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

THE BONNIE BLUE FLAG.
A "REMINISCENCES OF TIE WAR.
A correspondent of the Louisville
Couricr>Jou'nai, writing under the date of
Harrodsburg, Ky, January 10th, gives the
following. interesting incident Of the late
was:
A remarkable illustration of the innu-
ence wrought by music was related by Gen
cral j. =. Nuckols, who in conversation
with your reporter, told Of an Incident that
happened On the "boody field of Shiloh"
General Nuckols was gallant and distin-
guishcd 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, bluc.cycd,
brave fellow-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 Confedcrat, army. Major
Monroe had been killed, Capt Monroe had
been mortally wounded, Captain John Ada.r
badly shot, and the command of the rcgi-
ment had fallen upon Gen. Nuckols, who
was himself severely wounded and faint
from loss Of blood The regiment, tired,
wornout and tcarfully depleted, rctreating
sullcnly aud slowly as wounded bear, not
satisfied with his recent rcncontrc, was hal
ted to receive and rcpcl threatened charge
OF the enemy, and the men were lyin5 list
lcssly about on the ground. SLdd .nly Il
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 lntautry. AS the shells, like angels
OF death, spread their wings on the blast"
Burton, who was standing up III 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
blanchcd checks, they witnessed him writhc
and struggle in what they supposed was his
death agony. On came the Federal inian-
try i'll uniform rank Of unbrokcn blue. with
cleaning bayoncts fixed in font Suddenly
Burton staggered to his tcc:, stcadicd him
self, looked with dnzcd eyes and added
sight at the approaching eucmy, and rous-
ing himself with dauntlcSs and almos.
supcrhuman effort, dashed the blood from
his face, seized his gun, tossed his cap high
IN the air, and, with Il voice like war
trumpet, broke out in the chorus of the
kcntuckians' battle song, ''llurrah hurrah.
for the bonnie blue hag, that bears a sin Gle
star" Th, men sprang into columns as
steady rs if on dress parade. The chorus
rang along the lilc the Yankees hcsitatcd
STEADY, men, aim low. Rcady-aim-
fire. roarcd out the command from Nuckols
The enemy halted their lines were broken
"Chargc bayoncts - again came quick and
clear from the gallant Nuckols The enc
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 rcpulscd by the song Of IIcc.
Burton" he modcstly adds. Captain Bur.
ton now lives in one of the Southern States.
He is a lincal descendant Of Simon kcnton,
and was one Of the bravcSt soldiers in the
Southern Contcdcracy General Nuckols,
as is we'll 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 con
vcrsing with Scribblcr.
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" tip jumped little lcl.
low, so eager to answer rs not to wait for
recognition. IL know :" he called out
1T means hurry and get through" There
WIS IN nndihln smiln