Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 18.djvu/411

 Glimpses of Array Life in 1864. 411

of ladies were present as well as several general officers. Captain Hale addressed the thirteen knights in a pretty little speech just before the bugle sounded. The band played at intervals, and the riding was really fine. Each knight rode five times, and, to be per- fectly successful, had to cut off a head, take the ring, strike another head on the ground, and pierce still another on a pole at each riding, and all in ten seconds. One person was selected to burlesque the whole, and he did it admirably. Then came the pistol-firing at three targets, under full speed, and finally the jumping over rails at different heights. The crowning of the queen of love and beauty and the four maids of honor was to come off last night at Montpelier, but the mother of the queen objected to her attending, and it was decided not to have any ceremony of the kind at all, but commence at once with the dancing. I went after the Misses B., of Gordons - ville, who had entertained me so hospitably. Both were very much admired, and were pronoqnced to be the prettiest ladies present. Everything passed off very pleasantly, both at the tournament and dance, and daybreak found most of them on their way home.

[VI.l NEAR PETERSBURG, VA., September 29, 1864.

since nine o'clock last night. There was heavy artillery and infantry firing to our left last night; and this afternoon there has been heavy cav- alry skirmishing to our right. The enemy, I understand, have pos- session of Fort Harrison, nearChafin's Bluff, on the north side of the James. We have been under marching orders all day and will prob- ably get off to-night. Our destination is the north side of the James. From Dunlop's we go to Rice's by rail. We will probably soon be engaged in another deadly conflict.
 * * * The enemy along the lines nave been in motion ever

[VII.] NEAR BATTLE-FIELD ON JONES' FARM, October 4, 1864.*

side of the James, and had crossed the Appomattox, when we were ordered back and sent to the right, as parts of the Fifth and Ninth
 * * * Last Friday we had actually started for the north

See Southern Historical Society Papers. History of Lane's North Caro- lina Brigade, Vol. IX, pages 354-489.