The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-12-14

\ VOLUNTEERED at the age of fifteen in Jack Phelan's battery, composed h of men from Tuscaloosa and the adjoining counties, and when the event here narrated occurred, I was sixteen years of age.
 In the flanklng movements of Sherman on his campaign to Atlanta, he was able to confront General Joe Johnston with an army equally strong and detach a force half as large to attack our flank thus compelling a retreat to another po- siton When we reached Kennesaw, our line occupied that commanding position, and following for some miles the eonfig- uration of the spurs that came to what was called the dead angle' where there was a sharp right angle in the line of earth works. General Johnston decided that Maneys Tennessee brigade of GOO men with Phelan's battery of brass -pounders, could hold this line nearly half mile in length and thus spare a brigade for defense elsewhere.
 Thus, it came, that on June 27, 1864, with comrade. I went to a little creek in the rear to wash our shirts, of which NC OlliS lleO oiAN eA PANNNs AiiNN NiAN ~A@-AN~ see boy who was captured wearing corn sack with hole for his head, and two at the corners for his arms. When his captors asked him if that was all the shirt he had, his reply was: Hell; do you expect a man to have a thousand shirts?'
 We had boiled our garments in the camp cook kettle, and then putting them in the swift stream to be rinsed, we, in the garb mostly prevalent in the garden of Eden, were lolling under the shade of the trees, when suddenly firing called us to the line. It seems that the enemy finding our line weak at that point, had sent q pretended deserter to our lines. He carried coffee-pot in his hand and on mounting our works he could see quite a space unoccupied, and he dropped the pot which was a signal to his peo- pie upon which they charged, their men first being piled with liquor. We got to our places in time to see seven lines of infantry charging the angle, and our guns being placed so as to enfilade them, we soon covered the ground with their dead and wounded. They charged again dllQ dBulE up u anu tNtai OAA tCP OA ShS works, where five stands of their colors were planted and were captured by us. They stood on top of the works and shot down into the thin line of Tennesseeans, who stood their ground and repulsed every attack, although some of the enemy fell on top of the works One can well be- heve it was warm work, that hot June day, with men standing above firing down and the burning powder driving into the faces of the brave men iG the trenches. It was reported that the federals lost 2500 killed and wounded. Thus 600 men re- pulsed SC00 and killed or disabled four men to each one of the defendants.
 Our artillery set fire to the dry leaves in front and many of the wounded fed erals were burnt to death. After the at tacls had ceased, one of our men called to the enemy to come and save their wounded, promising not to fire. No re- sponse being given, the brave man said, If you won save them, I will,' and started on his errand of mercy but volley followed, and his reward was in- stant death.
 ''TEe Attest place for man to die,
 Is where he dies for man.
 The dead lay in front of us for three days, and one can imagine the odor aris- ing in these hot June days.
 After the fgLt, General Hardee pro- posed to relieve the brave men of Man ey's brigade with fresh troops, but they stoutly maintained their right to contin- ue to defend the position they had fought for, and remained tnere until the army was again out-flanked.
 I will mention one incident I have never seen in print. About the time we crossed the Chattahcochee and John ston was supplanted by Hood, it was told us that the poor of Atlanta were suffer- ing for food. Our rations were 'scant, hunger stayed with us, but .--e men of the whole army unanimously voted one days rations to aid the sunering poor in Atlanta.
 Major J. w. Johnston, whilst comman- der of Camp Hardee, appointed a mem Der of the camp to prepare, or procure to be written article narrating recollec- tions, personal experiences and observa- tions of the civil war. The Age Herald agreed to publish each Sunday an tarai- | cle of that kind not exceeding 2000 words, and a picture of the writer in half-tone, which was a kindly act on the part of | the paper and it's special reporter for | that department Not only old confed- crates and their children have been in- terested in these articles but strangers