The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-11-27

which to investigate myself and pre-.
pare to cross over the river Of life.
My captain (his name was Andrew
w. Coleman) replied to me that if I
should be mortally wounded so as tc
cause my death during the war, in
stead OF such suffering I prefer that
my head be SHOT of right around here
Cat the same time drawing his right
hand under his chin, showing what he
meant.) We then continued our march
till about noon Of that day. We heard
heavy firing in our distant front. We
continued our march till we came in
range Of the enemy's stray cannon
balls and shells. Then our brigade,
commanded by General Pendcr, was
fled out and closed in mass on the
right of the road to wait for orders.
The battle was raging in front OF US
and the stray shells made it very un-
pleasant for us. In few minutes
the command was given orders to fall
into ranks, which we did in closed
MASS. the time had come to measure
arms with the Yanks sgain on the bat
tle6eld of Frasiers' farm. Just then
while we were standing waiting for
commanding orders TO go forward,
got my second close call. I. was
standing with my left arm against my
captains right arm when a stray
Yankee shell struck the ground about
fifteen yards in front Of Captain Cole
man and ricocheted and cut his head off
just under his chin-just as he had
said to me that morning that he would
prefer to have it instead of being NOR
tally wounded. did not know any
thing had happened. Suddenly, as
though 1 had been dead or asleep,
about two minutes after the occur
renee came to life or awoke from
sleep as the case may have been, and
was lying on my back on litter. My
face was smarting and felt wet. I
drew my hands over my face and filed
both with his brains and powdered
skull. I said to tho litter bearer,
Hold on, boys, let me examine myself
and see If am hurt. I then sprung
on my feet and found myself to be
unhurt. The first thing I beheld was
Captain Coleman, lying at full length
with all of his head shot off.
He fell forward. The shell had ex-
ploded just after it struck his head
and the pieces of that shell killed and
wounded four or FIVE men in the other
regiment in our rear I wiped his
brains and blood out of my face and
off of the breast of my coat and vest.
The brigade then formed into line of
battle, and went forward short dist
ance into cedar thicket and passed
through Virginia brigade that was
stubbornly falling baek aud fighting.
AS soon as we passed through this
line the Virginiaus ceased firing.
ihen render Taraeel brigade rushed
forward and gave the Rebel yell and
turned o volley Of musket balls loose
at them and drove them out of the
woods into little field and they had
an enflading fire on us which made
it the hottest place that had ever
been in. At the edge Of the woods
beyond the field was battery that
had made it UNPLEASANT for US when
my captain was killed. Just as dark
was approaching we charged across
that field through storm Of grape
shot and mimic balls and captured that
battery and shot down many horses
which were being brought up to move
the oaisons and guns out Of danger of
being captured. This battle closed
soon after the darkness Of night had
oQme upon US.
During that night my regiment and
brigade remained on the same line
from which we had driven the enemy