Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 9, Number 2, May 1999 Page: 122

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Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal

smart and that they can circumvent us, and keep
us in camp, and "reveille" us up to breakfast,
and "tattoo" us to bed, and "roll call" us all in
camp, and we are there every time too, but all
the same inspite of their "tattoo," and their "rev-
eille," and their "roll call," we'll have a piece
of pork, or a nice chicken for breakfast, just
borrowed from the "Yanks," and it is so nice
to get a head of these officers, because they
think they are so smart.
And there, listen at Joe Bowers with that
everlasting song of his, about his girl Sally
Black, and the way she flung off on him. Joe is
the ugliest man in our brigade, and he really
thinks he is the only fellow in the world, whose
girl ever went back on him and he's happy in
the thought. Well, let him think so, "where ig-
norance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise," and Joe
is delighted in that idea; but were I disposed to
"tell tales out of school, I could on this, Dec.
31, 1863, "a tale unfold" that would knock that
idea out of his head, and tell of a better girl
than Sally Black, or any other Sally, who, went
back on a fellow.
Confound Joe Bowers and God bless Sally
Black. What right has a soldier to expect a girl
to sit in the corner moping for him anyway?
Don't girls generally love those most who love
them least? I think so, but then I don't know
much about girls, except that they are sweet
and pretty and I love them; but I never was a
favorite with them. I suppose because I showed
them too much respect; but Joe Bowers is a
fool; going crazy and thinking he is the only
man a pretty girl ever went back on. Pshaw! I
could have a half dozen to go back on me in
less than a month.
The old year is nearly gone, and we seem
about as far from peace as when we first started,
save from the fact that our army is rapidly
decreasly, and it is simply a question of time,
until all will be gone; that with our manage-
ment we can be successful is the veriest of soph-
istries and humbugs. Our generals, save Green,

Dick Taylor, Bagby, Old Gotch, Scurry and
one or two others seem to be jealous of each
other and afraid to do anything themselves, for
fear that some one else would get the credit.
The year opened brightly for us, but one
blunder has succeeded another until little hope
is left of Southern success. One army lost at
Vicksburg, another at Port Hudson, and nei-
ther had any business in either place, for expe-
rience has long since demonstrated that no for-
tress can be built that can not be taken.
The conduct of the war on our side, seems
to be how not to do it. Lee and Dick Taylor
seem to be the only commanding generals that
form an exception to the rule.
But I am not writing a history of the war,
but simply the part our brigade played in that
war.
We have been confronted this year with two
splendid armies, one of 30,000 and the other
of 20,000, and both these armies have been
badly used up, having lost fully half their num-
ber; but both these armies ought to have been
captured. When Dwight, Weitzel and Grover
drove us back form Bisland to Grand Coteau.
Why did not McGruder, with Duff's, Beard's,
Terrell's, Buchel's, Dicken's, Ellmore's,
Griffin's, Speight's, DeBray's, Brown's,
Hobby's and Davidson's regiments, come to
our relief, get in their rear, cut their communi-
cations, and force them to surrender? No army
was threatening Texas, save the one we were
confronting.
Again in the fall when Burbridge and Banks
drove us back to Bayou Burbeax. Why was it
that these troops were not called upon to make
this same maneuver? it could have been done.
I had been under the impression, and all the
Southern troops were of the some opinion, that
we were put into the field to help each other,
and that when one was hard pressed it was the
duty of the other to go to the relief, but our
commanding generals seem to think otherwise.
I do not mean to censure Jeff Davis for

122

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Nesbitt Memorial Library. Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 9, Number 2, May 1999, periodical, May 1999; Columbus, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151406/m1/74/ocr/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nesbitt Memorial Library.

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