give up than green ones,
and never fought well after they were satisfied that they could not
accomplish their purpose. Consequently it often happened that the best
troops failed where the raw ones did well. The old Confederate soldier
_would_ decide some questions for himself. To the last he maintained the
right of private judgment, and especially on the field of battle.

CHAPTER VIII.

IMPROVISED INFANTRY.

Sunday, April 2, 1865, found Cutshaw's battalion of artillery occupying
the earthworks at Fort Clifton on the Appomattox, about two miles below
Petersburg, Virginia. The command was composed of the Second Company
Richmond Howitzers, Captain Lorraine F. Jones, Garber's battery, Fry's
battery, and remnants of five other batteries (saved from the battle of
Spottsylvania Court House, May 12, 1864), and had present for duty
nearly five hundred men, with a total muster-roll, including the men in
prison, of one thousand and eighty.

The place--the old "Clifton House"--was well fortified, and had the
additional protection of the river along the entire front of perhaps a
mile. The works extended from the Appomattox on the right to Swift Creek
on the left. There were some guns of heavy calibre mounted and ready for
action, and in addition to these some field-pieces disposed along the
line at suitable points. The enemy had formidable works opposite, but
had not used their guns to disturb the quiet routine of the camp. The
river bank was picketed by details from the artillery, armed as
infantry, but without the usual equipments. The guard duty was so heavy
that half the men were always on guard.

The huts, built by the troops who had formerly occupied the place, were
located, with a view to protection from the enemy's fire, under the
hills on the sides of the ravines or gullies which divided them, and
were underground to the eaves of the roof. Consequently, the soil being
sandy, there was a constant filtering of sand through the cracks, and in
spite of the greatest care, the grit found its way into the flour and
meal, stuck to the greasy frying-pan, and even filled the hair of the
men as they slept in their bunks.

At this time rations were reduced to the minimum of quantity and
quality, being generally worm-eaten peas, sour or rancid mess-pork, and
unbolted corn meal, relieved occasionally with a small supply of
luscious canned beef, imported from England, good flour (half rations),
a little coffee and sugar, a