Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-06-19
our officers followed him. and they ran
up and down the lines cheering up the

mel; keep pouring it into them. Steady.
Re-enfOrcements will soon be here!
Never let it be said that the line broke
where the Alabamians stood"
| THE whole air looked black with
shot and shell. A piece of one graZed
the colonels cheek, and the blood kept
trickling down his face, but he didn't
seem to feel it. The firing grew so hot
that the men seemed fairly moved
down, and the line began to waver and
break. Suddenly, clear on our right,
there arose tremendous yell. 1t grew
louder and louder and ran down the
line towards us. Then, at last, we saw
a courier galloping down the line. I
shall never forget how he looked. His
black horse was all white with foam,
and it's TANKS were bloody from his
spur. He rode bareheaded down the
line as If he bore a charmed life, and
he kept waving his cap around his
head and shouting something to the
men. and as they heard him the waver-
ing line rallied and sent up deafening
cheers. Then he galloped by where we
were and yelled:
"'Rally, men! Rally! Stonewall
Jackson Is in their rear and giving 'em
suit!
"Then we cheered. too, until we were
hoarse. The courier galloped on, and
presently our officer shouted:
Forward men! Charge"
"And away we went. down the hill
and across field, right toward the
Yankee lines, yelling like Indians.
Il held the colors in my hand, and
ran little ahead. didn't seem to have
any feet: seemed to fly and the men
followed me- Right toward the blazing
line we ran.
"All at once l saw the colonel, who
was riding by me, grasp the colors, for
they were falling. l looked and saw
that my hand, my whole arm, was gone,
and hadn't felt it! l grabbed the flag
in my left hand.
81 can carry the colors yet, colonel
| said. 4 don't feel any pain
II ran OH some fifty steps. when the
blood began spouting from my shout
der. dropped. Joe Ashe. one of the
color guards. snatched the flag, anu
they all rushed on.
II fell senseless. l never knew an
other thing till weeks after, when
woke up one day in Chimborazo hospi-
tai and found some funny-lOOking Ia
dies in black bonnets. that the boys
called the sisters bending over me. If
: Int 70 hot I
should have died"
Perkins ceased. He had been so car.
ried away by the interest he felt in
his own narrative that he had gone
quite beyond his auditor.
But tell me. joe" Jennie eagerly
asked-she had been impatiently walt
ing for an opportunity for some min
utes-"tell me. did you ever find your
arm that dropped!'
NO; to he sure not. l never went to
look for it."
you couldn't fasten it on again.
them
''Of course not. child. am not
jointed doll"
What a pity you couldn't" said the
child. "What pity! And how do you
manage 10 dress yourself and tie your
cravat and shOes?" she asked, for she
had been burning to make these in
quiries ever since she had seen the one
armed Confederate.
Twas awkward at first. but learn
ed at least to do 1t with the help of my
teeth
But how when you get old and lose
'em?" said Jennie. who was Of an in
vestigating mind.
'Providence will raise me up some
other way" he said, with pathetic
smile. I'll have my wife to wait on
me"
ITO be sure; forgot; Miss Mary Jane
will. What did she say?'
Il got one of the sisters to write for
me, and | set her free. said wouldn't |
bind her to 4 poor cripple Ike me-"
"And she said no, Stree, l spOse.'
cried Jennie, full Of fiery zeal for her
new friend.
Something to that effect said Joe,
smiling.
''She wrote me that she loved me
more with one arm than she ever had
done with two; that whenever l could
get home she was ready" There .Ioes
eyes filed. and he gaZed steadily in the
water.
well. now, joe" said Jennie, who
was suddenly struck with bright
idea, maybe if you would lose both
arms she'd love you betterer anu bett.
terer.'
Il believe I'm satisfied with wha,
she feels now" said Joe, laughing.
But why hain't you married:' con
tinued Jennie, pursuing her investiga
lions.
because | first had to get We'll and
then l had to get something to do.
had been mechanic. AMI couldn'.
work at my trade with my left hand
So Captain Ramsey gave me a place
on his boat. and I've been trying to
learn how to write, so that can keep
his books. l think I'm doing pretty
we'll See?"