A Soldier's Story of His Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia

A SOLDIER'S STORY OF HIS REGIMENT (61st Georgia)

and Incidentally of the Lawton-Gordon-Evans Brigade

Army of Northern Virginia

by Private G.W. Nichols, 1898

George W. Nichols gives a factual, impartial account of his experiences as a private in the Army of Northern Virginia. He viewed the war as a lamentable one and was proud in his old age, to see the nation united. His purpose in writing, besides leaving a record for posterity, was to see all ill will about the war removed. He hoped that all the old soldiers, Union and Confederate, would labor to that end. This purpose is what gives Nichols' story its balance and makes for compelling reading. Just when you think you have read too much about fine, upright Confederate leaders, suddenly Nichols relates his experiences with a doctor and his chief nurse who treated their charges terribly and probably were responsible for the deaths of a great many of his comrades-in-arms. Similarly, Nichols balances his recital of the brave deeds of the average soldier with the report of "hospital rats" who only had slight wounds, but they put something in them to keep them from healing, and thereby avoided the front lines. Some of these were so mean they prevented the local women from coming to minister to the wounded.

The Two Battles

What comes through most in this tale of war is that there were two battles going on simultaneously: the political one over secession, and the spiritual one for men's souls. An example of the latter is the women who came to nurse the wounded. They often gave the soldiers pocket New Testaments and/or told them "about Jesus being the Saviour of sinners." (The emphasis is in the original.) This may be the reason why the "Hospital Rats" tried to keep these women from coming. They were not spiritual people and did not want to be confronted, even if it was by women. Here is what Nichols said of the women he encountered while convalescing in Richmond in the summer of 1862:

"Our regular hospital nurses were soldiers detailed for that purpose, and only a few knew anything about it - some did not care to know anything about it. These good women taught them how to nurse.

"I can say this for the good women of Virginia: There are no better women on this globe. They seemed like angels of mercy . . . and I feel sure that death will have no sting, and that the grave, with them, will have no victory; for Christ will come after them and call them uphigher and seat them near to Him in the paradise of the great God of Heaven. It fills my heart full of praise to God for raising up such good women. I fully believe that such women are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. But these good women are not all in Richmond and the vicinity; but are scattered all over the State, and indeed, all over these, our still United States."

Another example of the battle for souls occurred after a skirmish at Morton's Ford in January 1864:

"In these winter quarters we built a brigade chapel, daubed the cracks with clay and made a large fire-place in it and had preaching almost every day and night, with but few in attendance at first. One night one of the regimental chaplains said he wanted every Christian in the house to make the worst man in his company a special object of prayer for two weeks. He said he felt that we would have a revival and would have the house filled when we had divine worship. (This was probably our Chaplain A.B. Woodfin.) It struck me with great force, and I studied who is the worst man in Company D? I could not decide. There were two who could hardly speak without a horrible oath, and it did not seem that they cared for themselves or anyone else, yet they were excellent soldiers. I could not decide which was the more wicked of the two. Something presented or suggested that I take them both; so I went off to a secret place in the snow and prayed for them, and it seemed that I became burdened for them. Next day I went to their tent and to my surprise and joy they were not playing cards nor using profanity. The next night both entered the chapel and took the seat nearest the door. They stayed till preaching was over, and I think it was the first time I had ever seen either of them at preaching.

"I went to their tent the next day and to my joy, both were reading the blessed word of God. They took a seat the next time near the center of the chapel and seemed greatly affected as they listened to the preaching. They asked the preachers to pray for them. Their condition filled me with rejoicing and prayer for the dear boys. In about four weeks both of them joined the church, told bright experiences and dated their convictions to the very night I offered the first special prayer for them. They were received and baptized.

"In one week after that good servant of God made the request that the Christians pray for the worst men in their companies, our chapel was full unless the weather was too very cold. We had a great revival and could seldom hear a profane word spoken."

