The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-05-13
FAYETTEvILLE, TENkEssEE, !

!
FAYETTEvILLB, TKNEEssEE,
! May 1st, 1892 +
DEAR BRoTHEa Since last wrote you,
we have again moved some thirty-ive miles
towards the &c sunny South and so far as
the climate is Concerned Il have not as yet
found it much different from Indiana This
morning l had to wear my overcoat, and
even then felt chilly. Our next move will
be to Huntsville, Alabama, some thIrtY-four
/ miles from here
l am now in little scrape, and will re-
late the cause Some four days before
& leaving GGuHced to the ranks by Col. Jones for
drunkenness and disorderly conduct, after
which he endeevored all in bis power TO
create insuberdination and mutiny in the I
company; absenting himself from all roll
calls and going outside the lines in company
with two or three others of the same stripe
without leave; getting drunk, refractory, &c.
On the morning OF the 29th ult., orders
were received to strike tents and march for
this place. Ny company tents were struck,
and after loading company wagon, roll was
called, and my late First Sergeant (James |
Devine) and two others were found missing
On examination, it was found that they
had taken with them their arms and ac-
coutrements, and / came to the conclusion
that they had either deserted or gone OF in |
advance of the column. Some time after
the regiment was put ia motion. Il being |
st the head of my company with drawn |
sword in hand, we were halted and wheeled |
into line by Col. DENLY. The order was
given by him to order arms" and "parade |
rest" or sin place rest" l don't recollect |
which, but they mean the same thing, that /
is for all to stand with one foot in its
proper position. We had not been more
than ten minutes in that position when my
First Lieutenant came and told me that
there were persons in the ranks who would
not preserve order and who were making
disturbance. went back to the left of the
company and found that it was Devine and
the Others whom supposed had deserted
or gone on, / reached my band and took
the gun from one, VIM. StephensoH,) when
the two others Wright and DeVine hay
ing their guns loaded and capped) raised
their guns and placed their thumbs on the
cocks of their guns, and said they would
be " externally damned if they would ever
give up their guns" I and my First Lieu
tenant wrested Wright's gun from him,
but Devine backed up il fence corner and
held up his gun in threatening position
then ordered two men to advance and ar
rest him, but they stood and talked with
him fDevine) and seemed afraid to go near
him. | then pushed the two men aside and
approached him when he was in the act OF
raising his gun. l grasped it near the
muzzle and be by the handle, when he
called me damned son of bitch and
that could not take it from him. Il
wrestled with him some time until he hit
me in the mouth with the muzzle of his
gun when (having my sword naked IN my
hand I thrust my sword through his body,
and. he fell.uI imm ediately went forward
with his gun aud my bloody sword in hand1
and reported the circumstance to Col
DENLY, who in a few minutes came. and
asked me to give up my sword, which 1
did and was then under arrest and continue
to be so yet. am confined TO the limits
of the guard. Word came this morning that
he is dead; that he died in about fourteen
hours after receiving the wound. The
only thing 1 wonder at is that he did not
die in few minutes. W hen we1get to the
division 1 will be tried by General Court
Martial, and if acquitted las | expect SO
bel / will resign and go home unless they
compel me to stay. / have never felt to
bad in my life as did after the accurreneeb (
just related. l am now, however, getting
over it. 8 tz --.,ey
81 sia Your afectionate brother, @9'@
-l.E0o Zl1 JAMES D. SAUNDERS! 81
Is gi9d taeso - - u. -sfs-ss /
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