The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-10-31
lNcIpENTj OF MISSIONARY RIDGE.
Gen. Grants Great Kindness to q Wounu-
ed COnfederate.

The following story, recently related
to me by Capt Ben T. Wright, win. /
trust, prove interesting to all old
soldiers, North and South, and to all
Americans who revere the memory Of
the grand old silent soldier, q. S. Grant
relate it as il was told me:
Il was Captain of Company F, Thirty
eighth Alabama Volunteers, infantry
regiment, at the battle of Missionary
Ridge. Our regiment was in line near
some old log houses, near Gen. Bragg's
headquarters. The first day of the bat
tie we did some hard fighting and lost
heavily in trying to hold this part of
the line. / was with my men, en-
couraging and urging them to hold the
line and drive the enemy back, when a
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 sweep
ing over me.
81 don't remember how long lay on
the ground. I saw a lot of horsemen
approaching. They halted near me. /
saw that one of them was staff officer,
and he proved to be member of Gen.
Grants staff. I have forgotten his
name. He saw me, dismounted, and
came to me and asked if he could do
anything for me. I told him No. He
saw I was badly hurt, and told an order
ly 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 me
HI Ia 4 Io nd
mounted his horse.
"About this time Gen. Grant rode up,
| a short distance from where l still lay
on the ground. He inquired of the first
officer who I was. The staff officer re-
piled: 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 much pain. He
soon learned that was seriously, if not
mortally, wounded, whereupon he
called his staff surgeon and had him ex-
anime me.
"The General then wrote something
and handed it to his orderly, who took
it and rode off. Soon some Federal
soldiers came with a litter, and Gen.
Grant told them to take me down the
mountain to the ambulance train and
thence to the hospital at Chattanooga.
81 was placed on litter and carried
down the mountain side, more than hall
mile, over as rough road as you
ever saw, and with all the care the men
used to keep from hurting me suf-
fered great deal, and by the time ]
reached the ambulance / was about
ready to pass in my check. The am
bulance soon conveyed me to the
hospital, where written instructions from
Gen. Grant were handed the surgeon in
charge, stating that l was to have
special attention.
"a DIR. Cook, from Indiana, I think,
took me in charge, and for nine days
and nights he staid by me and never let
me want for anythin g. It was a close
shave, but I made it, though. Gen.
Grant came to see me twice and sat
some time by my bedside, and talked
kindly and friendly to me about my
home, where I was from, and about the
war. / never can forget him for his
kindness to me. DR.. Cook was like a
brother to me-God bless him-and
would like SO much to know if he is
alive. If so I want to write him and
thank him for saving my life, and if he
is alive and will come to Comanche the
latchstring will hang on the outside of
the door. After had recovered enough
to be moved I was sent North with other
prisoners. Went to Camp Chase; from
there to Fort Delaware. Was in prison
twenty-five months, and there when the
war ended. I will always have kind
feeling for Gen. Grant. Have never re-
covered from wound."-T o. Moore, in
RLa,e and 4307I