The Rigors of War

The other battle, for secession, fully exposed Nichols to the horrors and rigors of war. His brigade was the old Seventh Georgia Battalion, which was formed about 10 September 1861 at Eden, Georgia. They were ordered to Charleston, South Carolina, and then to Richmond, Virginia, and then to the Shenandoah Valley to join Stonewall Jackson. They arrived just after the battle of Port Republic where Jackson beat Shields. From there, they forced-marched back to Richmond, using the railroad for only fifty miles. One evening on this march he witnessed a sad sight:

"Two fine-looking young men had a dispute about their cooking. One of them had a large butcher knife that he was cutting meat with. He stabbed it in the other's breast to the handle, and left it sticking there. The young man in death's agony said, `You have killed me.' He then took hold of the handle and, after several efforts, succeeded in getting it out, and threw it at the other and stuck it to the handle near his collar bone. He then replied, `Yes, and you have killed me.' They both looked faintly at each other for a moment, seemingly with deep regret, reeled and fell helpless to the ground. The doctors ran to them, but could do nothing for them. Both were dead in a few minutes. We were told that they were first cousins, reared near each other; had been great chums; had attended the same school, and that it was the first difficulty they had ever had. Such horrible news to go to their parents!"

Nichols' first trial by combat was against McClellan's army on 27 June 1842, at Gaines Mill near Mechanicsville. Here is his battle report:

"We were in the rear of Jackson's column, and marched at quick step for about four hours. We could hear the cannons booming very fast. We finally got near enough to hear the small arms, and could hear the rebel yell, and meet the wounded who were coming out of battle. We were ordered to double quick (run) for about three miles, with a few shells being thrown at us. We were all doing our best. The writer had a high fever. As we passed an old gentleman's house, one of our company said: "Old man, how far is it to hell?" The old man looked like a preacher, and he replied, "My dear sir, I am afraid you will find out pretty soon." The young man was shot dead in about thirty minutes. We got up and were hurriedly formed in line and ordered to advance in a storm of grape-shot and shells.

"One grapeshot broke Joe Nevill's gun and came very near breaking his neck. One shell exploded so close to Jack Collins until it addled him and partly paralyzed him for several days. We went on in line through a very thick, boggy branch where we found a great many dead and wounded Yankees. Some of them were lying in the water. I was so thirsty from fever and a long march and run to the battle till my tongue was swollen. I stopped, dipped up and drank water which I knew had Yankee blood in it. I am sure it was the best water to me that I ever drank. I have often thought it saved my life.

"We were ordered to the right. I made several efforts to get up, but could not, for I was exhausted. I had marched all day with a high fever, and at double quick for three miles. Jim Hendrix, of our company, was nearly as bad off as I was. We were obliged to lie there all night. Just before dark Jim Hendrix gathered up a few "Yankee" blankets, made a bed out of them and got me on it. He then lay down with me. We slept some. The next morning we got up and made some coffee, which we drank, and ate a little of our cold rations. Our breakfast somewhat revived us. We then went to look on the battlefield. Three of the dead wore our company's uniform, and we went to see who they were. The first one was my brother. I had been too sick the evening before to pay any attention, and did not know who was hurt. My finding my brother, with a minnie-ball shot through his heart, and he cold in death, was a terrible shock to me; but such is war."

At this point Nichols went to the hospital in Richmond. He relates the rest of the Seven Days Battle, and the other battles of 1862 from what he had gathered from his companions. In February 1863 he rejoined his company, which was about half its original size. At the Battle of Chancellorsville, in a short skirmish of just a few minutes, he had eight holes shot in his blanket and the sole of his shoe was shot off, stunning his foot for a while. The battle was a great victory for Lee, but it was tempered by the loss of Stonewall Jackson, "one of the greatest military men that ever lived."

After Chancellorsville, the 61st had drill and a little picket and guard duty. Nichols relates that: "Here in this camp our regimental chaplains held divine service day and night. Our beloved General [J.B.] Gordon was often among the worshipers. He had become almost an idol among the worshipers. He had become almost an idol in the brigade with officers and men, often leading in the prayer and exhortation service. A great many professed religion, joined the church and were baptized."

