Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-27

sight and his thoughts travelled over many
miles and many years to the day the COM
pany first left the state.
That yellow paper which had lain there
all these years in mute commemoration OF
the fair girl who gave of her wealth for the
good Of her country, recalled many sad
memories of friends who were lost
He discovered the commission was the
original property of Capt. E. c. Postel.
now residing in Canton, Miss. 1t had
evidently been lost, but how it found its
way into a government building In
This incident reTiyes the history of a
company which had the distinction OF be-
ing the only one in the South fitted out by a
woman as wei as one of the bravest IN the
Confederate army.
At the beginning of the war patriotic
girl of our county equipped, at her own ex-
pense and in splendid style, this company,
selected by Capt. Posten its first comman-
der, for duty in the Southern cause Not
content with bestowinG every necessary on
her soldiers at its departure she gave the
Company its first flag from the courthouse
of Canton, Miss. Then, again, she visited
the Twenty-fourth Mississippi regiment IN
wise with a flag, which waved long and
proudly over Walthall's division.
These guards were among the brayest
men Mississippi sent into the field. The
gallant little band started from Canton,
thence to Meridian. and just missed the
great battle of Shiloh, where Gen. Albert
Sydney Johnston was killed. From here
the guards proceeded to Corinth, thence to
Perryville, Murfre esboro and Chicka-
manga.
At Chiekamapga this company suffered
indeed all the horrors of war. It's captain
was shot down, the lieutenant who filed
his place fell Immediately after Three
Il
sively slain. The last man ordered to take
the command refused. Il have chance
here,'' he said, "but the guards are fated. y
There Capt. Postell was shot in his knee,
from which he has never recovered. This
shot so disabled him that Lieut.. Beard was
compelled to assume command.
Those men fought well and brayely for
the South in Gen. Walthall's regiment, the
Twenty-fourth Mississippi If once they
faltered the face of their stately and hope
full young patroness so far away spurred
them on to efforts which ended only with
the close of the war. Gen. E. G. Walthall,
now a\distinguished senator from Missis-
sippi, speaks of this company in the highest
terms OF praise, and remarks that ever
after his transfer to another division he
watched with interest the career of his old
companions, and found that until the sur
render they ably sustained on the battle
field their widespread reputation for skill
and courage.
After peace was declared the SCARED and
wounded remnant of the valiant guards re-
turned home. They had been known in the
regiment as Company e, but to all Missis-
sippi the namei and valor of the "Helen
JohnsonGuards" will ever remain.
Mrs. DR.. Harris, the Miss Helen Johnson
of Aunandale, still resides at her magnif-
cent nome, which is a veritable rose garden
and one of the most beautiful residences
in the country.
Her husband, a handsome son ard beau
tiful daughter, complete her happy home
circle. She is the same stately and gracious
woman whose parting hand, thirty years
ago, waved heartfelt blessing to her cho-
sen company, on their departure for the
field. LUCY a. ORRIcK.