than to write of that great occasion, I am glad. -»! feel proud that I am here to give honor to whom honi^r is due. It was

ARMY LIFE OF FRANK HOWARDS. 5

an accident that I heard that speech, i still thank God that I was there. There are l)ut few left today that heard that great speech. It is the loss of Georgia and the Nation that we have no record of that speech. The great battle of Seven Pines was fought May 31st, 1862. There Colonel Bull was killed, leading his regiment. A braver man never lived. One of the best drilled officers in the Army of Northern Virginia, it seemed his whole makeup was one of the greatest military talents. General Joe Johnston on general review' at Fredericksburg, Va., in March, '62, offered a new dress uniform to the best drilled regiment. The Thirty-fifth Georgia, Colonel Bull's regiment (and mine), won that suit. Colonel Bull was a very strict disciplinarian. He loved his command and we loved Colonel Bull. Though very strict while on duty, you certainly loved the man when off duty. He always cared for his men, to see that they received justice, and you, my comrades, know that was lacking in a great many of our officers.

My friends, you may read casually, but I hope the people of his native town, LaGrange, will think in a patriotic way. I would place a monument to the memory of our great hero. He was killed on the battlefield for the great principle of justice, the greatest thing for which he could live and die. Colonel Gus Bull, Lawyer, Statesman and General.

Colonel Bull was one of our best lawyers and one of the greatest military geniuses of the Civil War. I have never seen or heard his equal as an orator. He had a great knowledge of military affairs, and in the command of an army he had but few equals.

I must admit that I am not the man to do justice to liis honor and integrity, as my command of language is not sufficient to express what I think is due him.

It seems that after forty-five years have passed, I would know his eloquent voice commanding his regiment. To know his ability as the leader of an army was to admire his military ability.

Though his rank was Colonel at the time he was killed in the earlv part of '62, had he lived he would undoubtedly have been numbered among the great generals of the Confederacy.

During the war I was present several times in Richmond and heard his name mentioned in the most complimentary manner. His mind was quick and his conceptions broad. You may speak of Hill, Longstreet, Stewart, Gordon and other generals; if he had lived to show his ability his name would have been placed in the Hall of Fame. The State of Georgia would have been greatly honored as the home of one of the greatest men in the Confederate Army.

I felt proud of Colonel Bull. I claimed to be a proud soldier myself. You don't know how I felt when I heard Colonel Bull's name mentioned in a complimentary way ; I felt honored myself, although I was a private soldier, because I was a member of his regiment.

My comrades, I have never felt embarrassed going to my rank, although I held my rank as a high private from '6i to '65 ; and I am proud of it. Today, when General Evans is honored, I feel honored, for my rank comes next always.

Colonel Bull was buried in the forest alone, without the military honors that were due him. He fell together with his comrades.

We were in a dangerous position and remained longer than we should. We were in a very thick forest. Finally overwhelming numbers compelled us to give way, just as Colonel Bull predicted before entering the battle. He said it was a bad move, and hesitated before advancing, but he advanced to his death. I knew a great many of our private soldiers could maneuver an army more successfully than some of the leaders. Lack of judgment by the men in power caused many of our poor boys to lose their lives.

I hope the good people of LaGrange will become so much interested in Colonel G. A. Bull, of the Thirty-fifth Georgia Regiment, who was killed and is buried with the unknown in the forests at Seven Pines, that they will erect a monument to his memory on the streets of LaGrange. Judge F. M. Longley, Mr. C. D. Hudson, Dr. T. S. Bradfield, Judge J. B. Strong and others sav thev indorse the movement.

Book One

A Six Months' Siege — A Vidette Post and a Capture — On Duty at a Farm House and a Strange and Beautiful Love Which Grew From It — An Affecting Farewell, and Back to Arms.

A Dramatic Moment Near the Close.

On July 15, 1864, our army crossed the James river parallel to the enemy. They were in sight of our great pontoon bridge. Both armies marched parallel to Petersburg. The great line of battle was formed by General Lee in front of Petersburg. General Grant's army was fronting General Lee's, being nearly twenty miles long. General Lee was compelled to lengthen out his lines on the right until it was merely a deploy skirmish line. After General Lee and General Grant maneuvered their lines to the best advantage, General Grant decided that he would move up just a short distance, in our front. General Lee moved up about the same distance, but General Grant saw there was a better position about one hundred yards further in front. General Lee was aware of the strategical value of that position. Both generals decided on the same night to move to the better position, neither knowing that the other was going to move. General Grant, about dark, moved up very quietly to the desired position. General Lee gave orders to move up about nine o'clock the same night. General Grant's army moved up about one hundred yards along the line before General Lee knew that General Grant was expecting to move. General Lee decided on a plan by which to move him back. He gave command for all the commands to move up their skirmishers ten paces in front of the line of battle. At eleven o'clock he gave orders to charge the enemy out of that position with the skirmish Hne. We were ordered not to speak louder than a whisper. Grant's army was peacefully sleeping. The word was given. The distance was about three hundred yards. We crept up close by and sprang forward with a yell. You never saw blankets fly as they did there. We won the fight, the position was ours. They left over half of their arms. I don't think there were over half a dozen killed. A^"e were ordered to entrench at once. By daybreak we had splendid works.

