The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-03-08
THE BONNIE BLUE FLAG.

REMlNlSCENCE OF TIE WAR.
A correspondent of the Louisville
Courier Journal, writing under the date of
Harrodsburg, KY, January Goth, gives the
following interesting incident of the late
was:
A remarkable illustration of the influ-
ence wrought by music was related by Gen
eral j. p. Nuckols, who in a conversation
with your reporter, told of an incident that
happened On the "bloody field of Shiloh"
General Nuckols was gallant and distin-
guished officer of the Southern army, and
now carries more lead in his body, as re-
minders of the bloody struggle, than any
other Confederate hero we know Of
Amongst the soldiers of the Fourth Ken
lucky Infantry, G. S. A., was one Hector
Owens Burton, tall, brawny, bluceycd,
brave felow-a Titan in strength, enthusi-
astic in his devotion to the Son,h, and yet.
with all his reckless courage, he was joyous
as school boy. and loved music and fun
next to fighting. 1t was on the plains of
Shiloh, the evening OF the last day of the
battle, and the Kentucky brigade, which
had suffered fearfully, was covering the re-.
treat Of the Confederat. army. Major
Monroe had been killed, Capt. Monroe had
been mortally wounded, Captain John Ada;r
badly shot, and the command of the regi.
ment had fallen upon Gen. Nuckols, who
was himself severely wounded and faint
from loss OF blood. The regiment, tired,
wornout and fearfully depleted, retreating
sullcnly aud slowly as wounded bear, NOT
satisfied with his recent renconrro, was hal
ted to receive and rcpcl threatened charge
OF the enemy, and the men were lyins list
lessly about on the ground. SLdd .nly q
volley OF shot and shell from Yankee
battery was poured into their midst, with
the design OF throwing the men into disor-
der preparatory to charging upon them
with infantry. AS the shells, ''like angels
of death, spread their wings on the blast"
Burton, who was standing up in front, facing
the enemy, was seen to fall, being wounded
in the head by the splinter of an exploding
missile. All hearts for the moment stood
still, for the regiment saw him fall, covered
with blood, and with bated breath and
blanched checks, they witnessed him writhe
and struggle in what they supposed was his
death agony. On came the Federal intan-
try in uniform rank Of unbroken blue. with
cleaning bayoncts fixed in front Suddenly
Burton staggered to his feet, steadied him.
self, looked with dazed eyes and added
sight at the approaching enemy, and rous.
ing himself with dauntless and almos.
superhuman effort, dashed the blood from
his face, seized his gun, tossed his cap high
in the air, and, with voice like a war
trumpet, broke out in the chorus of the
kentuckians' battle song, "Hurrah! hurrah!
for the bonnie blue flag, that bears single
star" The men spraDg into columns as
steady us if on dress parade. The chorus
rang along the line, the Yankees hesitated.
STEADY, men, aim low. Ready-aim-
fre!" roared out the command from Nuckols.
The enemy halted their lines were broken.
"Charge bayonets p again came quick and
clear from the gallant Nuckols. The ene-
mics in front no longer faced the boys in
grey. "This was the last charge made upon
our army at Shiloh" says General Nuckols,
"and it was repulsed by the song of Hec.
Burton" he modestly adds. Captain Bur.
ton now lives in one of the Southern States.
He is q lineal descendant Of Simon Kenton.
and was one of the bravest soldiers in the
Southern COnfederacy General Nuckols,
as is well known, is nov the very efficient
Quartermaster. General of Kentucky, and
will doubtless be quite surprised to see this
incident in print, as he was totally unaware,
at the time he narrated it, that he was con-
yersing with a scribbler,
"You have often," said the clergyman,
"heard the brethren say Amen amen
while some one was praying. What do
they mean? IF any one knows let him
hold up his hand" Up jumped a little fel-