The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-06-14


IA will. He had his famous canteen
with him which he captured from n
Yankee soldier in a very hot on.
gag ment, and has kept, as souvenir.
"l one of the hottest engagement of
tnc war. He told us the story Of
ITS capture. and we asked him to
write 1t and send it to us, he kindly
consented to do 80. He carried his
"anteen in the parade and he was
recognized along the line of march
by his cantc'n. lie is a good talker
and VIC enjoyed listening to him.
j. II. M.
How GOT MY CANTEEN.
Ep!roE UNION TIMEs:-As rer
request | herewith hand you the
History Of my canteen. At Charles
town, West Va, about the first of
August, 1868, we were in sight of
the town Of Charlestoan. | think
three "r Four miles fom lIarper's
Ferry. Part Of my regiment, 2ni
:. 4. Nol., were on picket at that
place in our rifle pits. 1t was Sun
lay afternoon and we had five men
IN each rifle pit. the 6alar:ce of the
regiment was back of us some dis
''ncc. heard vilet fire in front
"fus and then the ball opened and it
was lively one. They came on us
with heavy line ofnfantry supported
by hca"y line of mounted cavalry
at their backs. Col. Bill Wallace
'.rdcrcd the balance of the regiment
up 10 the riff pits to support us, then
we f fu:ht them with our bavonets
and the brecch of our guns. We
wou l"ok the cavalrymen in the
lace AMI dismount them with the
brccch Of ou' GINS while thev were
"hack.ns away with their sahres on
Cur heats. We fruaht them in this
way FOR several minutes. Randolph
Bacon. our color bearer, was SHOT and
the staff OF his co!ors was shot IN
two and he fell dead. A Yankee
ran up to capture our colors but was
showed hat Oh his face to the ground
by one of my con'pany who tore the
flag from the piece of the staff aud
carried it back and tied it to his ram
rob Just above his head. This is
how | captured my carteen that I
had on exhibition at Memphis. Tenn.
| only found one of Go. X my Co.,
Sam Bu>hart, vino now resides in
Mississippi. He informed me that
our Captain \. p. Ninson and all of
our company was dead except myself
and I've and Charley Beck, our
orderly sargent.
Wmie was at the reunion at
Memphis | met with J. l.. Strain.
v. Il. ). Harris, E. NJ. Penney, A.
\. Bentley, K ?. Coldwell, Sam
Littlcj I'm. Smith Lipsc ,mb and
Cess Mabry. When | met those old
comrades | would talk awhile, sing
and cry and imbrace them and
laugh aud almost shout. When |
met Cess Mahrey Mt the S. g. Camp
he Was SO ovcrIoyed that he could
hardly keep from shouting at the top
of his voice. He called the house to
order and had me to sing the Rebel
Soldier which | did, and it seemed to
be Ell 'yed by all who heard it. When
that noble lady, Mrs. Dunlap, OF S.
g., came and asked me where | was
bora. ] sai' good lady, in South
Caroilua. She then attached to my
coat the Palmetto State badge that 1
received with tears in my eyes. |
remarked to luy comrades that | was
a South Carolinian by birth and an
Arkansiau by adoption. | am a
South Carolinian by birth and am
proud Of the name. Was reared by
Christian parents who taught me the
way to heaven. My father, II. T.
Scott, is still living, but my good
mother has passed beyond the liver.
| havn't words to express my feeling
when met old neighbors and COM
rades. said, boys this surely is
a forctas!c of heaven. When | said
to w. III. S. Harris, J. L. Strain and
others good bye we wept bitterly and
claspcd each others hands and said if
We meet on earth no more let meet
in heaven.
w. G. SCOTT.
Maoo,inn A RI