Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-29
THE HERO OF MISSION RIDGE.
Eli Perkins in Potter's American Monthly


Eli Perkins in Pottsr's American Monthly
I" How did the captain escape?"
asked.
"Well," said the colonel, "Ma-
son, with a dozen fellows from the
Little Muddy, enlisted in my regi-
ment. He was a splendid soldier
always ready for battle-one of
the best men Of 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 give it to
the boys This was against the or
ders, 80 ] ordered my major to ar
rest him and put him in the guard
house. Mason found out that the
major was after him with squad
of men, and full of deviltry, he
commenced lodging around and be-
hind the tents to keep from being
arrested. But pretty quick, in try
ing to keep from the men, he ran
square against the major.
"Here, you rascall" said the ma
jor, seizing him by the coat collar
without giving him chance to ex-
plain. CHOW you walk to the
guard-house; I'll fix you, you
scoundrel."
but in the excitement of the mo-
ment Mason drew up his fist and
knocked the major flat, and then
went and gave himself up.
"What was done about it," |
asked.
"Well, Mason was tried before a
court-martial for striking a superior
officer, sentenced to be shot, and
the sentence was sent to JEFF. G..
Davis to be approved. And then
poor Mason was imprisoned on
bread and water with ball and
chain to each foot"
"Did General Davis approve the
sentence!"
eyes, he approved it,"
"But how did Mason escape be-
ing shot?"
"Well, the next day before the
approved sentence arrived came
the battle of Missionary Ridge, and
our regiment was ordered forward.
Mason, Of course, was in the rear
under guard, with bail chained to
his ankle. We heard the rebel can
mons in front all forenoon. We
knew there was a big battle on, and
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"
"Ilet me go with the boys, col
onelp pleaded Mason. 81 don't
want to sec the boys in a fight with
out me"
"But you might escape, Mason.
You know there is a sentence hang
ing over YOU"
"By heavens, colonel, you amt
going to let the boys go into this
fight without me?" and the tears
came into his eyes.
eco TO, Mason" | said. 81
can't trust you"
"Then," continued the narrator,
"the order came from General Da-
Wis for our regiment to move up and
charge rebel redoubt, and the
boys dashed forward. 1t was an
awful fight. Twice they enfiladed
us, and the rebel bullets moved
down our men by dozens, while the
rebel flag still waved on the re-
doubt"
"Colonel, you must capture that
Tedoubtw was the order that came
from General Davis.
"0ur men were now badly tired
out, and the dead and wounded lay
all around us; but l got our men
together aud made the charge.
Godsl what charge My horse
was killed under me. The men
went forward in shower Of bull
lets. l thought that they were
going straight for that flag; then
all at once they wavered. The
bullets flew like rain and the ad-
vance men were 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. lie grabbed a dead sol
dier's repeating rifle and pushed
right through dead and dying
reached the head and pushed up to
the redoubt. The boys saw him
took courage and followed. In q
moment | saw the brave fellow
swing his rifle around him on the
top Of the redoubt, grasp the flag
staff and break it off, while the
boys struggled up the sides anc
emptied their guns into the retreat
ing rebels.
The day was ours As / came
up | shouted;