Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-13
NO. 294
Gales and Sketehes.
A LIFE.SENTEyCE REVERSED.
THE BATTLE AT MISSION RIDGE.


from that famous section in Illinois known
as Egypt. After a financial introduction he
relates the following incident and story
ot the battle at Mission Ridge. during m.
late rebellion -
When the Egyptians are sober they are
harmless, but two drinks Of whisky and
a Plug oi tobacco on an empty stomach
VIII make them worse than BASH. Bt-
zouk. Yesterday saw one charged with
a iull pint of alcohol and two plugs of
tobacco. dose that only the rich Egyp-
tlans can indulge in. He was terror
to behold. Phosphorc acid gas poured
OIL OF him. He was loaded down with
more psychology Than George Francis
Train. lie was the Crushed Trayedian
charged with giant powder.
I'm steamboat from Hick'ry ba-
you" he said, "a regular sidewheeler.
I'm rattlesnake with rattes all the wav
up. I'm the worst man on the bayou, an
we ha'nt got bayou ooy, that can't whip
gunboat. I'm a.
80, Bill, be still Don't fight any more
today. 'Tain't you-'t's the whiskey.
Come along!" and nice-looking man
took square hold Of Bill and held him as
in wise.
Lem me go! Lem me chaw some
body. Lem
But in moment the nce-looking man
lifted Bill into his wagon and drove off
"Who is that brave farmer who takes
such an interest in Bill ''' asked Col.
Barber, the Chairman of the Lecture As
sociation.
"Oh, that's Cap Mason. He used to bs
hard 'un, but now he's jined the church,
he's the father of every bad man in this
section. They all just love Cap Mason"
"What does Mason dop asked.
Hes farmer. sir-a big farmer over on
the Muddy
But what does he come over with the
Bayou boys for? Why does he care whe,h.
er they get drunk and fight, or whether
they keep sober p
We'll, the Cap used to be a crinker
and fighter himself He was sentenced
to be shot at once in the army for fighting.
lie struck an oflicer--got on drunken
lrolic, and came near killing the Major of
the rcgiment-just as Whisky Bill wants
| lokill somebody now"
How did the Captain escape ?"
asked.
WELL" said the Colonel, Mason, with
a dozen fellows from the Little Muddy,
enlisted in my regiment. He was a splen-
did soldier-always ready for battle-one
of the best men in the regiment, but he
would have his sprees. One day, about
| three weeks before the battle OF Mission
Ridge. Mason brought a canteen of whisky
into camp. and, always generous, went TO
giving it to the boys. This was against
orders; SO 1 ordered my Major to arrest
him and put him into the guard house.
Mason found out that the Major was af-
ter him with squad of men, and, full of
| deviltry he commenced lodging around
behind the tents to keep IRON being ar
rested. But pretty quick, in trying to
keep away from the men, he ran square
against the Major.
Here, you rascalr said the Major,
seizing him by the coat collar without Civ
ing him a chance to explain. Now, you
walk to the guard house. I'll fix you.
you scoundrel.'
But in the excitement of the moment
Mason drew his fist and knocked the Ma
jor flat and then he went and gave him
self up
"What was done about it Pn asked.
| "Well, Mason was tried before a court
martial for striking a superior officer.
sentenced to be shot. and the sentence
was sent to Gen. jeff c, Davis to be ap-
proved And then poor Mason was i'm
prisoned on bread and water with ball
and chain on each foot"
did Gen. Davis approve the sentencep"
Yes, he approved it,
| "Bnt how did Mason escape being sho,?''
well. the next day before the ap-
proved sentence arrived. came the battle
Of Mission Ridge. and our regiment was
ordered forward. Mason, of course. was
in the rear under guard, with ball
chained to his ankles. We heard the reb-
ell cannon in front all the forenoon We
needed all our men. So | rode over to
the guard house and told Mason that we
would have to leave him behind with his
ball and chain till the battle was over.
Let me go with the boys. Colonel
pleaded Mason. i don't like to see the
boys in the fight without me-
But you might escape, Mason. You
know there is sentence hanging over
you
BY heavens. Colonel, you amt going
to let the boys go into this fight without
me p and the tears came into his eyes.
Got TO, Mason said. Il can't trust
you
Then continued the narrator. '.the
| order came from Gen. Davis for our reg
iment to move up and charge rebel re-
doubt, and the boys dashed forward. II
was an awful fight, Twice they enfilad-
ed me, and the rebel bullets moved down
our men by dozens, while the rebel flag
| still waved on the redoubt,
Colonel, YOU must capture that re-
doubt, was the order that came from Gen.
| Davis.
Our men were badly tired out. and the
dead and wounded lay all around us; but
got our men together, and made the
final charge. Gods what a charge NV
horse was killed under me. The men
went forward in a shower of bullets.
thought they were going straight for that
flag then all at once they wavered. The
bullets flew like hail. and the advance
men We're all shot down.
There was no one TO lead, and thought
all was lost. just then saw a man come
rushing up from the rear. He grabbed
dead soldiers repeating rifle, and pushed
right through dead and dying. reached the
head. and pushed up the redoubt. The
toys saw him, o )k courage, and followed.
CONCLUDED ON FOURTH PAeE.l