Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-09-08
AT MISSIONARY RIDGE.
Gen. Grants Great Kindness 20 Wounded
Southern Soldier.

southern Soldier.
The following story, recently related
to me by Capt. Ben 7. Wright, will,
trust, prove interesting to nll old sol
diers, north and south, and to all
Americans who revere the memory of
the grand old silent soldier, U. s.
Grant. relate it as it was told me:
II was captain of Company +, Thir-
ty-eighth Alabama volunteers, infan-
try regiment, at the battle of Mission
airy Ridge. Our regiment was in line
near some old log houses, near Gen.
Bragg's headquarters. The first day
of the battle we did some hard fight
ing and lost heavily in trying to hold
this part of the line. / was with my
men, encouraging and urging them to
hold the line and drive the enemy
back, when Mimic ball cut my sword
buckle, passed through my side, and
lodged near my hip bone. / fell and
was unable to get up. About this time
the federals charged with such fury
that our boys gave way and the two
lines went sweeping over me.
Il don't remember how long lay on
the ground. saw lot of horsemen
approaching. They halted near me.
l saw that one of them was staff Of
ficer, and he proved to be a member
of Gen. Grants staff, l have forgot
ten his name. He saw me, dismount-
ed, and came to me and asked If
he could do anything for me. told
him mo- He saw l was badly hurt,
and told an orderly to bring him some
water. He handed him a canteen.
He took flask from his pocket
poured some whisky into a cup, and
told me to drink it, holding Inc up
mounted his horse.
about this time Gen. Grant rode
| up, short distance from where still
lay on the ground. He inquired of the
first officer who was. The staff off,
Ger 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, inquired how /
was shot and if was in mach pain. He
soon learned that L was seriously, if
not mortally, wounded, whereupon he
called his staff surgeon and had him
examine me.
The general then wrote something
and handed it to his orderly, who took
it and rode off. Soon some federal sol.
diers came with a litter, and Gen. Grant
told them to take me down the noun.
tain to the ambulance train and thence
to the hospital at Chattanooga.
II was placed on a litter and carried
down the mountain side, more thar
half a mile, over as rough a road as
you ever saw, and with all the care
the men used to keep from hurting me
l suffered a great deal, and by the
time l reached the ambulance | wa:
about ready to pass in my check. The
ambulance soon conveyed me to The
hospital, where written instruction.
from Gen. Grant were handed the sur
geon in charge, stating that was t.
have special attention.
"a DIR. Cook, from Indiana, think
took me in charge, and for nine day
and nights he staid by me and neve
let inc want for anything. 1t was
close shave, but l made it, though
Gen Grant came to see me twice ant
sat some time by my bedside, ant
talked kindly and friendly to me abou
my home, where was from, and abou
the war. l never can forget him 70
brother to me-God bless him-and
would like so much to know if he i
alive. If so | want to write him ant
thank him for saving my life, and
| he is alive and will come to Comanch