Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-01-17

officer, seDtenc' d Co be shot, and the
sentence was sent to General JEFF.
Z. Davis tn be approved, And then
poor MIson was imprisoned on
bread and water, with o ball and
cham to each frot. -
did General Davis approve the
sentence 2"
Yes, he approved it,"
Bat how did Mason escape being
shot eT'
"Well. the next day before the ap-
proved sentence arrived came the
hattie of Mission Ridge, and our
regiment was ordered forward.
Mason, of course, was in the rear,
under guard, with hall chained To
/ his ankles. We heard the rebel can
non i'm front all the forenoon. We
! knew there WAS y big battle on, and
we needed all our men. Su , rode
over TO the guar6-house and told
Mason that va would haye,tn leave
him behind with his bail and chain
gill the battle was over.''
"i4eS me go with the boys, Gallon.
ell" pleaded Mason. ~ don'G want
tn see the boys in fight without
me-"
But you might escape, Mason.
You know there lS Il sentence hang
ing ove,' you"
"BI heavens. Colonel you amt
going tn let the boys Ga into this
/ fight withnur me ?" and the tears
came to his eyes.
"Gnt 10, Mason" | said. Il
can't trust you.''
Then" continued the narrator,
''the order came from General DA-
Wis for our regiment to move up and
| charge rebel rrduuht, and the 6Dvs
dashed forward. ., 1t was an awful
fight. Twirr they enfiladed us, and
the rebel b llets moved down our
men by dozens, while the rebel flag
still waved on the redIubt.
Colonel, you must capture that
red"u6t, +" WAS the order that came
/ from General D.vis.
'sOur men were now badly tired
out, and the dead und wounded lay
all around us !; but got our men
together aud IN rde thu final charge.
Go6s WRIT a charge Ny horse Was
killed under me. The men went
forward in slower of bullets.
thought they were gang straight
for that n z then all at once they
wavered. The bullets few like rain,
and the advance men We're all shCt
down There was no one to lead
anl | thouIlt all was lost. Just
then | SAW man come rushing no
from the rea". He grabbed IA dead
soldiers repeating rifle and pushed
! right through dead aud dying, reach
ed the head, and pushed up the re.
dodbt. The boys SAW him, took
courage aud followed. LIN a mo.
men. | saw the brave fellow swing
his riff around hun on the top of
the redoubt, grasp 5he fls staff and
break it off, while the boys strug.
gled up the side aud empLied their
guns int0 the retreating rebels.
,''Tne dav Was ours AS | came
up | shouted -
"WhO took the flag, Onys ?"
1T was Mas III 80 said the b0;s,
and lpkiUg d 'wn. I SAW 4 broken
.cHain aud Il shackle still OH his an
kl, :"
Then the narrat3r'S voice choked
!Iipl aud the tears came int his eyes.
Il chuldn'C help il. Colonel, - said
Mason, Il cpuldn't see the boys
lighting dlm-, 81 got the ax aud
pounded IF the ball and chain, and
now, C1l lpnel, I'll go back and pat
'em on araiu."
''Gn back and put 'em on again."
almost cried. No, sir 4! Mason.
III put them on my self ST."
"Tneu," 4" said the Col mel, Il re-
frcttd that TINS wasn't military ard
told the brave fellow to stay with
twn of the :,oys.''
That night" continued the
Colonel, wrote over To General
Davis auout MdsOn'S braveI y-hOw
he CD .turrd the reDel dag and led
the regin-nt to victory in fact
saved the liattle, and begged him,
he had not approved NaSOu'S Sell
ence Of death, tO send Is back To
the Court unapproved. In ia hour
IA messenger ctne back with the pa
perd. The s-ntence had been APP
proved before the battle, bat Gener-
al Dtvis took his pen and wrote
across the bett.Jm:
"The finding of the Court dlsap- |
proved, and private Thomas Mason,
for distinguished bravery in cap. |
turing rebel hIg, promoted to "a !
second Lieutenancy."
.''.WEIat did Mason say when you
toll about his promotion % ask !
=