The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-10-31
HEROIC DEEDS.
Old Soldiers Recount Acts of Bravery In
War Times.
atlanta Constitution.

Have you ever thought of asking an
old soldier "what was the bravest thing
you ever saw done during the war 2"
That is just what the Constitution asked
number Of old soldiers on yesterday.
And here is the result, and very pretty
collection of fgallant things it is, too!
GOVERNOR GORDON was asked the
most conspicuous example Of bravery he
ever saw on the other side.
"The finest exhibition of courage /
ever saw on that side," said he, twas
at Sharpsburg. It was the major who
led their men against US. They had
three OF four lines, and he brought them
up against us three OF four times. We
broke them IS they cane up, and when
line was broken he would put a fresh
lire in front of the broken one and bring
them up again. In this way be brought
them up until they were all broken.
Then be tried to lead them up again but
they would not come. I had told my
men to hold their fibre and I could see
him gesticulatiug and urging his men
on, but to no purpose. Finally he walk
ed out about third Of the way, stuck
his sword in the ground and stood in
front of us with his arms folded, now
and then looking over his shoulder at his
men as If to say, II ann going to stand
here till I die or bring you up" and
they did come at last about two.thirds
of the way. Itried hard to find out who
he was, but I was knocked senseless
about that time and never saw him
again. The men eaid the last thing l
said before fell was, "No don't hurt
that man."
"Now give us one on our side," said
the interviewer.
ri could give you q thousand that
would make your hair stand on end, :"
said the Governor, "but I cannot give
you one: it would do Injustice to ten
thousand"
CAPTAIN ". 81. HARRISON, who was
on Gordon's staff in the army, tells-the
following:
"It was at Hsfper's Ferry, a short time
before the surrender, and my company
had been out all night on picket. Just
at daybreak, when We began to see where
We we're, man, named Miles Thornton,
looked over bis head and saw pear tree
full of ripe pears.
"Captain, let me go up and get some
o. them pears said he.
IT told him to go ahead,i he wanted
to, but he might get shot.
"Oh no, WON'T" he said, and began
climbing the tree. A yankee gunner on
the other side of the river saw him, and
Just as he reached out ais hand for a
pear shell went through the top of the
tree about six feet over his head.
"Look out, Thornton," said !, "don't
you see the yankees are shooting at you ?
They'll get your range in a. minute, and
the next shell will knock yon out of
there"
ooh, no, cap'n," said he, 81 won't
get hit, just let me climb up where that
she'll went through" and the fellow
climbed up and plucked pear from the
very spot where the she'll had gone
through.
"Tbat man was shot through the left
leg soon afterward. 1t was badly bro.
ken, but he got two muskets for crutch.
es, aud was hobling of the field when
another ball struck his left elbow and
broke his forearm all to splinters, so that
it had to be amputated near the shoul.
der. He was captured and taken to
Baltimore, and in less than month
from the time be was shot he had whit.
tied out a wooden leg, which he used foI
years. He sat up in bed, and with hif
one hand and the stump of the Other
arm managed to draw the piece of wood
down with his pocket knife until it was
in the shape of a wooden leg, with a long
piece that came up to his hip, and wa'
held in place by leather strap. Tha
man was tax receiver of my country fol
several years, and died since the war"
JUDGE W. l.. CALHOUN cat Vicks
burg our men were all heroes. They
had been through severe campaign
and every man who lacked grit had failed
off by the wayside long before the siege
saw one example Of desperate courage
A half dozen men were out in the trench
es in front of our works, and a party o
twenty of the enemy made rush tt
capture them. They surrounded ant
captured them, but there was one mai
who would not surrender. With a doz
en- guns pointed at him he de6ed them
and shot their lieutenant dead. Th
next moment his body was riddled will
bullets, and the yankees buried him ant
puta stone to mark the spot where
brave man died.
ri saw another instance of dare dew
daring which had ludicrous end
When the enemy had just como up the
brought out little rifle piece and bega
out little rife piece and befan shoot
ing at our works. Lieutenant B. T
Walker got up and danced on the para
pet, making all sorts of gestures at th
gunners who were throwing shells owe
his head. I saw that they were gettiD
down nearer to his range and told hir
they would take him off in few minute
if he did not get down. NO, they can
hit me, he said, and as he could see th
flash of the cannon he dropped dow
every time and escaped the shells. Th
first thing I kuew Walker came tumblin
down with the whole top of the parape
- /. aLo-orof ,1ov Tho th;no uoo G