There are so many pages devoted to recalling war incidents and exploits that it becomes difficult to make the choice, from among them, of such as might serve to gain the especial interest of the reader; those which disclose critical situations and unconscious heroism, such as these sent from
You remember that I was the cause of your being sent to Ross Pole just before the first
Fredericksburg battle.
Did you ever notice that
Burnside said that
Halleck had selected Ross Pole for the crossing of the
Federal Army, but that he had taken the responsibility of crossing at
Fredericksburg, because
Halleck had selected Ross Pole before troops had been sent to guard it, and that as the circumstances had changed he felt at liberty to disobey orders?
Your presence at the first place made
Burnside cross at
Fredericksburg.
On that horrible Sunday I rode up with young
Morrison from
Port Royal to Ross Pole, and found that we did not have even a cavalry picket there, while the
Federals were in force on the other side and were working on a batteau bridge.
I wrote to
General Jackson about the condition of things, and you were sent down.
You never rendered more important service ....
You and I were long side by side, and, like you, I was only unpopular with those soldiers who did not do their duty ....
Your letter was full of touching interest to me, who am alive to any incident connected with the rank and file.
I have laid it away for the benefit of my children's children.
You are so accurate in statistics, I would be afraid of a blunder, if I differed with you.
In comparing my statistics with yours in my address, I wished to say, “
General Early knows more of Confederate history than any man now living, probably for the reason that he has never moved out of the
Confederacy” --but I know you did not like some haversack anecdotes which were entirely to your credit, and which endeared you to thousands of our people.
You were so fortunate, or unfortunate, as to be considered the wittiest man in the army and doubtless many clever and witty things were put upon you in consequence.
Heaven bless you always!
D. H. Hill.
