The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-11-17
AN HEROIC OLD MAN.

| The following letter was not written for pubca
ton. 1t is from soldier, and is especially inter
estng as describing the endurance and exploits O
j an old man in our cause. 1t is published in the
Mobile Tribune:
| presume you know Father Challon, Catholic
Priest of Mobile. WE'LL he has brother, an old
man of. perhaps sixty years, who is member oi
Capt. HurtcPs company. This old man was in
Kansas when the war broke out. He Immediately
turned his steps homeward, and coming across a
Louisiana regiment he joined it as a private. Gen
McCulloug h, with whom the regiment was, hap
pened to notice this brave old man, and also see
ing how cheerfully he bore the fatigues and dan
gers of camp and battle, offered him staff ap-
pontment; but Mr. Challon refused it, preferrne
to fight private in the ranks until he could
find dsome off the Mobile or Alabama troops This
was not effected however, until he got to Corinth
with Prices army Soon atel wards he trans
ftrred to the Oath Alabama regiment, Company A.
commanded by your fellow. citizen, a. Hurtel,
where he has remained ever SINCE, discharging
his duties faithfully and WE'LL SO much SO, indeed
that he was noticed BY the General Of the brigade
and otLer officers with whom he a fayorie,
and many Was the time that he might have been
noticed sitting around the Generals fire in free
conversation with that officer, always eager for
news, and when he obtained any that good
would hurry off to impart it to his regiment But
LOT the lnCiuenC:
1t was on the ever memorable day of the goth OF
September (battle of Chickamausa) that Mr. Chal-
lon took his place in the front ranks to attack the
enemy in strong position on a hill. Gaantly
did all act on this occasion, but conspicuous among
those brave the subject of this anecdote.
They rushed on, driving the enemy from his
breastworks, capturing three pieces of artillery,
&c., but the enflade fire from the right and left
SO very heavy that we obliged to fall
back. Here Mr. Challon fell with his thigh bro
ken. 1t. Higley, passing by and seeing his con-
dltion, rendered him assistance, but the old man
waived him off, telling him to go and whip the
Yankees and let him alone, that he would take
care of himself We moved on, leaving the litter
bearers to take care of the dead and wounded; but
in a few moments the news reached US that the
enemy had set fire to the woods by their guns, and
that the wounded would all be burned to death.
Several officers immediately volunteered to take
party and rescue the sufferers. They hastened
to the spot and succeeded in saving all men,
but not until some Of them had been scorched-.-
Among these latter was my old friend, who was
manfully battling with this new enemy. He had
crawled some distance from the spot where he fell
aud many Of the surgeons think that he, in these
efforts, broke his thigh entirely that was only
fractured in the first instance by the ball. The
old is still alive, and strong hopes are enter
tanned of his recovery, his cheerfulness aiding in
it. Many of the brigade have visited him. He
is always cheerful, and says, ''no matter, the old
man die; whipped the rascals" God grant
that he may live. | think he deserves to live.