General Lee was expecting an assault, and about sunup the yankees charged. We were behind good works. They came within seventy-five yards before we fired ; we fired, gave a yell at the same time, mounting the breastworks and drove them beyond the point from which they started. We returned to our position. They were mad through and through. The next night they began firing on our lines. Of course we returned the fire. Both sides kept up that regular firing for over six months. Both sides began to entrench, and the whole county was soon subsoiled. The rifle balls were piled up everywhere. We were underground.

My friends, just think for a minute! After marching for four long years, half fed, half clad, without money, over half of our brave boys killed or disabled, fighting, marching night and day, in the great valleys of Virginia, our homes in most all directions in possession of the enemy, our cities destroyed, our farms all gone to rack and ruin, fencing all down, and with the bridges, mills, factories and machinery all burned; our stock, hogs and sheep, and nearly everything else, destroyed ; our ports closed and in many instances destroyed; it did seem to us that the nations of the world were turned against us ; we had the worst to fight ; we could rarely hear from our loved ones ; it seemed there was nothing to do but fall in the charge.

My comrades, you know the dark days lasted long. It was beyond conception how we spent our young lives in the terrible trenches and forts at Petersburg, as well as all during the war. Wc k-fl <»ur homes luilf educated. Our future was dark.

There was never an army that deserved more honor ; greater patriotism was never shown ; greater generalship w^as never recorded.

But what did we do? We stood there and held that position until we received orders from General Lee to evacuate. Therefore we were not driven away, but left the city of Petersburg quietly and in good order.

But before the city was evacuated the great blowup occurred. I was sitting down, after being relieved from guard duty, eating a morsel of bread and drinking a glass of water. Without any warning, the earth, rails and everything seemed to fly upwards, accompanied with a terrific roar or explosion. It missed our line about ten feet. The intention was to tunnel right under our lines, twelve hundred yards ; they missed it about ten feet. As it was, they killed a gocd manv of our boys. I saw our men give back; then the negroes charged. They took the lines for about live hundred yards, but did not hold it thirty minutes. We charged and killed every negro in the ditch. We certainly Riled that crater wnth dead negroes. White soldiers charged the next time, and they were treated the same way.

Cold weather was now felt, \\'e began to prepare a little for winter. A portion of us had moved back a short distance into winter quarters. Now, about January i, 1865, we began to clear and brush up the broken places. Now and then the boys would dodge a shell. No one knew when we would break camp, though we thought we would remain there until the winter broke. About this time we had very pretty weather, and we began to look for some move on the part of the enemy. How we did dread the consequences. Our armv was reduced considerably ; many had been killed and wounded ; a great many sick, due to long marches and great exposure. A Close Call.

One day we were standing close by the Colonel's tent. I was very well acquainted with the Colonel.

A courier came up to the tent at full speed. He carried an order from Lt. Gen. A. T. Hill. We all expected to move at once. But he wanted just one man to go away out on the left to a vidette post, some three miles away.

''General Hill desires a man that knows all about the movements of an army, and one that will hold that post, if possible. One that will keep wide awake," said the Colonel.

He just turned to me and said: "Here is the boy, right here," with a smile. I said to myself, 'Xord, help me!" and to the Colonel, ''Where will I report?"

"Just follow this man." That was the courier that brought the order. General Hill's quarters were four miles away. To the courier I said, "Move your saddle up just a little, your honor; I will ride in the rear, if you will permit."

'""Certainly."

I said to the Colonel, "Do not report where I go, only to the Captain." We were soon in General Hill's headquarters. I said to the courier, "Look here, where do I go? I would like to know."

"I can't tell you, no one knows but General Hill. He has one man beside you."

General Hill came out very soon. I gave him the military salute. He said, "Well, boys, I am going to send you on a very particular post, five miles away. I will give you your instructions. I have been looking for the enemy to move down on the Weldon railroad. I have been watching very closely. They expect to cut that road to stop our supplies. Now, gentlemen, look and listen for the enemy. You know what kind of noise an army makes preparing to move. Now, think what great responsibility is upon you. It may be that judgment and close observance on your part will save the army a great victory. Now, I will be expecting to hear something before day. If you think the enemy is moving, report to me at once. Pay no attention to any one. There will be no danger on your part, if you will keep your eyes open. Your post will be close to the enemy."

