Part 9 (1/2)

As ever.

HOLLY SPRINGS.

You wished me to keep a journal for you, dear J----; but I answered that a journal would be a dull compound of dates, with three lines setting forth the vapidity of most days; and I would rather write events as they pa.s.sed.

You replied that my letters must be voluminous if they were satisfactory.

Do you not already repent the remark? I rejoice, if length is pleasing, my letters are satisfactory.

The battle of Corinth was a b.l.o.o.d.y failure. Oh the blood that has flowed in this wonderful and most appalling warfare!--the tears and the suffering! Can there be nothing done to a.s.suage the fierce pa.s.sions of men? Oh! J----, could you see, as I have, the torn and mangled human beings brought from the field of battle, with loud cries to G.o.d for death!--for mercy and for death!--you, like me, would ask anxiously, ”Can nothing do away with this death?--this anguish? Can no appeal be made by which peace may come to us?” But woman weeps, while man strikes!

Holly Springs, with its white verandahed houses, its pleasant gardens, wide streets, and hospitable homes, is the most pleasant of Southern towns; though crowded and teeming with soldiers and officers.

The inhabitants seem uniting in the efforts to entertain. Generals V---- D----, P----, L----, and T---- have each their respective headquarters in the town. A week ago I attended a review of the troops under Generals L---- and T----. They presented a fine appearance: most of them were newly uniformed and renovated from their prison clothing. General V---- D----, who is called the finest horseman in the army, galloped up and down the line on a fleet, beautiful black horse, followed by General P---- on a large bay that galloped heavily and with less speed.

There were many ladies present on horseback, scattered around the field, with generally a gay group of officers surrounding them. Day before yesterday we rode out to a large review of the Missouri troops under General P----. There were spectators from the whole country around: many came up on the cars from a distance. Such imperishable renown have the Missouri troops gained in the late battle of Corinth, that all are anxious to witness their review, and cheer the brave fellows who have suffered so much. Although driven back and obliged to retreat, their gallant struggle over two rows of superior fortifications in the face of a galling fire, the Southern people will never forget.

General P---- is greatly beloved by the people also; though the heads of the Government are strongly opposed to him. It is natural, of course, that President Davis should suppose a regularly educated military man would be more likely to understand the science of war than a man who had not made it his study. But why does he cripple so efficient an officer as General P---- certainly is, so as almost to render him inefficient?

The Missourians on review looked fresh and lively. General P----, attended by his staff, stood near us in the pause, while we waited the arrival of General V---- D----. One of General P----'s staff officers started across the field to carry a despatch, when his horse, stumbling, fell on the gra.s.s, rolling the brilliantly uniformed gentleman over and over on the sod, much to the amus.e.m.e.nt of the spectators, who cheered him l.u.s.tily. I felt sorry for him; and although some of his friends were talking to me at the time, I could scarcely conceal a smile. But the men, who, half a mile distant, have been drawn in line, now wheel, form, and march around the little hillock in the distance. See, the sun glances on the bayonets of the guns, as they ascend, and in coming down over the brow of the hill, the regular swing of the line and glance of the steel show the discipline they have been under.

Now they pa.s.s by the general, who sits a little behind General V---- D----, and near General Q----. Among the artillery, I saw the Lady Richardson, captured and brought away from Corinth. As they come on, and pa.s.s by General V---- D----, they salute; which is answered by his raising his cap to the colors, disclosing a proud, youthful head, surrounded by curls. He is immediately before me, and I do not see his face, which is marked with deep lines I have noticed before. In the evening, after the review, I attended a party given to the generals here collected. The house was crowded; the generals, with their staff and other officers, were there, and some of the lovely ladies of Holly Springs. The supper was handsome. Toasts were drunk to Generals P---- and V---- D----, and all went merry, &c. But in the midst of a conversation, an officer told me that the Federal forces were advancing on Holly Springs, and that probably the Confederate forces would evacuate the town in a day or two. So, dear J----, there is no telling where I will be when I write next.

JACKSON.

I know you are smiling, as you see Jackson written at the head of my letter--smiling to think how systematically I have bowed myself out of one town after the other, as the Federal troops have bowed themselves in; yet you know the old saw, ”He that fights, and runs away,” &c.; though I can take no comfort in this, as fighting has been my abomination since the war began. I have always, in peaceful times, had an admiration for heroes in brilliant uniforms, and would now, if the hero could possibly a.s.sure me that the brilliant uniform would always be filled with life. But how can one feel a pleasure in the gilt trappings of a friend, when they know that they may possibly serve as an anxiously sought target for some sharpshooter. You do not wonder at my quotation in favor of a retrograde movement in this frame of mind, do you? For the last week or two I have pa.s.sed from one state of excitement to another, so that I am glad indeed to find a quiet resting place.

From Holly Springs the army under Generals V---- D---- and P---- retreated to Abbeville, where they remained stationary for a time. One day the inhabitants of O---- were alarmed by the distant booming of cannon. A great excitement prevailed, and various rumors went the rounds. One that the Federal troops had reached the Tallahatchee; another that they had crossed, and a battle was progressing between the Federal and Confederate forces.

The town grew wide awake. Wagons pa.s.sed and repa.s.sed. Numerous families were seen walking rapidly toward the depot, carriages filled with ladies and children driving swiftly in the same direction. My friends were preparing to leave also. I had received a telegram from M----, telling me to be in readiness to take my departure during the afternoon. My preparations were made. A gentleman came on the down train to accompany me, when, to our great disappointment, pa.s.sengers were not allowed to go on the train, for the hospital patients were all to be taken off before pa.s.sengers could be accommodated. My friend was, however, by particular favor, allowed to ride in a baggage car with my trunks. The next day, Sunday, how little it seemed like the Sabbath! pa.s.senger trains were to run if the stores could all be transported. So a number of friends, with myself, took our seats quite early in the cars at the depot, and waited patiently hour after hour, hearing most distracting rumors, until my patience had become nearly exhausted.