The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-10-02
WAR STORIES.
Incidents Of the Terrible Battle Of Chancel.
louisville.


was growing dark, eight or ten men Of
the Tenth, who had been left near the
Chancellor house to bury our dead,
having finished theft sad work, came
to where | was and together we came
across the field to where our regiment
was and found them working like
beavers digging trenches. This work
was ker: Up nearly ali night ON both
sides. We could hear the axes of the
Yankees quite plain. Some artillery
horses had been wounded near US
their groanings were frightful. We
could hear the wounded calling for
help. Stovall, Strickland, Davis and
others crawlcd out to the front where
SO many Of our men had fallen. They
found and brought in among others
William Hudson, apparently mortally
wounded. He finally recovered, but
died from other causes few years ago
in Jonesboro. When they brought
him in they said that they had heard
child moaning just in the edge Of
the swamp next to the Yankees.
They went back and found boy, not
over fifteen, whose voice was like a
child's. He was frightfully wounded
and belonged to the Pennsylvania
Bucktail regiment. We gave him
water, put him on litter and sent him
back to the hospital. His clothing
was literally riddled by bullets, and
several had pierced his body.
was greatly surprised to hear few
weeks after that he had nearly rccov-
cred. Two Of the men they had
brought out died that night; one of
them never spoke after being laid in
the rear Of our trenches. Death had
already clutched his heart-strings, and
In ii few minutes the dauntless soul
went to it's eternal home. We col
lcctcd as many of the bodies of our
dead comrades as We could; We did
not get all Of them till Tuesday, as
many of them were in the enemy
line. After laying them by the side
of one who had just died, we uubuck-
led their cartridge belts. took OF their
cantccns and haversacks, then took
from their pockets such articles as
might be used or treasured as memen-
tocs-pocket knives, Bibles, photo.
graphs, letters from mothers, wives,
sweethcarts-gavc all these to a com.
rade who would ser1 them to. the
loved ones at home, thsn, taking q
last look at our dead companions, we
wrapped their stark forms in blankets
and hid them away beneath the blood
stained soil Of Salem Heights, their
linked souls unsevercd by death
comrades ferAvermo-o. we had 70 be
very quiet; Sodgwiok's men were on
the alert and sent shower of bullets
in our direction if they heard noise
or saw lights. After doing all wo
could for tho wounded, wo lay upon
our arms the balance of that dark,
chilly, chcerlcss Sunday night. Never
did I feel SO sud or lonely. l had lost
so many loved companions.
Company e had been sent back
with the prisoners. AS now re mem
Der, only two Of that dear old compa-
ny were with us-Stricklani, who was
on picket, and William Hudson, who
was lying near me and thought to be
dying.
| Our trenches were in the edge of
swamp; the ground was cold and wet.
We really suffered with cold; we felt
sure the battle would be renewed when
the night ended; nothing to cheer our
grief-laden hearts; suffering, sorrow,
darkness as five were almost entering
the gloomy confines of the valley of
shadow of death. I doubt if there
was better brigade commander IN
either army than Pau j. Semmes;
tall, we'll proportioned, handsome,
ruddy- -complexioned, piercing eyes,
aquilinc nose, his auburn hair just
tinging with gray, scrupulously neat
in his dress, he was striking figure
and would command attention and re-
spect in any assembly. He was an
humble, devoted Christian. In clos.
ing his report of these battles, he said:
"It is meet to acknowledge the good
ness of God in conducting mc safely
through these and similar porils."
His chief Of staff, Major Roswell
Ellis, now living at Oakland, Ca, was
not unlike him in many respects.
Both had won distinction in many
battles; both were in peace gentle as
the zephys blowing beneath the violet;
when reused. fearless as lions. "The
bravest are the tcnderest."