The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-19


was then with the wagons, and we
had gone down to a little place
called Tilton, near small river, 8
or 10 miles from our winter quar-
ters In the afternoon, towards sun
down, clouds began to gather in the
West, with some thunder About
this time orders came to us to re-
turn to our old winter quarters below
Dalton. The rain overlook us about
nine o'clock-and it rained. Tho
thunder and the lightning were ap-
palling, and the darkness was in
tense, except when the gloom was
dispelled by the lightning Soon
the road was flooded with water and
mud. 1t was impossible for me to
keep with the wagons, or even to
walk, except by getting behind n
wagon and holding on and trusting
to that to carry me through safely,
which it did. had good oilcloth
which covered the upper part of my
body and my baggage, 30 that I did
not got much wet, except my lower
limbs. At our old winter quarters
we took possession Of a shelter which
had been used rs place Of worship,
whore we built us good tiros, dried
ourselves and had q good nights rest
and suffered no damage from our
exposure. The next day and night
we went to Resaca. And here first
heard the onemy's guns in this cam
paign and saw and heard the burst
ing of a shell
I did not remain with the wagons
long. felt that weight, heavy
burden, was pressing upon mo and
that / must 60 back to my place in
the ranks. I had an easy time with
the wagons, but to mo it was not
pleasant. So ono delightful after"
noon, about tho middle of May, /
went to Capt. Sullivan, of Edgeted,
quarter master, under whose orders
was at the time, and told him that
| wanted to return to my company.
"Well," ho says, in the easy, quiet
way habitual with him, "I reckon you
may as we'll CO." Aud went. In
an hours time l reported to Capt
Chatham. "Woll," he says, "give
your detail to MIR. Young and take
his gun," which did, and took my
place in the ranks. The burden was
lifted and I felt bouyant and cheer
full. Soon after this I felt that be
fore long would be wounded, but
that it would not kill me. Fighting,
fighting all the time and the boom
ing Of the cannon never stopped.
But you old soldiers know all about
that [ remember one afternoon we
stopped TO rest, and while resting I
wrote letter to my wife and said to
her that I did not then hear the can
non roaring and it might be day or
80 before I heard them again. It
was not two hours before the music
began as pleasant as ever At the
battle of New Hope church, which
was fought between the Goth and
the last of May our company lost
one man, killed. Our company was
not actually engaged, but was under
fire. Here saw our colonel, II. p.
Shaw, sitting on his horse with his
face to the foe, as had seen him be,
fore, and as he was afterwards at
Franklin, when he was shot centrally
through the chest and fell from his
horse. TO let you know and feel how
savage men are by nature, I must
mention that while the battle was
raging, tho cannon roaring and the
minnies cracking, 1 raised myself on
my elbow and said, "By George,
that's glorious" The enemy suf,
fered very severely in this engage
ment, though it was by no means
general.
Not long after thus, I felt that tho
end of my career as soldier was
drawing to a close. The impression
upon my mind deopened and grew
stronger that I would bo wounded
l soon, but that it wonld not kill mo
On tho morning Of Sunday, May 20
1864, wo were lying in pleasan
piece Of woods in tho presence o
the enemy, whore Granbury's Texa
: Brigade had fought them tho day be