Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-06-03
arr WAS HE'LL yrsELF.-
Thrilling Story ostre Most Desperate
Battle ofthe War. as Told by
aRebel Soldier.

Thrilling Story o. tie Most Desperate
Battle osthe War. as Told by
aRebel Soldier.
Three wears ago my comrade, Rhett
Thomas, and were prospecting In the
foothIll OF the SIer a Madre mountains,
in Wyoming. Thomas was an ex-con-
federafe soldier, q Mississippian. He
was tall, slenfer, lean-flanked, thin
faced, blaek-eye1 and AZ years old. On
the evening OF May 80 we sat by blaz-
ing campfire In Bear Creek valley. The
dark, pine-clad highlands behind US re-
sounded with the noise of falling water
and the mournful sigh of the swaying
pines. We sat silently looking at the
fire, here dying down, there suddenly
glowing into heat, as III II were alive
and swayed by gust of passion. The
fire and the day recalled memories OF
the war.
"Thomas," !" 1 said, "today is Decora-
ton Day. Throughout the North the
graves Of the men who fell In defense
Of the Union have been strewn with
flowers. The memories Of the war are
being recalled around thousands OF
hearthstones tonight. You never speak
Of the war. Break your rule tonight
and tell me battle story"
Thomas looked at me inquiringly for
an instant and then said, sadly: "I do
not like to talk of the war. My father
and brothe,s were killed in battle, on
home was burned, our slaves freed, our
lands made valueless. My friends and
comrades were shot dead by the score.
Other scores, weekend by starvation
and hard work, and thinly clad, died.
The memories of the war are exceeding
| ly painful to me. Butt he added, as
he shrugged his shoulders to my en-
treaty t' talk, "pile some wood on the
| fire while / cut couple of pipefuls of
tobacco, and then will tell you Of the
| fierceSt battle was inn
piled logs high on the fire. We iii
our pipes on the glowing Goals. Then,
wrapped in our blankets, we sat on the
ground and / listened attentively to my
rebel friend.
II belonged to Joe Johnston's army =
said Thomas; tive had ceased to talk OF
our victory at Kenesaw. The daily
fighting during the long retreat before
Sherman had been almost forgotten
Our lost opportunity on Peach Tree
Creek-lost by the removal of Johnston
had ceased to trouble us. The loss oi
Atlanta and thousands of our comrades
who fell in the battles around that town
were still fresh in our minds. And
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