The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-26

story of the only Rooster in Georgia That
Has % Tombstone over Its Grave.

story of the only Rooster in Georgia That
Has y Tombstone over Its Grave
Major Tom Williams owned the only
rooster that has been honOred in Geor-
gia by having a tombstone over his
grave, says an Atlanta letter TO the New
York sun.
while we were camped near Culpeper
Court House. in the fan OF 1852" be says.
IN telling the story, II became acquaint-
ed with "a family named DOwdy Just be-
fore the battle Of Cupeper | paid a visit
10 the farm and found the ladies In a
panic preparing 20 fee. They set before
me such scant fare as they had left. and
after had eaten a hasty luncheon Miss
Mary DOWdy called to me and led the
way TO the back yard.
" There IS the last Of our stock OF pOul-
try said She pointing TO a little bantam
cock that was strutting about the yard.
L haven't the heart 20 Kill him because
he is a pet. II you want him you can
take him and do as you Ike with him
During the campaign OF 1868 he often
sat on my shoulder through the long,
weary marches and hurried retreats. and
1 shared my ratlOns with him. one night
We had reached tho flank OF the enemys
camp by a forced march and lay down
10 sleep on our arms, expecting 10 be
reused at the break OF day for sudden
charge. / had started OF with General
percned upon my musket barrel and
sudden change in the order OF march
had separated us from the wagons so !
placed the rooster on the limb OF a sap
ling above my head. while / lay down 90
snatch a few minutes sleep preparatory
10 the surprise planned at daynreak.
General did not utter a single cluck IN
protest, although he must have been
very hungry from long fasting but quiet
ly squatted on the branch while ! flung
myself on the grass and leaves and was
soon fast asleep. I was so weary that 1
silent profoundly until ! was suddenly
aroused by an unearthly screech in my
ear. Raising my head. 7 took IN the
whole situation az a glance.
General had dropped down from his
perch and uttered a shrill crow right 10
my ear which had awakened me, and as
| opened nv eyes / saw thef flash OF guns
as our pickets fired and In an instant
fell back upon us whore we lay. The
Yankees had turned the tables on ms and.
discovering our presence, the surprising
force became the surprised and I'm ten
minutes there was the most unearthly
racket going on I'm that pine thicket tnAt
you can imagine
fright and left Of my position the boys
came out or cover ana advanced WIN
yells and cheers. moving cautiously and
firing az they moved. II had become sur
dclentlv light for me 10 find my few be-
lOngings, and soon recovered my hat
and haversack. which / had forgotten 20
pick uD IN the hurry or the urSt sur
prise. and just at that time ] was sa-
luted with a loud crow Just above my
head. and looking up 7 saw General
perched upon his limb he having flown
back there when the firing began. and
with his head held on one side be was
siding along the swaying branch Growing
and clucklng as big as If he had taken
part IN the fight
IN spite OF the banging of the guns
and whistling OF bullets. General stuck
bravely 10 his perch and never huttered
during the entire engagement. When
told the story I'm camp that night General
was the toast OF the evening. and he
was treated 20 all sorts Of tidbits from
the haversacks Of my comrades I'm recog-
milton OF his gallantry on the field of
action
zone morning, however, General play
ed the camp detective I'm most alarm
Ing manner. which came near proving dis
I astrOus 90 a fellow soldier OF another
mess. An foraglng had been strictly for
hidden and no man was allowed 10 leave
the ranks under the heaviest penalty Of
military discipline. There was a fellow
bv the name OF Jim Nessmith who oc-
cupied a tent not FAR from that az tho
Captain OF our company About I o'clock
the order was passed along the lines for
ug TO prepare 70 march We had not been
allowed 10 kindle our camphres the night