At Gettysburg, Nichols again fell ill, but he tells of an interesting incident that occurred after the battle: "Company D, of the Sixty-first Georgia Regiment, had three men killed which were as follows: Sergeant John Everett, Privates John Anderson and Harrison Rushing. . . . Company D thought Lieutenant James Mincy was left with some of the rest of our wounded at Gettysburg, but he was rescued by Rube, his faithful Negro servant.

"When Rube found that his master was going to be left, he stole a horse and wagon and got his master in the wagon and followed in the rear of our wagon train. We were proud to see Lieutenant Mincy back and we were proud of Rube, who could have remained in Pennsylvania and have been free, but I believe that he hated the Yankees worse than we did."

Fully recovered from his illness, Nichols continued in the fight. Although slightly wounded twice, there were incidents that showed his human curiosity, sentiment, and the like. One incident was a decision to detour, at the urging of General Gordon, three miles off the line of march, just to see Natural Bridge. Another was when they arrived in Lexington:

"Lexington had been the home of Stonewall Jackson, and in the Lexington cemetery was where he was buried. We marched by our much-beloved old commander's grave, which was covered with beautiful flowers that had been put there by the fair ladies of Lexington. I saw strong men and officers, who did not flinch in the fiercest battles, shedding tears. We marched by the grave with heads uncovered at reverse, trail arms, everyone making a bow at the grave.

"Lexington is one of the prettiest towns in Virginia, and is a place noted for good women and pretty girls. I never saw more kindness shown poor, dirty, footsore soldiers. They had large tubs of buttermilk, bread, pies, cakes, and all kinds of baked meats, there in abundance, perfectly free for the soldiers, on tables in the street by the sidewalks. It seemed that they wished to show their appreciation of their friend and fellow-citizen's (Stonewall Jackson's) old command. I never saw prettier girls. How I did want a nice suit of clean clothes and permission to stop with them a week or two. Well, to tell the truth, I love them yet. They could hand us so many nice things to eat as we marched along! I hope God has blessed them. They were dressed like queens and they treated us like kings and princes. They did not want any more Yankees in their town, especially those that loved the torch, like General Hunter. Their tender hearts were full of old Virginia patriotism."

This burning of farms and homes greatly bothered Nichols no matter whether it was done by the Union or the Confederacy. He thought General Phil Sheridan was the best commander they had to fight, but he still hated Sheridan's scorched-earth policy.

Furloughed, Nichols arrived home at Bulloch County on 24 January 1865. His mother credited God for preserving him. Sherman's troops had not touched their house because the family were not slave owners and never had been. But Sherman cut Nichols off from returning to his unit and so he was home at the end of the war. His opinion on freeing the slaves is at the end of his account: "They are now free, yet a great many are not faring as well as they did while in bondage. Yet they are better satisfied.

"It is about like an old time darkey said to me a few years ago: `I do not fare near as well for something to eat as I did with old boss, but freedom is good for a dog; bind one down and he will holler.' We know this is true and we old soldiers know that we had rather have our freedom and live on half rations, like we often had to do during the war, than to be in prison and have the best that the world could afford, (not that our prisoners fared well) and our sympathies are always great for people in bondage.

"My dear surviving comrades, I love every one of you. Ah! yes, it's not half told, for I love the dust of all the dear ones who fell in the battle or otherwise. You are dear to my heart, and I would love to meet you all in a happy reunion, and I pray God, if in accordance with His will that we may all meet with Him in peace on the shores of sweet deliverance, where Jesus will be the captain of our salvation."

Nichols kept a daily diary of events in 1864 and this year would constitute the most accurate section of his memoirs. He wrote part of his history in 1887 for publication in the Pioneer and Eagle, a Bulloch County, Georgia newspaper. (His Company, "D," the Dekalb Guards, was from Bulloch County.) He then expanded his history to its present form, which he published in 1898. His descendants have republished his account from time to time. His great-grandson, Troy Nichols of Jessup, Georgia, republished it in 1999. In the Fall of 2000, I met Mr. Nichols and he gave me a copy. His daughter, Rebecca, had been a student of mine at Georgia Southern University.