He ordered a courier to point out our post. General Hill took our names. We passed on.

Just before we arrived at our destination we struck a very wide, muddy swamp, one hundred and fifty yards wide, and very marshy. Sometimes in goinii^ over this we would miss a tuft of grass and down we would go, nearly knee-deep. We could hardly see our way. Neither of us said a word. After awhile we landed on the other side.

"Here is your post, Mr. Edwards, by this pine. I advise you to stand close by that post and listen and keep a lookout and do as you were ordered," said tlie courier.

I said I would be governed by circumstances. 1 le said, "Good night, Mr. Edwards; I wish you success." The other fellow went a mile further on.

Do you have any idea of how I felt? That pine seemed to be the tallest tree I ever saw, about a hundred feet to the first limb. I did as I was ordered, and stood very, very close to that pine. I could see a flash of lightning occasionally, and it was misting rain a little, just enough to make it very lonely ; my feelings were such that I can not describe them. No one near. The man with whom I came was a mile away, and the enemy within about one hundred and fifty yards of my post, but I can't say that the enemy was any consolation to me. I stood there listening, thinking. I could not tell you all I thought, only my thoughts Avere such that my hair seemed to stand straight up.

About nine o'clock I heard the artillery and wagon trains of the enemy moving and also heard the command, "Fall in," given by the officers of the op]:)nsing army.

About that time I heard a rustle in the leaves just in front of me, about ten steps away. I did not look. I simply stood and listened. The undergrowth was oak and hickory, very thick. I will say this much, I don't think my breathing was ever so short. It seemed that I could "swallow my throat." That something kept moving towards me. It mo\ed something like a hog- in the leaves. It moved to my right and then to my left, just a little closer every time. I began to think. I decided to risk one eye anyway. My face was very close to the pine and my hat ofif. I looked very close to my right and saw a bulk of something about five paces from the pine. That was mv pine yet. I was satisfied that that something- was a yankee. But I could not tell what he wanted to do; but I had it fixed in my mind what I was to do. I heard him make about three steps towards my pine. He came to a standstill as though he thought, "Nobody here." I was very close to that pine, indeed. I thought, "Now was the time to act." A great deal depended on that first move. If I fired and killed him, the enemy would hear and come at once. I made ready. He was about two paces from the pine. I jumped right in his front ; I had the drop. I said, "Surrender." He jumped and threw down his gun, and said, "Yes,, yes, yes ! I will ! I will ! Don't shoot !" I said, "Step here to me." He came right up. I said, "Throw down your other weapons — your knife and evervthing that will kill." He said, "My friend—" I said, "You are not my friend, and don't call me your friend."

"I did not slip up with the intention of killing you ; I intended to capture you," he said. "We get a forty days' furlough when we capture a Johnnie. My brother captured a man from this post last night, and he went home today." "Yes, indeed, I will give you a greater furlough than that," I remarked.

We talked about ten minutes. I then asked him, "Is your command moving?" and he answered. "Yes, sir; about nine o'clock they began to move on the Weldon road. Grant will tear up that road tomorrow."

I said, "He will never get there ; * * =f^ Well, we will pass to the rear, Johnson, move up." (His name was Johnson.) I gave him my name and address.

I was then getting in a hurrv to get to the camp of General Hill.

We plunged through that swamp in a hurry ; and just as we struck the other side, we came up with three of our men. and they lialted us and reciuested the countersis^n. I step])ed up, and with a l)ayonet pointini;- to my breast, whispered, "Richmond." That was the countersij^n tliat ni^ht. He said, "Who is that you have there?" I said, "1 can't tell you," and told Johnson to go ahead. The man called, "Hold on there." I said I hadn't the time ; that I was on special l)usiness. He said, "You have a prisoner. Just turn him over to me." I said, 'T captured this man, and 1 am going to carry him to General Hill, at the risk of my life." He said, "I am a commissioned ofificer. If you don't surrender that man you will be punished." "I am not particularly interested in your stripes, but about your command — this prisoner is mine."

He said, "I wall shoot you on the spot."

I said, ''Go ahead, Johnson." He said, "I will report you before day." I said, ''All right, 1 will see you later. Go on, Johnson."

He w^ent on, and we passed and left them.

I struck up with a cavalry camp, two miles from there. We were met with the command, "Halt! AMio comes there?"

"Friend," I answered ; "is this the direction to General Hill's headquarters, if you please?"

"Just go around out there and you will strike the road that leads to his quarters."

After we struck the road we halted a few minutes ; my prisoner seemed to be much relieved. He was apparently about tw^enty years of age, handsome and ver}^ intelligent. He said, "I like your style as a soldier very much." He seemed very much attached to me. "I like the way you disposed of that officer; you did right. You have been in the service some time?" "Yes, ever since the war began."

