SOME EXPERIENCES AS A SOLDIER OF WAR by Henry James DuBose - 10 January 1869 I, Henry James DuBose, was born June 25, 1820, in Darlington, South Carolina, near Cypress Cross Roads, where I now live and have spent my entire life, except for the time I spent as a soldier in the Confederate War, which was nearly four years. In writing this I wish first, to relate some of the most impressive experiences of leaving home and family. It was the saddest experience of my life. My first wife had been dead just a few years and I had remarried a girl much younger than myself. We had one little child and another to arrive in a few months after my departure: also, leaving in her care were five step children (my children by the first wife). I was taking my oldest and only son, John, in service with me as he was of the draft age. My wife was only 23 years old, but had promised faithfully she would take care of the family, the home, the farms, and last but not least, herself, and be true to me. I returned nearly four years later, found everything far beyond my expectation, being a woman of good business ability, she had accumulated instead of feing like many othere, home gone and families scattered. Our greatest loss was when Sherman's raid passed through the country, destroying and burning everything they could; fortunately they, my family, heard this and buried everything possible. Now going back to the day I enlisted as a Soldier of the confederate War, I was 41 years old on June 25th 1861, enlisted January 14th 1862, Georgetown SC with J. F. A. Elliott as our Captain Company E, 21st Regiment, South Carolina Infantry. Others in the company with me and enlisting at the same time were my son John W. DuBose, my brother Sewell DuBose, Marion Large, Charlie and Alex Stuckey and George Scarborough. We were trained for service at a place called Lightwood Springs near Columbia SC. We were in training there about three months, then served on the coast of Beaufort Island until the second day of May 1862. The Norther Troops were encamped on Beaufort's Island. In the skirmishes very few lives were lost. On the 22d day of May 1862 we got orders to go to the Northern Army at Richmond, Va. A short while after landing, we went into hostilities. <A HREF="http://wymple.gs.net/~longstrt/census.html">Census-Central</A> The Comptroller of the Northern Army was General McClellan. The first real battle we engaged in was the Battle of Seven Pines. This battle took place along the Chickahominy River and was as complete a victory as the Southern Army ever had. We went 27 miles down the river until we were under the shelter of their gun boats that lay in the James River. At this time Maxey Gregg of Florence SC was our Brigadier General and was one of the bravest men I ever knew. I saw him later after he was killed and being carried on a stretcher off the battle field of Fredericksburg Va. I do not know how old General Gregg was at the time of his death but he looked young, not over 35 years old and was a handsome man. From that time the battles were too numerous for me to remember the dates. We fought in the following divisions, under Gen J. P. Hill, Gen Maxey Gregg and Abner Perrin. Up until this time none of our men had been wounded bad enough to leave the field; I mean the men that enlisted with me. At the Battle of Cold Harbor, we fought all afternoon until dark, when the battle ceased. We (the ones that were not wounded) were ordered to get stretchers and bring in the wounded and dead at the battle. It was one of the hottest afternoons I ever felt. It was awful to see and hear the cries and pleadings of the wounded, those that could talk and were begging for water. We held canteens of water to their lips, some could drink, others were so badly wounded they could not. We found one soldier with his teeth shot out and his jaw bone broken. He made us understand that he wanted water. We held the canteen to his lips and he drank all he wanted. We worked all night bringing in the wounded and dead. I was wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg, which lasted four days and nights. This was the most cruel of all battles. It was a slaughter pen; it did not seem like a person could have come out of this battle alive. The thick forest of junipers were hewn down by bullets like a field of grain and the men who had so bravely fought were lying scattered all over the battle field, some dead, some dying, some praying. I was shot thru my right arm above the elbow, the bone was shot into, my right arm and hand hung dangling. I tried to hold it as best I could with my left hand. I was finally picked up off the battle field. It was my own son John and Charlie Stuckey that came with the stretcher. "My God, My God", this is father, were the words that came from my son. I have heard them many, many times since that day. They carried me to a hospital where I lay for hours unattended. Finally, the doctor got around to me. My right arm was amputated just above the elbow. I suffered agony. I was in so much pain and with no medicine to help me bear the pain. I just put my trust in God, whom I had always loved and trusted. I was offered a glass of whiskey but refused it as I never drank the nasty stuff. God is my refuge and my strength, in Him will I put my trust. I closed my eyes and prayed to get well and return to my home and family. Alex Stuckey was slightly wounded. We were the only ones in our crowd to be hurt. I was sent home as soon as I was able to make the trip. On the 22d day of Oct 1864 when I got home, a happy day--reunited with my family, except John, who was still in service. On the 27th days of March 1865, John got home safe and well but tired. That was another happy event of my life. A short while after I got home a battle was fought at Cypress Cross Roads. Many were killed and wounded. We took a Union soldier into our home and cared for him till he was able to return to his home. His name was Wilkes. This document was given to my brother in law in Lamar SC last Fall. Mrs Annie DuBose furnished this document. Jean Stuckey