The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-06-16
,vn story. John ". Mauk, the man

who shot General Hill, is still living in
the little secluded town in Bedford coun.
ty, Pa, in which he was born, and
where he spent his whole life, except the
three years given to the service of his
country. he is a carpenter by trade, has
always been in limited circumstances,
and of late years hasbeen partly depend.
ent on q small pension which he draws
from the government on account of the
disabilities contracted in the arduous
campaigns in which he took part. When
young he was tall and strong, and would
have been picked ont as most desirable
recruit for fast marching and hard
fighting regiment. Of dark visage, and
some what taciturn disposition, he is a
perfect type of the hardy race of men
Indigenous to the mountain regions of
Pennsylvania, who in peace were wood
choppers, rough carpenters and ordinary
laborers, and In war were persistent
fighters and deadly marksmen. This
particular representative of the Penn
sylvania soldiery is man of kindly and
gentle nature, whom nothing but the
fierce rage of battle or the instinct Of
self. preservation could have stirred into
an act of violence.
Daniel Wolford, who fred at Sergeant
Tucker, but missed, is now living in Blair
county, Pa.
The account ofthe shooting of General
Hill, given below, was written by Mr.
Mauk himself, and has never before
been published. It agrees 18th Mr..
fuckers account in all the main details,
although at the time of writing it, Mr..
Mauk had never heard ofMr. Tucker or
his contribution to the Southern Historical
Magazine:
"Cn the morning of the I'd of April
1865, after the rebel works had been car
ried in the front, the main portion OF the
troops deployed to the left inside the
enemy's works. a portion of the Second
Brigade, Third Brigade, Sixth Army
Corps became separated from the main
body and pushed forward to the railroad
and wagon road, running parallel with
each other, Comrade Daniel Wolford
and myself, of Company F. One Hun
dred and Thirty. eighth Pennsylvania
Volunteers, reached this point. We
came to a mill just across the railroad,
and close to it, under slab pile near
the track, we found some crowbars, with
which ne tore up two rails of the track.
Previous to this, however, ne who were
separated from the others saw q wagon
train passing and advanced, firing on it,
expecting to capture it. This accounts
for our advancing to this direction
After tearing up the track ne went OBJ
,liquely to the left, from the railroad,
in the direction Of a swamp about nall
or three-quarters of mile from the saw
mill, which we had passed to the right
when firing on the train, and going in
the direction of the railroad. Here ne
attempted to cross back to the corduroy
road, which led through the swamp to a
body of our men on the hill near the
former line of the rebel works. These
men were stragglers who had been lost
from their command and were making
coffee and eating breakfast. Just as we
entered the swamp we saw two men on
horseback coming from the direction OF
Petersburg, who had the appearance OF
officers. They advanced until they
came tor the men on the hill, they then
turned and rode toward us. We had
Just entered the swamp when they ad-
vanced with cooked revolvers in their
hands, which we're leveled at us. See
ing large oak tree close to the road,
We took to it for protection against any
movement they would be likely to make.
Seemingly, by direction of his superior,
one of the Confederate officers remained
behind. The other advanced with hia
pistol pointed at US and demanded our
surrender, saying, Surrender, or I will
shoot you. A body of troops are advanc'
ing on our left ii. 9. from the directio
of Petsrsburg), and you will have to
to surrender, anyway" The officer still
advanced and peremptorily demanded,
Surrender your armsp I said, I could
not see it, and said to Comrade Wolford,
Let us shoot them
We Immediately raised our guns and
fred, bringing my man from his sad
die.
The other officer, throwing himself
forward on the horses neck, rode off in
the direction from which they had come
We, knowing not what was on ou1
flank and not being able to SEQ in thai
direction, backed out, went farther dowr
the swamp, and crossed to the men on the
hill.
Shortly afterwards I told Comrads
Wolford that I would go and see wha
the officer had with him. I went shcr
distance and saw what I took to be {
skirmish line advancing. I went bacl
and got part of the men on the hill
perhaps ten or fiteen-and deployet
them as akirmishers for self defense
The advancing line got within hailinl
distance. I ordered them to halt, which
they did. Then I said "Throw up you
arms, advance and give an account o
yourselves"
On being questioned, they said the!
had captured some rebel prisoners, ana
were taking them to the rear. Six O.
eight of them were carrying guns, ant
were dressed in our uniform. Abou
that many were without guns, and wor'
rebel uniforms. took their word, ant