The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-13
COLONEL SANDS WRITES.
Correction of Wise's Memory as ts
 the Death of Lomax.

COLONEL SANDS WRITES.
 Correction of wise's Memory as to the Death of Lomax. Mobile Register. .. In last Sundays Register you pub lished an article highly complimentary of the old Third Alabama Infantry. A. N. ", by John 6. Wise. in The End of an Era" which was much en- , joyed by all the members and friends | of the gallant old Third.
 MT. Wise. in referring to the Battle of Seven Pines says: "in which it | lost it's noble Colonel Lomax. whose | body was never found" Mir. Wise is | mistaken. The body was found. and I, in command of the regiment, | marched through the streets of Rich | mond escorting 1t to the depot. placed it in the cars and sent 1t 10 Montgom- cry. Ala. As the car containing Colonel Lomax's remains passed his old reG- ment, he received his last salute Present Arms"
 With this send you a clipping from The Richmond Enquirer of July <. lS6x written by General c. A. Battle. giving an account of the old Thirds work Up to and including the Battle of Nal yern Hiil." which will be enjoyed fully as much as MT. wise's extract of End of an Era" R. M. Sands. Lieutenant Colonel late of A. N. ". Mobile. June 20. 1901.
 The Third Alabama Regiment. Headquarters Third Regiment, Ala bama Volunteers. Charles City Road, July [, iS6s--To the Editors of The En- quirer: Gentlemen-Haying seen in your admirable journal complimentary notices of the conduct of this regiment in the battles before Richmond, and knowing your willingness to do fall justice 10 all those are engaged in the struggle for independence. the follow ing statement is respectfully present.L
 The Third Regiment, Alabama Vol unteers, entered the battle of Seven Pines" with $50 men. In that engage ment 197 were killed and wounded. Remnant Lomax, the Colonel of the reg iment-than whom no puref spirit, braver man. or better officer was to be found in the Confederate army-to- gether with a number of officers and soldiers of high personal qualities and rare military requirements, was among the killed. The conduct of the entire regiment in the battle of the first of June was such aN to elicit the unqtiali- fled admiration of Brtgadiet General Malone. who. in his report made such honorable mention of it, that gen eral order was issued by Major Gen eral Longstreet, commanding the right wing of the army, directing that ''Sev- en Pines" be inscribed on the colors of the regiment.
 On or about the 18th of June the reg iment was transferred from Mahone's Brigade, of which it had constituted part for more than twelve months, ana to which 1t was warmly attached, and placed in Rhodes Brigade.
 On the 20th of June, the undersigned. acting on the advice of the pegimental surgeon. applied for and received leave of absence. and did not resume the command of the regiment until the 9th instant. It is chiefly to do justice to the officers who commanded during my absence. that this communication is written.
 On Thursday, the 2oth ult., the regi- ment left it's camp under the command of that accomplished officer, Lieut.. Col. Forsyth as a part of the army des- tined to drive McClelland from his po- sition before Richmond, RhOdes Brig ade took no part in the battle of the 18th, but on the 2Tth held most trying position. as the shot and shell of the enemy fell thick and fast among them.
 
 they remained firm as a rock amid suH ging pillows. On this occasion the regiment lost two killed and fifteen wounded. On the following morning Lieut.. Col. Forsyth. exhausted by fa- tigue and prostrated by sickness, re- turned to camp, leaving Major Robert N. Sands in command of the Regiment. Thenceforward Major Sands acted as Colonel, Capt. R. H. Powell as Lieu tenant-Colonel, and Capt. M. F. Bon- ham as Major. Nothing especially fn- yolving the conduct of the regiment occurred until the evermemorable 1st of July. when 1t acted a most conspicu- ous part. About 5 o'clock Rhodes Brigade went into action under com- mand of John B. Gordon, the gallant and gifted Colonel of the 9th Alabama. The conduct of the entire brigade was worthy Of high praise, for its killed and wounded fell close upon the lines of the enemy Major Sands led into battle 357 men of the Sd Alabama. New CT were exhibited. in the ranks of war, higher examples of noble daring. Six color bearers were shot down, the col- ars were torn into fragments and scat tered to the winds. the staff was shat tered to pieces. and the last hero who held 1t bore away thirty inches of wood-all that was left. Of the 357 men who had rallied around it. 207 lay upon the field dead or wounded.
 Where every man displayed the high est qualities of the soldier, 1t would be improper to discriminate to a degree that would wound the most sensitive; but since all have bestowed upon Ma jor Sands and Captains Powell and Bonham the highest encomjums, I do not hesitate to place their names among the most distinguished in the battle of the first of July.
 Trusting that have not too far tres passed upon you, am yours very re- spectfully, c. A. Battle.
 Colonel. 3d Regiment, Ala. Vol.