The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-06
A Close Call.

Young; ] will begin where left off in
my last article of the gath of March, on
General Johnstons retreat from Big Black
river 10 jackson, Miss, which was close
ly followed up by General Sherman's
army Between Bolton and Citnton
witnessed a lively artillery duel by one
OF our batteries q believe it was Cap
tain Kings battery This company was
composed of Missouri boys. and as brave
and gallant as any company in the Con-
federate army. The enemy kept close
up to our rear pretty much all the time.
| General Jackson, our division commander,
ordered Ross brigade ana Kings battery
to make a stubborn stand ana TO Keep the
enemy in check so as TO give our IN
fantry time to- get into jackson ana 10
prepare 10 give the Yanks i warm re-
ceptlon when they attempted TO enter the
city.
Kings battery took a good position on
an elevated place. with Ross brigade for
a support. In a short time after We mad
! taken position the Federal cavalry came
in sight into an old field and formed
line OF battle, that is, they formed Two
lines and seemed to be about seventy
Ave yards long one to the rear OF the
other and about three fourths of mile
in our front, and seemed to be about Two
regiments. our BATTERY opened lire on
them and soon got their range, and iired
so rapidly and made il too hot for them,
and they commenced running and scatter
ing and ran back into the timber.
Soon they ran battery out in the open
field ana opened fire on oIr battery, hut
our battery had the range on them and
got IN good work from tho start. Kings
battery had at thut time six guns and the
enemy had about the same number The
two batteries made things lively for about
thirty minutes. Finally the Yanks had 10
quit the field and run back into the TIM
Der
our battery dismounted two Of their
guns that they had to leave on he field
That gave the enemy check for awhile,
which gave MS a rest. for shor. time.
WN were out IN corntield with house
in IT, and while We were halted there
John Brosla OF company b, Third Texas
regiment. after we had dismounted, he
pulled his shirt off to make a search for
body lice %iat we soldiers called gray
backs. as General winfield said that was
a mark of good soldier to be loaded with
graybacks The house where we had
stoned was vacated before our army
reached there that evening. John had
taken a good, cool place to slaughter
graybaCks ana, by the way, tnere was no
better soldier in the army than John
Brosla He sat down on the porch Of the
house and was taking his time to re-
lievo himself OF the load he had been
carrying.
We were ordered to mount our horses,
} the Yanks were advancing on us; we were
ordered out of the field and TO fall back
, into the timber about half mile. which
: was done in good order But John was
: little slow. and had undertaken bigger
; lob than he thought Tor, and in few
, minutes the Federal cavalry came dashing
} up through the cornheld to the house and
= caught John still with his sHrt off, but
| he mounted his horse and made his es-
cape He had ia run about half mule
; scross an open field with his bare back
exposed to the scorching rays Of the sun,
: and without his hat The Yanks hred
but few shots at him, from the fact that
1t was too laughablo and 100 had to shoot
man running from them with his snlr'
, off and bareheaded No doubt the Yanfi
, had good laugh over IT, John always
, kept his shirt on after that
R. G. Chldress.