The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-12-23
GEN. M'PHERSON'S DEATH.
Confederate Account Of the Circumstances Con
nected With I


nected With !
II. g. Halbort, in the Phil Weekly Times
Having seen in recent issue of the
Times Orderly Thompson's account of the
| death of General Mcpherson will give you
the Confederate Version Of that affair
Gen. Mcpherson was killed by Private
Robert ID. Compton, of Company !, TWEEN.
ty-fourh Texas Regiment, Granbury 4
brigade, Cleburnes division. Mr.. Comp
ton Is still living, il q citizen Of Waco, Texas
and is regarded by all who know him as al
upright, honorable man. Tho following in
cidents in regard to the killing Of General
Mcpherson have taken down from his
own lips, and they are corrobomted by sew
eral Of his comrades still living in Waco and
vicinity. Among these will mention
Colonel W. A. Taylor who commanded the
Twenty fourth Texas during the war. As is
well known, General Mcpherson was killed
ut the battle Of Atlanta, July 90, 1864. In
this engagement the advanced pickets OF
the Twenty fourth Texas were commanded
by Sergeant Fred Kron. He and Private
Compton and another soldier, whose name
is not remembered, were some distance in
advance. The ground which they occupied
was covered with dense woods. with much
underbrush and thickets, interspersed with
ravines. After driving in the Federal SOL
diers in their front, their attention was at
tracted to u small party Of mounted men
rapidly riding parallel to them, yet some-
what ''angling" toward them. Their first
momentary impression was that it was a
charge Of cayalry--the woods being SO thick
that the Confedemtes could not well distin-
guish their number. But II proved 10 be
General Mcpherson and staff. When the
General, who was somewhat in advance, had
approached within twenty PAGES, he was
ordered by Compton to halt. Mcpherson
made no halt nor reply to this, but instant
ly wheeling his horse he veered his course
little more to the right and continued his
speed. Compton then fred, and McPher-
son instantly fell from his horse, still how
ever, holding on to the reins. The remain
der OF the party made their escape, except
a courier and surgeon. They Immediate
ly surrendered to the pickets, the surgeon
saying to the Confederates; MY God, you
have killed General MCPHERSON" These
two-the surgeon and the courier-then
sprang torthe assistance of tho dying Gen.
enl. He was MORALLY wounded, the ball
OF Compton striking him in the left Of the
right breast. The Confederate little corps
then took charge of his body and bore it
back toward the rear; but in the turning
fortunes of the battle it was recaptured u
few minutes afterward by the Fedenls.
General MoPherson's horse, which was
captured by Compton at the fall of
its rider, was presented by him to
General Smith, ut that time command
ing Granbury's brigade. This horse, how
ever, was killed an hour or so afterward by
Federal shell while in the possession Of
General Smith. Compton took from the
body of Mcpherson fine gold watch, but
the next' day, at the request Of General Gle
burne, it was returned under a flag Of truce
to the officer commanding the Federal pick
cts, and was, We understand, finally restored
to General McPherson's family Compton
also captured from McPhersons saddle a
canteen Of fine whisky, which the pickets
duly "confscated" to their own use. Gen.
eml Sherman In his memoirs" states that
MoPherson's horse came back to the Fed
enl lines wounded, bleeding and rider
less" In this he Is certainly in error,
for the horse was captured and presented to
General Smith, and shortly afterward kill
ed, as herein stated. II was perhaps about
Q o'clock in the afternoon when General
Mcpherson was killed. The above incidents
in regard to his death may BIO safely relied
on. They can DO attested by Condolences
still living who were eye-witnesses Of the
affair.