The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-09-06

Dear Robert: Hearing Of the death
of Col. G.. Med. Miller | write my
humble tribute to his memory and to
the soldiers Of his regiment, especially
Of Company G, which he led in battle.
had more acquaintances in this Com
pany because many Of them were from
the west. AS a Regiment there was
mono braver in the Confederate army
and none had braver leader than was
Col. Miller.
I often visited his regiment in the
camp, on the march and on the battle
field. He in particular was always
glad to see me, because he had learned
that I felt interested in his men
whether sick or we'll, wounded or
dead. They loved h;m and obeyed
him, because he loved them. l always
considered his tender regard for his
men equal to his gallantry, bravery
and coolness in the face of the enemy.
Well do I remember the many express
sions Of love and admiration for him
from his men as I assisted them on
the midnight march and waited on
them in the lonely hospital on the
feld. They never once spoke OF him
as being stern, rash or overbcaring at
any time. In camp he was their
evual, in battle he was their leader.
will venture to give a few remiais-
cences Of one Of the many battles in
which his Regiment was engaged. l
know something about it, because |
was there and talked with him half
! hour before the battle and | remember
his last words to me. On Wednesday,
the o5,h Of June, 1862, I left Rich
mond to search fer Orr's Regiment. |
found it on the west side Of the Chick
ahominy, not far from the Virginia
Central &. R. I took tea with you,
J. L. Hemphill and Livey Grier.
That night the Regiment marched
across the Chickahor,iny at the rail-
road bridge and turned 20 the right in
the direction of Mecharicsville. 1t
halted about q half mile from the rail-
road and there we all lay down in a
ditch. beside a hedge. This was a
great protection from the shells and
cannonballs Of the enemy. Frequent
" the earth was thrown over on us.
AsI lay between you and Liyey he
said: ST expect to be killed. If you
should live to.see father and mother
and the loved ones at home tell them
to meet me in heaven.
i We we're aroused early Thursday
morning BY the sound Of artillery
around Mechanicsville and were soon
ON the mach in the direction Of
Gaines Mill. I gave up yours and
Livey's blankets. Frank Clinkscales,
. class mate, was assistant surgeon
and he and I with an ambulance and
a driver, whose name l have forgotten,
drove off to the left Of the road into a
grove Of pines about half mile from
the mill. 1t turned out to be most
dangerous place. We were just in
the rear Of Crenshaw's Battery, then
IN action with Yankee battery on a
hill to the sonth. We got out of the
ambulance. Frank found shelter be-
hind a pine tree. / lay down in a
tent covered with earth, its entrance
towards the battery and hence not a
good protection, as pieces of shell were
flying all around me. I looked out
and saw Frank standing by pine as
large as has body 80 feet behind me.
But still I thought my place was safer
than his and said to him, Crank
come to me- He said, 'sNo, I'll
stand here These were his last
words. in moment I could hear
nothing but the whizzing Of the shells
and the crashing Of the pines. [
called him again but he made no an
swer. Without ever looking for him
or the ambulance I got up and ran
towards the battery, leaving it to my
left.
I had determined to go to the Kegi-
Rent. I went back to the mill and
followed in the direction it had gone.
In an hour or two I found it lying in
a swamp ravine among growth of
broom grass and small pines. Capt.
Miller told me to lie down, for the enc
my were just little distance up in
the field.
He asked me if 1 knew that DIR.
Clinkscales was killed; I told him "No,
I left him over in the pines
"Well, he was killed, please go
back and get his watch and instru-