Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1863-04-01

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You inquire about ny would
"the 1ehen and h0te | received 1t
Our division, as | have tod .ou be-
fore, is commanded by MAJOR G,1er,
al Jno. G. Breckiuridge-tb finest
looking mar in Bragg's army On
Friday, January 9th, as We we're IT,
ing in line Of battle in about $50
Yards Of the Yankees, Col, Miller, lof
the LIST Florida rode along our lines
and told us to fall in," as we were
going to he moved from there, aud
we're to be relieved by another Brig
ade, We did SO with cheerful hearts,
as that had been quite a warm place
for us for we we're lying in the edge
Of a cedar hammock, within about
800 yards Of the finest battery the
Yankees had Parsons 9th u 5,
Artillery 1t was commanded and
manned by regulars, and supported
by 10 600 regulars by Sbom we we're
shelled night aud morning. Well We
left there and we're going back as all
thought, to the real to rest, as we had
not slept for three days and nights,
We were marched on for about 4
miles towards the right of our line Of
battle, and there we found our divis-
ion in line, facing the enemy and
waiting for us. As Don as we joined
the line, Gen. BrecEinridge rode out
in front Of the line on a beautiful
white horse, pulled of his bat, and
made a shortr but e eloquent speech,
Ele then said-"when | give the com.
mAnd Forward . | do not Wish to sec
a man falter all | want you to dc is
to follow me and do US | command
you to-" We then gave him three
cheers. lie replaced his hat, turned
bis horse bead to the front, drew his
sword, and gave the command, For,
ward, men :" We marched forward
in the prottiest line you ever saw, !
reckon. just as We got 10 musket
shot Of a thick wood, the Yankees
opened on US. Gen. Breckenridge
waved bis sword, and gave the com,
mand, Forward, double quick, charge
bayonets Which we did with a
1e2L, and at which the Yankees about
faced and skeedaddlod = which is
their customary performance on
such occaSions. They next tried it
behind a fence, upon which We tried
the same remedy and, as before,
found it efectual, We nov had them
in a pretty tight place, between us
and the river-giying them their
chOice--to take US or the water.
The latter being somewhat the o%oolcr,
they evidently preferred it, from the
way they souscd into it. And
now, the Washington Artillery, be
longing to us, came up and We gave
it to them with musket, grape, and
canister. As fast as they got across
they got behind their breakworks on
the bank of the river ; and there we
kept up such a hot Gre on them that
about 800 threw up white handkcr.
chiefs and came over to us. It was
here that | got my wound. l, and
a fellow named Cooper from Co., |,
we're 100 yards from the Regt fight
ing on our own hook" The river
here was about 60 yards wide ; we
were on one bank, the Yankees on the
other. Cooper was loading his gun,
when a round shot struck his gun.
carrying it out Of his haud-the gun
at the same time, cutting a mar in
two, and the round shot doing the
same. Cooper's arm being paralized
he told me he was going to the rear
when, seeing a Yankee trying to hide
among the rocks, he picked up a load
ed gun lying by a dead man, and
shot the Yankee, saying. III show
you how to throw your damned pills
at met Just then, | saw a Yankee
aiming at me and l threw up my
gun and cut down at him; and Coop.
er says, | killed him; think | must
too for | took as good an aim as if
was shooting at a mark. However,
he paid me for it, as | FIJI, at the same
time. pierced by his Ainie ball. It
struck me through the arm, into the
side a flesh wound, however, and
doing first rate and Cooper then
walked off the field, as big as Major
Generals.
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P. s. 50