Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 33.djvu/262

 258 Southern Historical Society Papers.

tempted to leave or enter camp with guns, without my written per- mission. I issued these orders because some of the men have already left with guns in search, I suspect, of hogs, cows or other things, belonging to citizens, that might be eaten. At night Lieu- tenant Karcher arrested eight men with guns and confined them in the guardhouse. As punishment I directed the prisoners to lay a causeway around the guard lines for the sentinels use.

January 17. Marched Company F to Captain Pickens' head- quarters and they were paid for November and December, and com- mutation for clothing from December 12, 1862, to December 12, 1863. The men felt rich with their depreciated money. How cheerful and jocular they are!

January 21. Orders from General Lee to send applications for furloughs at rate of 12 to 100 men present. Tom Clower and Pierce Ware are the lucky ones.

January 26. This has been a bright, pleasant day, a most mem- orable one in the history of Battle's brigade. General Battle made speeches to each one of his regiments, and they re-enlisted uncon- ditionally for the war. I never witnessed such unanimity upon a matter of such vital importance. The brave Twelfth Alabama, when the invitation was given to those who desired to volunteer to step forward two paces, moved forward as one man. General Battle spoke eloquently. Other officers spoke well. Battle's brigade is the first in the Army of Northern Virginia to re-enlist uncondition- ally for the war. This is an act of which we should well be proud to our dying day.

January 27. General Battle sent the following communication to each regiment in his brigade:

"Headquarters Battle's Brigade, January 26, 1864. The Brigade Commander has the pleasure of presenting the sub- joined communication from Major-General Rodes:

"Headquarters Rodes' Division, January 26, 1864. "Brigadier-General BATTLE, Commanding Battle's Brigade:

GENERAL, I have just received your message by Captain J. P. Smith, informing me of the glorious conduct of my old brigade in re-enlisting for the war without conditions. Conduct like this, in the midst of the hardships we are enduring, and on the part of men who have fought so many bloody battles, is in the highest degree credi- table to the men and officers of your command. I always was