The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-13
the the STORY Of

tBY 9. 4. EDys
., Washington, resrass,
cial,)r-senator Pettus e
VIII m I had talk recss Z.
o. o,a the most remarkable
States senate. since AZ
Vermont octogcnarian
ne Is the Oldest man i a. h
IN his seventy eighth ~. sl
>ators may have occasIor y, ].
the chamber for days ana !, y
there promptly when ~ 4.
mis- invocation and ~.
retiring hour. Senator
General Pettus,,. !,
-ou' yet very vlgorou. s.
Is respectfully and foud,,
those who know of Ne
Qualities during the civil ~ 8
notable man, in that /, wiz "A
rainy can say no man 81 4. ~
.nose VINO are exponents Of Nos,s !. & Il.
honesty and courage 4 M"
ored and loved than he o,s 4
All sorts of stories hay. =
how General Pettus cam. m
"old Texas But there's Y
Wauls legion Of Texans -, L ".
Alamo or Thermopylae wbo n
serves into the breach on 4 hs-s.,
the sorely beleagueret civ y s \,
who can forget the AlabsmIss. zl
heroism on that occasion. ~
mad taken salient and theIr ~
hosts, terrible with banners a. I.
were ready to swarm into NJ 81.
complete the conquest Of ds.,,,,.s. ~
the starving confederates. M.
General Pettus, Alabama ~. Il
been nearly annihilated In 4 IA, !. M
the works In the early mornInp y. RI
ceiyed a message from Genera AZ - \
=. Lee. In e 1nmand Of that part \ p
defenses. who did not know how ~ \,
federates had suffered, that ths ..s.|
must De retaken. General pettua ,,','2
to the remnants OF his sxhau.t.a b
broken brigade, nearly every ons &, p
oincers of which had been lniss
wounded, and many whole Az,
- = -=rl 1-4 u
wiped cut, and the few survivors s. z
so exhausted they could scarc.ly n J
gun TO their shoulders. 81
He turned sadly away. He lad y
the thick Of the fight, but his. sr..,s,s
vitality had sustained him. AZ NJ, y.
desperation Of the situation 4. f.
about among the dlspirited gsuut Ri
crs of the gray within the Mn
works looking for troops WHO vooId7 ,
willing to go with him to cxecuts M b
ders of his chief. He had aimoe b
SPARED. when he encountered Wauls Z
elonSof Texans. He spoke first ID / is
tain named Bradley who had liyed 4 y
present senator's town--seIma-ssnd q
moved to Texas before the war, NM
had Joined the Legion"
"Wil! you all help me take bart
salient" he asked Of Captain HrsdIS:
The latter didn't recognize biz
Acknowledgement who was coysred !
lust and bore no distinguIshinf
mark. "
The adopted Texan hesitated, 81 W.
turned to his men and stated the m
ion. The question was asked: en-
ae. and will he go with usT'
Yes; will go with you ana shes I
way Y
A brief conversation ensued. d i ~
General Pettus disclosed his plau Y y
ack. Then, Bradley turning to " "a
aid:
Il believe this man Is leadcf -
lnows what he is talking about. WIN II
20 with us?"
To a man they answered they VI
AXE the chances anyhow. A
Then having arranged that cesd1
lumber would make firing feint o. n
ear of the captured redoubt. picked o.
we're chosen from each company. and ~
by a circuitous ditched NJ
N their perllous mission. At q signal &1
ropped hand, erchief from the haul
'ettus, just as the men following n
we're about to mount the works and uS
Trough the great wide door eristllng M
uns, the outside lines ceased drtng Z!
yer into the astonished ranks Of me a.
rails burst the throng of determines 3 I! o.
ms. knowledge OF the facts Of tne
ent had come to me and asked " d
ettus some questions. 81
you must have captured all q 49,
mo; we didn't capture any.
'Did they get away?'
"No: they didn't have time 70 ~ AZ Z!
hey were all killed or wounded. ~
Only recently member OF Wapts w.
'rote to Senator PettiH for some ~!
lvor, calling him "Old Texas; sno
lg: "You may not remember me, ~ y
ill surely remember the incident q
The rest of the incident was ia ~
he brief and bloody conflict va
oak-chested Texan. 10 o!;13
,ggings demanded hoarsely o. y
radIey: who is this man pfoak
ito this hell's hole?" WI. s.
II don't know" said Bradley, ,ep 4 ~
ssured you, be knew how TO 40 n n I'd
60" Z. I. 4
Eyes; and move right here ~
MT a Texan. we vote hin, one.,,
And then the old fellow hlmseM
bic and it was carried amid s .es
Ills that the Yankees on the outals,s
retired, thinking oys. p!
e numbers of the desperate VIZ ~
,out to make a sally and tnat
,e Johnston's army at hand eons'
Ie east to make their dencrai'sss
etc. Is q
That's the true story Of how
dold Texas belongs as one q
emory's laurel chaplets Of SCI
und w. Pettus. now senator Y
ina. He receives many lsttsFs
,xans, who foneiy write him. y