The Van Buren press., 1895-10-12

A CONFEDERATE HERO.
A Thrilllng Incident Of the Battle ef
the Wilderness-A Citizen Of
this County.
To the Editor Of the Batesville Guard.
In his sermon at the Central Avenue
Methodist church, Friday night, Rev.
Joe Jones, Of Georgia, related the fol.
lowing incident, Of which he was an
eye witness:
At the battle Of the Wilderness near
the close Of the war, after several hours
of terrific fighting, there came suddenly
and unaccountably cessation Of firing
ON both sides. Between the long lines
Of battle lay the dead and dying, and the
pitiful cries Of the wounded for
'.waterl' "waterl" were absolutely
heartrending.
A Confederate private approached his
colonel and asked permission to carry
water to a wounded brother and some
friends lying near the Federal lines.
The ofIicer refused, declaring that such
an attempt would be only to sacrifice
the soldier life. The soldier persisted
and finally the officer yielded. Going
! to the foot Of hill, In the rear Of the
lines, the gallant fellow filed several
canteens with water and swung them
over his shoulders. Then, returning,
he mounted the entertainments and
started ON his perilous mission Of mercy.
Instantly q hundred Federal muskets
were leveled ct him, but before single
one had fred he had raised fainting
blue. coated Federal soldier in his arms
and was pouring water down his parched
throat.
At sight Of this every musket was
lowered. Passing rapidly from man to
man and making no distinction between
friend and foe, the brave Confederate
gave the suffering soldiers water.
Realizing what he was doing and the
heroism Of the act, there suddenly burst
from the Federal lines rousing cheer,
followed quickly by another from the
Confederate lines; and soon, laying
down their arms, the soldiers Ut both
sides were mingling unfortunately
together ON the battlefield, ministering
to their suffering comrades. This
Confederate soldier said the Rev.
Mr.. Jones, was John w. Miller, q
citizen Of Independence county. saw
him and talked with him today
Ihave written this incident for pub
lication because the people are glad to
know 1t when such . man lives among
them. J. NJ. II.
Mr.. Miller is we'll known to the
people of the county, as he covers the
county every winter for The Guard, but
no one would ever know Of such acts Of
heroism from himself, for he Is ~
modest a. he Is brave. He lives near
Cushman, is q farmer, with q large
family and more than his share Of
misfortune but he is always bright and
cheerful and usually disposed to make
the best Of fate. He is just such citi-
zen a. he was q soldier-true to every
duty. courageous, reliable, warm
hearted, self sacrificing, loved by his
neighbOrs and respected by everybody.
He is q christian man and next to his
God and his family he holds In sacred
love and tenderness the memories and
associations Of those awful days Of Wal
stun they were made OF.
Wuou ISOBcE ". AAAAo ppOko A1Uu tue
old court house steps here In 1890, Mr..
Miller sat in . window and heard him
from first to last. The orator closed q
magnificent speech with touching
reference to the times when the Arkan.
sas and Texas troops stood side by side
and shoulder to shoulder amid the
sufferings Of war and the privationa
that followed. The reference touched
the tenderest chord in the soldier 4
heart, and the writer, looking up, hia
own eyes little dim, saw Miller In hi
window, the tears streaming down hii
cheeks and sobbing like child.
At the surrender Mr.. Miller was with
Gordon and heard from him at Appo.
mattox the last command Of the war
Cease firing.'' Last winter the
writer, then In Washington. received
. letter ON some matters Of business
from Mr.. Miller, and 1t closed thus
"H you see Gen Gordon give him my
love-" Gen. Gordon sat In three feet
Of me when l received the letter and
at once delivered Mr.. Miller 8 message
With that high appreciation and regard
for his old soldiers, which characterizef
the man, Gen. Gordon sat down at my
desk and wrote him short letter in
acknowledgment. How greatly this
kindly act was appreciated was told in
Miller's next letter. when I got
your letter, enclosing Gen. Gordons, =
he wrote, II went up into the stable
loft and had good cry.