The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-19

fifty yards OF their lines. when we de-
livcrcd our first fire. At this time kept
moving on toward them, not thinking tiat
our lines would fall back or retreat AFTER
, getting that near. although the ilrc from
the enemy's triple lines was furious ana
! the boys began TO wavcr. Just then zen
cral Archer waved his sword over his
/ head and gave the command, Follow
mer' That command was ringing In my
| ears until | was shot. ] moved on-my
color guard was near me-until within
! about fifteen or twenty PAGES OF their
/ front line when / looked back TO see II
the bows were coming just then j was
shot through my right hip. l did not
/ know how badly i was wounded; | only
Z knew that ] was shot down. l raised up
/ on my hands like a lizard on fence
/ rail. and took in the situation as best
1 could. ] soon decided II could get up
/ had better DO so. 1t seemed like death
either way, but l determined 10 make
the effort 10 get away l got up, but
found ] could not walk, and If l made
the trip at all i would have TO drag my
leg / graspcd my wounded leg with my
right hand and started. Just then saw
four Of the boys lying down, but l cOuld
not tell whether they were all dead or
not. / made my way back, dragging my
Lex. under a calling fire, when a minnie
BAH struck my left wrist and tore 1t up
and took of my thumb at the same time.
j mcnded my gait little toward a deep
gully. Before l reached II l looked back
TO see II the "Yanks" were coming, ana
Just at that moment n ball drew niue
blood from under my chin. "A rev more
hops and / tumbled down into the deep
tler lint
boys insisted that as was badly wound
cd had better try and get 10 the rear
or 1 would be captured.
AWFUL THOUGHT OF CAPTURE.
That scare me up. The thought or
being captured and lying In a northern
prison, In my condition, was horrible.
could not stand the thought Of such fate.
SO did not remain in the deep gully but
n minute or So Sergeant George VIII
Iiams (who was aftcrward killed at
Gettysburg assisted me out OF the deep
gully. l had now about six hundred
yards to 20 before | could reach the deep
cut read near the mill. i knew II !
could make il there that l would be
pretty safe. Ny route was strewn with
the dead and wounded. They lay 50
thick that It was with very great difficult
". under the whitening fire of grape and
cut road. over this entire route l drag
god my helpless leg. / took shelter be-
hind a large oak tree that stood by the
roadside. in sight of Gaines Mil. l lay
down and felt pretty safe. although the
shells were bursting all around me. l
lay here an hour or more watching the
great number OF reinforcements that
were passing by. going into the battle
that was raging furicusly. Another
charge was being made. ] could hear
them yelling The wounded were carried
back to the mill along this road. i Kept
a steady watch for our litter Bearers. l
was anxious 10 be removed further TO
the rear and 1 was now I'm helpless
condition. and II seemed L was uylhs'
dying of thirst.
TIE WORLD FOR A DRINK.
would have freely given tho whole
world fer drink Of water. Finally four
Of our litter bearers came along making
their way back TO the field. | halted
them. They had lost their litter in the
charge and were using as makeshift a
big L. S. blanket. They spread the
blanket down and placed me on It,
About this time Sergeant Matuson. OF
Company "B," came along, wounded in
the foot by a piece of shell. He gave
them orders to carry me clear cut OF all
danger They did so. In the darkness OF
the night they missed their way, ana
was carried TO North Carolina battle
field hospital. and en- that account fall
cd 10 receive the attcation that l should
have had. l remained at this battlefield
hospital from Friday evening. June 2,
1862 until about O'Clock Sunday evening
when was placed in an ambulance, with
a Dutchman. who had his leg cut or.
Tie died that night We arrived I'm Rich
mond about midnight. The hospitals In
the city were all full. We were hauled
around the city from hospital TO hospital
and failing 10 find any room, we were
then carried out 10 Chimborazo. a subur-
ban hospital. Here l found a resting
place i'm ward No. 80. II was now ABOUT
. o'clock A. NJ Monday. l was very
hungry by this time. having eaten MOTH
ing since l was shot Friday.
STARVING TO DEATH.
7 called a servant to my bunk" and
told him wanted something to eat, that
l was starving TO death He said, Il am
sorry for You. but you will have 70 DO
without until regular breakfast
then called for the ward-master ! made
an earnest appeal TO him, but without any
success He said 1t is positively against
the rules. etc" ! told him that il was
L
breakfast came about 7 o'clock. The
servants waited on me nicely, and
brought me in plenty to eat. My ward
master was a whole-souled and jolly kind
of a fellow. / became very much attach
ed 10 him. His name was Caldwell, and
he belonged TO the First Georgia Regu-
lars. My earnest appeals for something
To eat the night / wNs brought IN caused
him to become very much attached to me.
Frequently the servants would fan TO
bring me enough to eat. | would "h0ller
for more. He would always make them
bring me in more (Which was against the
r-lles OF the hospital. Finally he told
them 70 always bring me plenty. "Old
Hickory must have plenty 10 eat while no
IS in nv care" I never knew why he
called me by this name. Should this
meet his eye. l would be glad to hear
from him.
The foregoing is a rough recital OF facts
Of those trying times-times that VIII
ever remain fresh in my memory.
In Louisa County.