Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-30
The I5t6 Alabama With Trin1ble In The Sbenan-
* doah Valley "



44a%&%%++4%%%+4-s-s&%@<%%%S+'
EDITOR Journal: AS your columns are
open. 20 the old confederaues 20 tell OF
their "close calls win give brief fact
q my first baptism IN blood.
When General Joseph E Johnston feh
back from Manassas and took position
behind the Rappahannock, all the sick
were sent 20 Richmond and as Il hap
pened was one OF that unfortunate num-
Der. / was taken 20 the second Alabama
hospital. DIT. Bear. a French doctor, pro-
nounced M. case slow fever. recovered
and then took innammatory rheumatism
IN my left leg. That kept me there nearly
one month and Just as was recovering
from that was attacked with mumps.
This was too much $50
The next morning when the doctor came
into the ward met him and said: Doc
tor. want q discharge to join my regi-
ment'' He looked at me and said: II can't
grant IT."
I then told him wanted discharge
because as fast as I recovered from one
disease az the hospital. ! was attacked
with another. He then offered 10 send
me TO Camp Walker. near the state pen
itentIary. when 1 got there I found a
r0od number OF cottages. but no other
accommodation Only the naked floor 10
sleep on. This iid not suit me. Of course,
so / applied 10 a lieutenant for dis
charge 70 Join my regiment he told me
10 come around in the morning and he
would grant his permission. OF course l
was anxious 10 Join my regiment Whleh
was with. Gener II T. J. jackson In the
valley.
me morning after joining my regiment.
we moved ON Harper's Ferry. We had
about 20 prisoners and a wagon team
about six miles long Jackson soon learn
ed that Fremont was. after him ana
Shields was sent 10 Fort Republic TO cut
az his CJackson'sl retreat. and 10
capture him
I was a member OF Company X, Fiji
tenth Alabama regiment. Trimble's brig
ade. EweiIs division On our march
bridges we're burned and the road OBJ
sfracted with timber; in fact everything
that could be done 10 impede the pursuit
Of the enemy; had a skirmish with Ere
mont at Straussburg. and when we got
TO Port Republic, Ewelfs division halted
on the east side OF the Shenandoah river,
while General Jackson crossed the river
a. the town OF Port Republic with ms
old division
on the night of June Z. 1852. Company
X. Of the Fifteenth Alabama, was put on
picket line. and just after daylight on
the morning OF June Sth. Sunday, we were
relieved OF picket duty by Company =,
Colonel W. C Oates Cex-Governor OF
Alabama) old company. IL was but rev
minutes after we had returned TO the
regiment when the Yankees advanced on
our picket line IN such force that our
pickets fed before them. Colonel James
Canty had just time TO form the regiment
and give the order cap your pieces,
when the Yankee column was on us
The colonel just had time TO give the
command He led the way through large
wheat field. One could see the wheat
81 vrn
The Yanks could take deliberate aim
while we were fleeing. I felt Ike me
froxs In the pond when the boys we're
rocking them. 1T was fun for the boys,
but death 20 the frogs"
II seems 70 me we ran mile or more.
i know I was completely exhausted when
TO our iov we found General EWeh hao
sent a battery 70 the crest Of the niii'
and opend on the enemy. James Rhodes,
Of ny company. was running alongsloe
OF me. and when the artillery Deicneo ouh
her iron missiles. suddenly Ike clap OF
thunder. Rhodes hOilered Just as loud as
he could with what breath he had-some-
thing Il would not do 10 repeat. The reg
4ruzrt moved near or little 20 the left
al our battery. there met General Trim
hle and formed line Of battle while the
Yankees had massed one brigade 70
charge and capture our battery: II LII
nles' brigade was composed OF tne Fn-
feeuth Alabama. Sixteenth Mississippi,
Twelfth Georgia and Twenty-hrst North
Carolina regiments.
The FYfteenth Alabama was moved TO
n rail fence. The Tanks would not ao-
vance on seeing our line as they hao
started o do.
y-hu re stood in line Of battle. General
1rfu,ble ordered the Sixteenth Mississlp-
NJ 10 crawl on hands and knees and poke
thelr guns through the fence. After tnat
was accomplished the Fifteenth vas
moved % the right and coneealed IroIn l
the enemy's view. AS soon as We were
or,t az the way. the charge came-four
columns-and when they were within -
or co Yards OF the fence. the sixteenth
Mississippi opened fire on them. and VIII
take occasion right here 20 say never
saw men double up and fan so fast; near ear
~ the whole brigade was killed; the teW
that escaped the .leaden shower went 80
fast down the hill you might have played
marbles on their cOat-tails. TrimDles
brigade was thrown forward. while Har-
~ T. Rays came in on our right-theh
the fight commenced in earnest
Richard s. Ewelfs division on that
bloody dav was too much for Fremont:
We slept on the battlefield that night ana
Monday morning the sth. went 70 the re-
lief of johnson. who was then engaged
with Shields. As Ewelfs division ascend
cd the heights overlooking the oeautiIul
Rhenandoah valley lying between the
Fheuandcah river and the foot OF the Biue
T2gaTe the panorama which met their tired
&c wa one OF the most beautiful ever
beheld. -
InckEou's division was charging Snieias
sud driving everything before them. We
crossed the river burned the bridge. ana
hs soon as the captured property could oe
Esttan IN moving order, we went on our
way rejoicing. -
After the first Fredericksburg battle,
the Fifteenth Ala bama regiment was