The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-07-10


tended the reunion at Memphis, ant
they we're full Of war "reminiscences
and their recounting the hard tough,
battles Of Malvern Hill, Manassas
Fredericksburg, and Sharpsburg, re.
called to mind ''closc call related
to me some few years since by George
W. Ard, an old soldier, of the Second
Georgia, who was desperately wound
cd in the fight at Antictam.
1t ID queer coincidence that in
nearly all it's great battles the Third
Georgia encountered the Ninth New
York regiment, known as the Hawkins
Hcuavcs. The .wo regiments had oz-
pcricnced such desperate fights with
each other as to command not only a
mutual respect, but profound admira-
tion. have often heard the lament
cd Col. Reuben B. Nisbct narratc
the close calls" of his regiment, the
Third Georgia, with the Ninth New
York. Some years ago this regiment,
the Hawkins ZOuavcs, entertained the
Third Georgia in New York city, and
cordial greeting they gave our boys
of the gray. Subsequent to that, the
Third Georgia when they had their re-
union in Athens, entertained the
Hawkins Zouavcs. 1t was matter Of
profound regret to my old friend,
George w. Ard, the one-lcggcd vctcr-
an, that he could not attend the re-
union at Athens, and his expression
of regret indicated such deep sorrow
that knew there was something be-
hind it, and l insisted that he relate
it. He told me this story:
II belonged to the Second Georgia,
company X, Toombs' brigade. lost
my leg in the battle of Sharpsburg. 1
was on the extreme right, where a few
of us were stationed to holdthc ground
and prevent Burnside from crossing
tho Lower Stone bridge. The fight
was on; a ball passed through my
thigh, and while lying helpless on the
ground another ball passed through
my right elbow joint, just as our men
were leaving the field. The federals
rushed across the creek: and wounded
as l was, it was great sight to see
those thousands Of we'll fed, we'll clad
soldiers occupy the grounds so recent
ay abandoned by the few ragged and
hungry Confederates. The contrast
struck me, almost dead as I was. A
regiment of fcderals halted near where
was lying. The officer in charge
made his men short but enthusiastic
speech, which was loudly cheered.
Amid all this, I beckoned to an officer
who was near me and requested tha.
he would drag me around on the other
side Of large tree near which / had
fallen. He at once stepped back to
the line and brought four men who
gently picked me up aud placed me
behind the tree, hastily spreading a
blanket for me to lie upon. request
ed to know whom to thank for the
kindness. The reply was 'We belong
to the Ninth New York regiment,
Hawkins Zouaves.' Immediately
the four men stepped back to their
places and the command from head of
column came: Forward! march! And
Burnsides' corps passed by. 1t was a
trying ordeal to see the enemy pass
betl:oen me and my command and to
realize that was prisoner Of war,
and perhaps, fatally wounded.
Every soon federal army surgeon
camo near me. I called to him. ]
was Mason and he was one. Efe
said his name was Humphries, sur.
gcop Of the Ninth New York. DR.,
Squies, the assistant surgeon was
with him. / asked the surgeon if he
could render temporary aid, as he had
many of his own men lying across the
creek who needed him. His reply was
that he was under as many obligation:
to me as to any man. He said he hat
been surgeon in the Crimean we.
and with his experience he hoped t.
do something for me.
He examined my wounds. IL
administered then and there chloro
form, and when I became conscious
my leg was off and my arm bandaged
[ was surrounded only by my comrade
who had fallen around me. The doc
tors had gone, and that, toe, withou
stitching together the flaps of tn
amputated leg. In that fix lay be
hind the tree. Shot and shell from
Confederate batteries were tearing Vi
the ground around me, outing through
tops OF trees, hurling great brauche
in every direction. thought ever