This time the regiment responded, and their showing was so splendid as to bring from the reviewing officers an additional salute. Said the Major, on dismissing the soldiers:
"I am proud to command such men, and I love every damned one of you."
One fancies the Virginia woman's "God bless you" to the Virginians and the Major's sentiment, for the Georgians were not so far apart as the language would imply.
December found the Third Georgia fighting at Fredericksburg, and with this victory closed the "year of battles."
In the spring of 1863 came Chancellorsville. In July the regiment was fighting desperately at Gettysburg.
July, 1864, found them bravely fighting at Petersburg.
RECONSTRUCTION.
All the world knows that July, 1865, found the Third Georgia and all Confederates scattered to their homes, working out the South's salvation through the dark ages of reconstruction to Confederate veterans.
If Georgia marches forward now at a double quick, it is because of the tireless energy with which her Confederate veterans have built up a new Georgia on the ruins of the old.
soldier's home.
How fitting, then, that a State upbuilded by those who fought for her forty years ago should provide a home for such of her veterans as may need honorable consideration. How fitting that the State's aid should be supplemented by the furnishing of regimental rooms. The Third Georgia room is in charge of Captain S. Dalton Mitchell, of whom it has been said "the regiment had no better soldier." It is hoped that every regiment in Georgia has a guardian of its Soldiers' Home interests. How fitting, too, that mothers, daughters and sons of veterans throughout the State should unite to make up a rich soldiers' home memorial train on Memorial Day.
"Our faces are toward the setting sun," remarks a veteran contributor.
