The Dawson journal. (Dawson, Ga.) 1878-18??, 1885-02-19

filled with shrapnel shot, and
which, when exploded, would
make a gap through our line like
the modern two-horse reaper
driven through a wheat field.
Hark! The bugle note sounds -
the command STEADY" forward y
march, was rapidly handed down
from General Hood through the
regular channel till the shrill
voice of Capt. Neal repeated it to
"The Bloody Second" and as we
saw the colors Of the 34th move
forward the yell was raised and a
simultaneous rush to the front
was responded to by general
opening of the batteries and small
arms by the enemy, belching forth
] "leaden rain and iron hail" We
bounded forward at double
quick, passing our unfortunate
companions who were mown down
like broom sedge exposed to fire
on a dry march day. Soon after
the charge commenced, Zack Cas-
tleberry, of Co. l, the color bear
er, was shot in the arm and gal
lantly handed the colors to John
Harris, of Go. III, "a color corporal,
who rushed bravely forward way
ing the colors till, when within
about seventy five yards Of the
enemy's breast works, we saw the
colors of the 34th stop and plant
the staff in the ground, whereupon
the order was general along the
line to open fire upon the enemy
which was promptly responded to
by all who had been permitted to
go that far. The writer, being a
lieutenant in the left Color Co.,
was Immediately behind our flag
where he could see all that took
place about it. We stood in a
mans yard which had a low rail
fence around it,which not only af-
forded no protection, but as the
rails we're shivered to pieces by
shells and minnie balls each splin-
ter became an additional missile of
death which was dealt out in
such profusion in the yard. Just
at the time we came to a halt
John Harris was shot through
the head, and our flag for the first
tine fell to the ground. Fred
Bell, a brother of your ordinary,
and by the way, one of the bravest
men in our company, cast his gun
several steps away and grasped
the flag. and by the time he
brought it in an erect position a
deadly missile passed through the
flag staff and killed him instantly.
John Robertson, a young man OF
Webster county, celebrated for
bravery and attention to duty,
grasped the part Of the staff con-
tanning the flag from the dying
man and chaered us on for yicto-
ny. In all instant his fate, too,
was seald, and he lay across a pile
of his numerous dying compan-
ions. The brave, and ever to be
remembered soldier, Lieutenant
G. A. Kelly, who never 'hiclSered'
in fight, seized the blood-stained
flag and planted it in the fence
corner around which the boys q
wish | could remember til ii
names) rallied and shot yankees
till but few were left to serve rs
color guards. Corporal Moore
!; Of Company l., brought the tat
tered flag with sixteen ball hole:
in it and one through the staff of
the field, leaving our dead anc
wounded in the hands of the enc
, my. BY the way, Corporal Moore
was killed at Griswoldville durin.
the charge, and mainly at the
point where we halted were killed
that I now remember, Joe Den
5 nard, of Webster, who was shot il
5 the throat, and while he could no
speak, he beckoned companion
3 to him and pointed to the woun(
with despair. John Kitchens, O
Lee county, in whose hands as
> videt all felt safe, was shot through
= the head and never knew wha
l killed him. Joe Woolly, Of Mari
! an county, was shot through tn
: ankle and fell. and while til
= writer was helping him pull d
L his coat second ball pierce
!, him through the lower part Of th
. body, killing him, land he was LEI