Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 33.djvu/112

 108 Southern Historical Society Papers.

of apple butter. In a twinkling the cloth covering of the crock was removed, and the ravenously hungry son from Georgia began to fill an aching void. Soon came the ringing, stirring command, "forward men, double quick," when lo! the crock was empty, most of its contents in the Georgian's stomach, and no small portion smear- ed over an unwashed face already begrimed with the smoke and dust, the joy and toil of battle.

The Georgians were hard, but also gay and festive fighters. Sur- vivors of the "Old Fourteenth" will kindly recall Major General MacLaws' ' 'fighting division' ' as one of the famous divisions of Gen- eral Longstreet's Corps.

INFANTRY STRENGTH OF THE CONFEDERATE ARMY.

While thus speaking incidently of the fighting quality of the Georgia soldiers I am tempted to a slight digression that may be regarded as a correctly summarized statement of some interest. The seventy-six regiments of infantry furnished the Confederate army by the gallant State of Georgia were men of the same stamp as the seventy-one regiments from North Carolina, and the seventy regiments from old Virginia; these three States during the war 1861-5 put m the field two hundred and seventeen of the five hun- dred and seventy regiments composing the grand army of the Con- federacy. Eight other Southern States supplied three hundred and fifty-three regiments, fully as brave, true and patriotic as the three States named, and which are only thus mentioned because they were in the order named the largest numerical contributors, but excelling in nothing else. Not since the dawn of creation, or since men have lived under any form of government has the world known a truer, braver or nobler half million of patriotic men who fought for their country with all the principles and ideas involved in a great and protracted struggle, only ending at Appomattox when

"Flodden's fatal field

Where shivered was fair Scotland's spear

And broken was her shield."

Perhaps an error in judgment prompts the writer to relate an additional incident of memorable Sharpsburg. However, he makes bold to assert that it rightly belongs with this authentic record of the gallant "Old Fifteenth" Virginia Infantry.