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


mortally wounding him. I was lying
upon my loft side and he upon his
right near me. My first words after
the ball struck mo was, "boys I've
got it." The rest, 20 Lord, how it
hurts" I got up and tried to walk,
but could not touch my right foot to
the ground, Sergeant Matthews said
to me, "Mr Chapman, lie down." l
replied, stake mo to tho rear" Billy
Reese with his litter came up, placed
mo carefully upon it and bore mo
off. I said to him: "Billy, tako caro-
Of my gun and send it to the arsenal
or ammunition wagon" "O," said
he, "damn your gun, wo are after
taking caro- Of you now"
So my career as II soldie; in the
field ended. Then followed tho many
and agonizing weeks of suffering in
the hospital. l was at Atlanta and
Forsyth 72 days before l could get a
furlough and 60 home. Seven weeks
Of the time, or more, tho agony was
30 excruciatlng that it seemed to me
death would have been q welcome
visitor. But I live yet, and my life
since the war has not been unhappy.
On tho 10Th day Of AugustI received
furlough for sixty days, and on the
18th I arrived at home safo and
found all we'll
This is bricf sketch Of my career
as soldier. Much moro might be
added, but many Of you old soldiers
who we're out two, three and four
years had much moro varied cxpo-
rience than mine, and in somo re-
spects much harder. | never suffered
for the want Of food as some Of you
did.
Before I close this report permit
me to make few remarks on his
tories of the United States for uso in
our common schools. You arc aware
that there is a great deal Of COM
plant OF the histories on account of
their unfairness, or supposed unfair.
ness Of statements not only iii regard
to the late war between the States,
but also in other matters long pro-
ceding. 1t is thought that undue
prominence is given to somo sections
to the neglect Of others, oven though
what is said Of the others may 10
fair and true.
Since left off business as n book
seller, l have not taken the pains to
read carefully any Of the United
States histories now used in the COM
mon schools. When I was a book
seller I think Swinton's United
States was the ono most generally
used. And that, my recollection is,
was quite fair. Barnes I have never
read, nor Eggleton's, and cannot
pronounce upon their merits. When
I was in business sold good many
of Stephens, and also Of Derry's;
both by Southern writer's, though
neither was adopted by the School
Board Of this State. Stephens was
used extensively in other States be.
sides this, though what it ls doing
now, I am unable to say. Perhaps
nothing.
Not long after the war Mr.. w. j.
Duffie, nm onterprising bookselle,
and publisher doing business in Co.
It,nlbia requested me 20 prepare Il
child's history of the United States
stating that no would publish it in
conjunction with Mr.. Hale, Of New
York. / sot to work Immediately and
prepared the book and sent him the
manuscript. He at once sent thf
manuscript to Mr.. Stephens at Craw
fordyille, Ga, requesting him te
father it after careful revision. Mr.
Stephens read it at once before he
slept that night and immediately
wrote for mo to go to eco him for the
purpose Of having an interview.
went, stayed with HIM one day ane
returned home. Meantime Mr.
Duties views as to tho size Of tn
book underwent Il change, and h
concluded to make a larger work.
sot to work again, rewrotc tho Who'll
work, making it substantially what
was when first published IN 1877
On my return to Mr.. Stephens
which I did at his request when h
was able to give his attention to tn