Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1894-10-11

>. Grant. 1 relate 1t as II was toit
me:
Il was Captain of Company i
Ihirty-eighth Alabama Volunteers, in
fantIv regiment, at the battle Of Mis-
sionarv Ridge. Our regiment was IL
line nenr some old log houses. neal
Gen. Bragg's headquarters. The frs.
day OF the battle We did some hard
fighting and lost heavily i'll irving to
hold this part of the line. | MAS with
my men, encouraging and urging them
to hold the line aud drive the enemy
back. when mimic ball cut my sword
buckle passed through my side, and
lodged near my hip bone. l fell and
was unable to get mp. About this
time the Federals charged with such
fury that our boys gave way ana the
two lines went sweeping over me.
Il don't remember how long lay
on the ground. / saw a lot of horse
men approaching. They halted near
me. / saw that one of them was a
staff officer, and he proved to he Il
member of Gen. Grants staff. have
forgotten his name He saw me, dis
mounted, and came to me and asked
If he could do anything for me, told
him No He saw l was badly hurt,
and told an orderly TO bring him some
water. He handed him canteen. He
took q flask from his pocket poured
some whisky into Il cup and told me to
drink it, holding me up while l did
horse.
About this time Gen. Grant rode
up, II short distance from where l still
lay on the ground. He enquired of
the first officer who l was. The staff
officer replied 1T is rebel officer,
and he is badly hurt Gen. Grant
then got down and came to me and
wanted TO know my condition, inquir-
ed how l was shot and if l was in
much pain. He soon learned that l
was seriously if not mortally wounded.
whercupon he called his staff surgeon
and had him examine me.
The General then wrote something
and hand it to his orderly, who took it
and rode Off Soon some Feleral
soldiers came with litter. and Gener.
al Grant told them to take me down
tie mountain to the ambulance train
and thence to the hospital AT Chatta-
nooga.
II was placed Oh Il litter and carried
down the mountain side, more than
half mile, over as rough road rs
YOU ever saw, and with all the care the
men used TO keep from hurting me /
suffered a great deal, and by the time
| reach I'll the ambulance | was aboat
ready to pass in my checks. The am
bulanre soon conveyed me to the hos
ptal. where written instructions from
Gen. Grant were handed the surgeon
in charge. stating that | was to have
special attention.
"A DIR. Cook, from Indiana, think,
took me in charge, and for nine days
and nights he staid by me and never
let me want for anything. 1t was
close shave, but | made it. though.
Gen. Grant came TO see me twice and
sat some tine 10y my bedside, and
talked kindly and friendly to me about
my home. where | was from. and
about the war. never can forget him
for his Kindness to me. DR.. Cook was
like brother to me God bless him
and ! would like SO much to know il
he is alive. Ii so | want to write him
and thank him for saving my life. and
ii he is alive and we'll come TO CO.
manche the latchstring will hang on
the outside of the door. After | had
recovered enough to be moved ] vas
sent north with other prisoners. Went
to Camp Chase; from there to Fort
Delaware. Was in prison twenty -ewo
Ecnths, and there when the war end
ed. l will always have q kind feeling
for Gen. Grant. Have never recovered
from wound"