Morning journal and courier., 1890-02-28
BOLD SERGEANT BELL.

A StO1y OK an A AuQAclOUB UxAyCV1Cb Capture of a Regiment of Yankees. From the Atlanta Constitution.] Ex-Shsriff Charley Wells tell @ remarkable
 story of an accident that happened while the l bloody Seventh Georgia was campaigning in ] the valley of Virginia. The hero of this won- derful feat is still alive, and is no less per- son than Capt. Sanford Bell, who daily takes his train in and out of Atlanta on the West Point road, who is as popular conductor in peace as he was daring soldier in war. The facts of this story, while strictly true, are known to all the surviving members of the seventh Georgia, constitute one of the most wonderful achievements ever performed upon the theatre of wal, and go far toward ex- plaining the reasan why whole bodies of even disciplined troops are liable to sudden and uncomfortable panics.
 It was during Popes's advance on Rich- mond that the Seventh Georgia, after day of hard and incessant fighting found itself at the confines of large field of wheat across the centre of which there ran, as straight as an arrow, a deep ravine. The e1igencies Of the battle had in a measure separated them from the touch of their comrades on either flank, and, although the firing was heavy and incessant all around them no enemy was at that moment visible in their front. They had just repulsed an attack made by the Nine- teenth Wisconsin and @ portion of New York regiment. The latter had fallen back through the wheat field and were lost to view.
 Dusk was quickly gathering, rendering the
 scene indistinct and brightening the glare of flashing musketry on all aides, the ineessant roll and rattle of which told that the fight still ragged. The men of the Seventh were weary with long days fighting, and were taking needed rest, preparatory to charging in their turn the enemy whom they knew were concealed somewhere in or beyond that field.
 It was at this moment that Sergeant Bell performed his remarkable feat-a feat than which no more daring act was ever attempt- ed in ancient or modern warfare, and which, l if it had been performed under Napoleon's | eye, would have won the gallant soldier in stant promotion and the grand cross of the legion. While the regiment was at fatigue rest Sergeant Bell thought he would recon. l noitre, and stealing from the ranks he moved stealthily through the field of wheat and ob- liqued so as to meet the ravine at it's head. Here he beheld sight which for the mos | ment almost paralyzed him. The ravine was 1 full of federals, and he had run right plump upon them. To retreat would have been dangerous. It was one man against three hundred or more, and Sergeant Bell deter-
 mined to capture that regiment and take those colors with his own hand. Boldness was safety in this case, though few men would have had the hardihood to think 50. Without moments pause he dashed boldly forward, firing his musket full into the ranks of the enemy, and crying to them to ''sur- render" tthrow down your arms.''
 The Seventh Georgia heard the shot and the cries and sprang like bloodhounds slipped from the leash across the field, but due him for his victory, although just in time to give him the support he then so sore ly needed. For when the leading files of the Seventh appeared they beheld four hundred men standing at "attention," and four hum dred muskets lying on the ground. Bell had captured them single-handed and alone, and had taken their colors with his own hand. The captured regiment was sent to the rear amid great laughter and Bell became the hero of the hour. Nor can it be said that | the support of his own regiment enabled Bell to accomplish this almost unparalleled feat; for it was the opinion of many witness
 es of the scene that had the whole regiment appeared coming across the field they would have been saluted with volley, and an ob- stinate fight might have resulted, ending in the repulse of the attacking troops, but the
 sudden apparition of single wild figure darting out of the gloom, yelling and firing | right into their faces, so disconnected them | that they yielded to a general panic and were prisoners almost before they knew it.
 In the words of one who was present: | "When Bell dashed at them at the end of i the ravine, first one man rose up and surren- dered and then another, until 1t looked like
 a flock of black birds rising up, and in less | than two minutes they were all prisoners,
 and the colors of the Nineteenth Wisconsin
 were in Sergeant Bells hands,"
 The hero of this incident is @ hale, hand.
 some man of about ffty-fve, with grizzled
 hair and moustache. He is as modest as he
 is brave, and the story here told came from
 the lips of comrades who were with him and l saw his remarkable feat on that October day.
 Captain Bell had @ furlough which he prized very highly, which was unfortunately
 lost in fine on Alabama street some years
 ago. The endorsement on the document read thus:
 | Sergeant J. s. Bell, Company K, Seventh Georgia
 regiment, did the 3ist of October, at Fair Oaks, Va, advance four hundred yards in front of his
 command, and capture the colors of the Nineteenth
 Wisconsin infantry with many officers and men,
 and as reward for this and other gallant acts re.
 spectfully ask that this application be granted. l WILSON, | Lieutenant Commander Company k.
 On this also appeared the endorsement of
 Major J. F. Riser, General Tige Anderson,
 General Fields. General Longstreet, and finally General Lee, "for special gallantry."