By W.E. Doyle,
Teague, Tex.
I am reminded of a
statement made by GEORGE W. ABBOTT, of Company F, Orr's
South Carolina Rifles, who said:
" During the war I was not sick,
not wounded, did not miss a roll call, and was in all the
battles in Va. and Maryland from Gaines's Mill to the last
night in the trenches at Petersburg- save one- and yet I
never saw but one battle- the battle of Gettysburg. There
our regiment was detailed to guard prisoners, and therefore,
I saw the battle. In all the other battles I saw nothing but
what was immediately in front of me."
That night that
Petersburg was evacuated a few soldiers had to be left in
the trenches to keep up the firing that the enemy might not
be apprised of the evacuation. Comrade ABBOTT was one of
those, and he was captured next morning. It was sad that
fate decreed that such a soldier as he should not end his service
at Appomattox.
GEORGE
W. ABBOTT was reared in the same neighborhood as myself in
S.C. He came to Texas in the fall of 1865, and made as good
a citizen as he was a soldier, but did not live to realize
his fond wish. He died in Parker County, Texas, about 2 years
ago. [ His wish was to live to be one of the last surviving Six
soldiers of the Confederacy].
Generously transcribed and submitted by
Nancie
O'Sullivan