The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1879-04-11
FROM GAINESVILLE.
Proposed Reunion Of the
Third .UtsssssiPEi Isfausry
War Res2asaiscences.
AlNEsvILLE, MISS, April 4, 1879,

~ eAS AbNHHtkGeSCCAHGCSs
GAINESVILLE, MISS, April 4, 1879,
Editor Democrat-Star
Seeing in your paper a notice
of a suggested meeting of old
company A, Withers, artillery,
leads me to think there may be
many old comrades who would like
such a gathering. AS one | would
love to meet with my old regiment
the Third Mississippi (intantry).
Ithe company spoken of deserves
~ highest praise, and l can recall
sora G A many of the incidents be-
o ,i sc sIe ID, Stter that unfortunate bat.
u;,, I1G " O"ae,s Oua . Creek or Champion
before the bstNSn,g, day or two
wards depot, wheie We ~ y; taosd "v nu
the presentation of az, az ",'uosseu -
sOrrel horse to Gen. Boz Snesnue .ntt
had with his command JUS, Nano WIZ
in the engagements at Port Rsol Rea
son and Grand Gulf. The presei,
was made to him by his old regi
ment Twenty second Mississippi)
The evening after that we were
drawn up in line of battle near
where was fought the battle of Ba.
ker's Greek. Next morning officers
high in rank inspected the ground
as well as possible. Orderlies went
and came with hurrying steps,
Quick and sharp commands were
given and obey for the battle
was imminent. Loring, Stephenson,
Bowen, Tilghman aud Featherston
were there, and many others whose
names are written inetfaceably OH
the scroll of honor, and lovingly
entwined in the hearts of men that
stood in line that day. One more
incident comes before me so plainly
now: While the battle was at its
hottest brigade from another
State was compelled to abandon it's
position, which left a certain bate
ry without support; the men lost
their guns. They came to- the rear
leading their horses and crying
like children under the lash, so
mortified were they. Featherston
formed us in hollow square, and
in his firm, curt way said: At
| These men have lost their
guns; you must retake them.n All
knew what that meant, and cheer
went up from hearts as brave, in
an enthusiasm that would have led
them to glory, Or--a----the grave.
All but what means this delay /,
no one but the leaders know-yes, |
I'll can now see the firing slackens,
4 few struggling men come drop
ping back, then more and more.
Dur hearts misgive us that the day
S lost. We are about faced aud
he weary march in retreat has
AS the rear of the |
column LETT the line, there was
few men left with, | think, por-
ion of their battery. 1t was Rid
ey +; all now know his fate. Soon
,tter the battle we learned it
)ravely fighting until his pistols
we're emptied, with the resolve of
leath before surrender in his heart,
le yielded up his life noble sacri-
ice in noble cause. Tilghman
ell, and with his fall our hearts
,owed in sorrow. We all know the
egend of the peach tree, said to
ave grown over his grave, whose
Hood -colored leaves are a fit en-
lem of that ensanguined field.
'oilsomely we left the ground, and
ilently we marched through the
loom of the night, and Loring led
is Vdivision across Pearl river,
lille Stephenson's and Bowen's
visions recrossed Big Black.
hen short rest and time to count
,sses, find fault aud otherwise fill
D the measure of soldiers lives.
In the years which have inter
ened since those days SO full of
incident, many have
rossed the river to "lie down un-
er the shade of the trees and rest"
here are few others on this side
know would be proud once more
} meet in reunion of those that
ere faithful in those darkest days.
Iellon, Deason, Morgan, Dyer,
IcRea, Reynolds, Spence, Thomp-
On, Poindexter, COwand and other
len and officers of the Third Mis-
ssippi, l believe now living, could
lilly appreciate a grand meeting at
Dme old camp; or, passing that
It us hear from some of you
lrough this medium, and call to {
lind few of the many incidents {
rough which SO many lived, aud
uring which SO many died. s
JOHN J. MOORE,
Company G Third Miss. Vols.