"I see you are not very easily bluft'ed." I said, "He had no right to you. General Hill said pay no attention to any one ; I went to that pine with the intention of holding that pine, at any cost."

I know I was in a close place and I thought he was making his way up to get an opportunity to slioot me on the post; I knew they were close by and might have heard me when I took my stand. But, I did right all the way through.

That officer and those two men were just traveling around to see what they could find. I was always ready to obey my officers ; I knew he was not on duty of any kind. He just thought if he could get possession of that prisoner, he would get all the information and carry it up and get the name of a hero ; if there was anv honor he would be the man. I had authority, and I made use of all I had. I had General Hill behind me, and that was sufficient.

We passed on, and found General Hill's quarters about two and a half miles away. Just before we arrived at his quarters some one said, ''Halt ! Who comes there?" "Friends. I desire to see General Hill on particular matters." "You can't see him now ; he is asleep." "I have a prisoner here, captured on post in front." "Well, just turn him over to me. I will take charge of him."

"No one can get this prisoner. I am going to General Hill's tent. Go on, Johnson." "Hold on there."

I made no reply; I had no time to lose with that fellow.

"We will have you arrested."

I made no reply, but went right to General Hill's tent. I met his aide at the door. "What is your business, sir? AVhat is your name?" "My name is Edwards."

General Hill jumped to the door. "Yes, sir, this is my man," he exclaimed. "Edwards, tell me what you know. Who is this you have here?" "I captured this man on post."

"I tell you, your act is worth something; tell me; come right in, you and your prisoner; take that seat, Edwards." Then he handed my prisoner one.

I said, "General Hill, I think I have the desired information, all right. The enemy is moving; took up the line of march about 1 1 130 o'clock. This man will give you all the information you desire."

ARMY LIFE OF FRANK EDWARDS. l'^

"All rii^ht, tell me the movements oi your army. No one will know what you say to me."

The prisoner said : "General Hancock's corps be.^an to break camp about eight o'clock tonight. He will move down on the Weldon road. He intends to tear up that, and thus stop your supplies." General Hill said, "Yes, yes. I will meet him just before he gets there. Captain, get in motion just as quick as possible. Get around to all the commands at once; it's one o'clock now ; I want my corps to meet the enemy before day."

After he gave orders to his staff he turned to me_ and

said:

"Edwards, this information is very important indeed. Mr Edwards, tell me of your encounter with the prisoner." I said, "General, I did all I could to carry out your instructions. I took possession of that pine, and 'I held it." He smiled. "I w^as standing very close to the pine ; I was listening and looking. I heard this man rustling the leaves ; he went to the right and to the left, a little nearer each time ; I looked and saw the bulk. I was thinking wdiat course to pursue. He came very close and stopped, as though there was nobody near. I jumped in front of him, got the drop on him and said, surrender. He jumped very high and gave up."

General Hill and the prisoner both laughed.

Then I told him about the close calls I had on my way to his tent.

He said, "I must commend you for your good judgment in the course you pursued. Many another would have left his post or suffered capture. Your course with that officer should be published for the good of the others. Most of them would have obeyed the officer and given up the prisoner. Now, I will tell you something else. I have placed four men on that post. I feel proud to say that you have been the successful man. All four of the others were either captured or killed. Now, I am going to do something for you. If I could, I would give you a furlough ; but you know that can't be done at this time. If you will hold up a while I will get for you a furlough home. I think you have earned it.

"There was an old citizen here this morning that desired a quiet, sober young soldier to come and look after his home. He said the soldiers were bothering him very much. He wanted some one to come there and board with him. It's a good place, about eight miles from here. I will give you a permit until General Lee moves his entire army from Petersburg, I pass that way some time, and I will pay my compliments to you there and thank you for the information you have given us."

I said I would gladly go, and thanked him.

General Hill moved his corps to the Weldon road. Just as he formed his line, the yankees charged on the road, and were badly defeated. General Hill's corps was the only one in the battle.

Well, it seemed that I had had a bad time. Fortunately I drew a new uniform the next day after I left General Hill's quarters. I hardly knew what to do, my clothing was very much soiled, and I hesitated at going anywhere but to the front. I went out to Petersburg, got a hair cut, came back and then started to my new home.

I did not know any one there, never heard anything about the people, except what General Hill told me, that they were fine people. I am afraid that I was somewhat bashful. About four o'clock in the afternoon I was close by my new home. I had been in the army four years and knew very little about the ways of society, and was more or less nervous around young ladies. I only hoped the people where I was going had a small family. I took my time as I neared the house. I heard somebody coming down the road, and I jumped to one side; they never turned their heads, and I was still giving back when I discovered that I was out in the woods and they were gone.