The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1885-07-03
ANINICDENT or THE WAR
DIR. a. j. WitherspOOn's Miracu-
IOus Escape at the Battle of Shi-
l0h.
Louisville Courier-Jonrnal.

Louisville Courier-Jonrnal.
The story of a readable incident
that occurred on the battle field OF
Shiloh will be found following. 1t
is local interest, because one OF
its principles figures is a gentle.
man quite well-knOwn in Louis
vile, the Rev. A. j. WitherspOon,
of New Orleans, who is now visi.
ting his cousin, Rev. Il. d. Wither-
spoon, in this city. The following
letter, written by DR.. w. B. Nor
row. of Calvert, Texas, very nicely
introduces the story:
"Late iu the afternoon OF the
second day of tho battle of Shiloh,
"a detachment of FORESTS cavalry
made circuit of tue field over
which the left of the Confetlcrates
had twice tOught. My duty rs a
surgeon was to bring off the ground
all the wounded who were in a con
ditiOn to he moved. Passing .
tent OH Il small tributary of Owl
Greek, my attention was attracted
by the cries of pain and grOans of
some wounded who were gathered
there. Halting to learn if | could
in any way assist the sufferers, |
was met at the entrance of the tent
by gentleman IN officers stripes,
whom learned upon inquiry was
Rev. A. j. WitherspOOn, ID. d.,
Chaplain of the Twenty first Ala
bama Volunteer regiment. Learn
ing that was surgeon, be asked
me to give wounded officer "a
Captain l believel something for
relief. After administering "A quiet
ing dose to the officer l made a
hasty examination of the others
(bOth Federals and COnfederate,)
and seeing that they had been in-
telligently cared for by the Chap
lain, prepared to leave. Before
leaving / informed DIR. Wither-
spoon that our army had fallen
back aud the Federal army were
pressing close behind.
"NIght was approaching, and,
with prospect OF another nights
bivouac without blanket or over
coat, | asked the Chaplain to fur
nish me from a lot that were in
front of the tent. He generously
insisted that / should take as ma
ny blankets and overcOats as
could pack on my horse. While
IN packing them | observ-
od the advance of the Federal army
within a short distance of us l
then rode OH to join my command.
Just after starting vOlley of fire.
arms caused me to turn IN my sad
die and look around, when l saw
DIR. WitherspoOn with white flag,
it vigorously. Soon an
other volley was fired, after which
heard an order from the Federals
to advances on them. When / last
saw the doctor he was executing
this command at a double-quick.
The line was in 40 yards of the tent
when the firing was done, and it
mas always remained mystery 10
me why the Chaplain was not kill
ed. 1t also surprised me that
was permitted to ride away when
in easy range of their lines. We
afterwards learned that DIR. With
arspoon was retained as a prisoner.
our command cap
tured a Chaplain of an Illinois reg
iment, and at the suggestion of the
writer, our Colonel Rev. ID. @. Kel.
IN, ID. D., aud Rev. DR.. Palmer,
then with the Washington Battery
IRON New Orleans) tried to effect
IN exchange for DIR. WitherspOon,
but was declined by Gen. Beaure-
gard"
The letter was written to DIR. A.
J. WitherspOon, Chaplain of the
Twenty.frst Alabama Volunteers.
When DIR. Morrow beard that DIR.
WitherspOOn was at the General As
sembly Of the Presbyterian Church
south, at Houston Texas, he went,
as be said, 40 miles TO see a man
who had one of the most femarka-