The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-03-14
A "Reminiscences of the War.

A remarkable illustration of the lnfiu-
ence wrought by music was related by
Gen. j. p. Nuckols, who, in CONVERSE
ton with your reporter, told of an incl
dent that happened on the 'bloody field
of Shiloh" General Nuckols was gal
liant and distinguished officer OF the
Southern army, and now carries more lead
in bis body as reminders of the bloody
struggle than any other Confederate hero
that we know of.
Amongst the soldiers of the Fourth
Kentucky infantry, G. S. A., was one
Hector Owens Burton, a tall, brawny,
blue-e eyed, brave tellow,a Titan in strength,
enthusiastic in his devotion to the South,
and yet with all his reckless courage, he
was joyous as a 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 Ken
lucky brigade, which had suffered fear
fully, was covering the retreat of the
Confederate army. Major Monroe had
been killed, Captain Monroe had been
MORALLY wounded, Captain John Adair
badly shot, and the command of the regi
ment had fallen upon General Nuckols,
who was himself severely wounded and
faint from loss of blood. The regiment,
tired, worn out and fearfully depleted,
retreating sullenly and slowly, as n
wounded bear not satisfied with his re-
cent renconter, was halted to receive and
repel threatened charge of the enemy,
and the men were lying listlessly about
on the ground. Suddenly volley of shot
and she'll from Yankee battery was
poured into their midst, with the design
of throwing the men into disorder pre-
paratory to charging upon them with in
fantry. AS the shells "like angels of
death spread their wings on the BLAST
Burton, who was standing up i'll front,
facing the enemy, was seen to fall, being
wounded in the head by the splinter of an
exploded missile. All hearts for the mo-
ment stood still, for the regiment saw him
fall, covered with blood, and with bated
breath and blanched cheeks, they wit
messed him writhe and Struggle in what
they supposed was his death agony. On
came the Federal infantry in uniform
rank of unbroken blue, with cleaning
bayonets fixed in front. Suddenly Bur-
ton staggered to his feet, steadied him
self, looked with dazed eyes and ad-
died sight at the approaching enemy, and,
rousing himself with dauntless and al
most 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 a single star" The men sprang
into column as steady as if on dress pa
rade. The chorus rang along the line.
The Yankees hesitated. "Steady, men,
aim low. Ready-aim-fire! !" roared out
the command from Nuckols. The enemy
halted; their lines were broken. "Charge
bayonets! J" again came quick and clear
from the gallant Nuckols. The enemy's
front no longer faced the boys in gray.
"This was the last charge made upon our
army at Shiloh" says General Nuckols,
land it was repulsed by the song of Hec.
Burton" he modestly adds. Captain
Burton now lives in one of the Southern
States. He is lineal descendant of
Simon Kenton, and was one of the brav-
est soldiers in the Southern Confederacy.
General Nuckols, as is well known, is now
the very efficient Quartermaster-G 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 conversing with
a scribbler.-Cor. Louisville (hy) Cou-
rier-J Journal.