. Army life : a private's reminiscences of the Civil War . beenfired. The picket lines were established. The sunsank from view, and the weary soldiers lay downupon the ground to rest. The tall dark pines bowedand waved their heavy plumes in the evening breeze,and all was quiet. In nature we observe that apeaceful calm often precedes the most fearful storm,and thus it was with the elements of strife in thewilderness. On the fifth of May we were awake at an early-hour. It was a beautiful morning. The rising sunsent its rays of light down like golden needlesthrough the tops of the pine trees. Lit
. Army life : a private's reminiscences of the Civil War . beenfired. The picket lines were established. The sunsank from view, and the weary soldiers lay downupon the ground to rest. The tall dark pines bowedand waved their heavy plumes in the evening breeze,and all was quiet. In nature we observe that apeaceful calm often precedes the most fearful storm,and thus it was with the elements of strife in thewilderness. On the fifth of May we were awake at an early-hour. It was a beautiful morning. The rising sunsent its rays of light down like golden needlesthrough the tops of the pine trees. Little fires werekindled, our coffee was quickly boiled, and we satdown to our rude breakfasts with appetites such asare unknown in lives of luxury and ease. The menwere all in excellent spirits, but it was an easy taskto distinguish a contrast in their dispositions. Somewere laughing and cracking their jokes about hunt-ing for the Johnnies through the forest, of thegrand times we should have marching down toRichmond and entering the rebel capital, how when. AVILDERXESS BATTLE-FIELR. REMINISCENCES OF THE WAR. 159 the war was over, we would hang Jeff Davis to thesour apple tree, and then go marching class more thoughtful and equally bravewere lying upon the ground silent, alone, thoughtful,with compressed lips, seeming not to notice whatwas transpiring around them. They were thinkingof wives and little ones far away, and wondering ifthey would ever see them again. Others were lean-ing against the trees, writing letters to their lovedones at home. It was well that they did this, forbefore the sun went down that day, some ofthem were cold in the embrace of death. Cavalrymen soon came back with the thrilling intelligencethat General Lees army in great force was rapidlyadvancing. There was no time to lose. The field ofbattle which our commanding generals selected,stretched its length for six miles through that greatforest. The trees were all cut down for a distance of some
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidarmylifepriv, bookyear1882
