The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-06-29

Here are three close calls on P. M.
Vance, first lieutenant of Company f,
Eleventh Alabama regiment, who now re-
sides in Birmingham.
The first call was on Fraziers farm,
June 30, 1862, when he participated In his
first hand to hand fight, where bayonets
and butts of guns were used. He still
has a vivid recollection of a large Fed
eral soldier advancing upon him with fix
ed bayonet, and having his gun stock
braced against his hip to prevent 1t be-
ing warded off. But just as he was in
the act of making a thrust at Lieutenant
Vance. one of his company Rufus Good
son, happened to notice him and fired at
and killed him instantly Goodsin was
afterwards killed at Cold Harbor. and a
brave soldier he was.
The second call was down on the right
of Petersburg, where the Federals had
broken our line and captured a portion Of
1t. General Sanders brigade went In dou-
BILE quick to the place. and when near and
opposite General Sanders formed his bril-
gade into line of battle and gave orders
to advance through a skirt of woodland,
and after passing through this timbered
land and coming suddenly into an open or
cleared place. we found the Federals con-
cealed from view on the opposite side of
the clearing. They had pulled down the
fence and scattered the rails along In line
making temporary breastwork and
when General Sanders men arrived at the
open ground the Federals fired a volley
into his line, which caused 1t to waver,
when General Sanders dashe1 to the front
and ordered Lieutenant Vance to go for
ward. He gave his company oruers to
forward and charge, which they DID with
a yell, firing as they advanced. Inc Fed
erals broke back into a very thick and
dense huckleberry swamp. The bushes
being so thick and filled with smoke from
the firing of the musketry that one could
scarcely see q man ten steps. Lieutenant
Vance continued to advance and becom-
ing separated by having advanced too far
for his company going throug., the tough
bushes. he suddenly fell upon company
of Federals who were lying in an old
ditch. Lieutenant Vance, thinking that
the Zig was up with him, determined to
use a bold bluff He leaped down In the
ditch by the captain and drew his sword
over his head and ordered him to sur
render. The captain handed Vance his
sword, and he has the word still and
prizes 1t very highly. Lieutenant Vance
t.ien ordered the Federal soldiers, 40 or 80
or more men, to lay down their guns,
which they did. Then he ordered them to
go to the rear. As they commenced to
file out of the ditch. seeing no one else
one or two or the men stopped to pick
up their guns. but just at t.iis moment
Lieutenant Vance men began to emerge
out of the bushes and took charge of the
blue coated prisoners. Vance, noticing
the Federal captains canteen. stepped
up to him and struck It, finding 1t heavy,
he lifted 1t off over his head, unstopped IL
and proceeded to sample the contents.
finding It filled with good apple brandy.
After sampling Vance asked the captain
II he would have drink The Federal
captain replied: "Johhny, you are id
cheeky" but he took 1t just the same
and wanted more, but could not get It.
The third close call was at the battle of
the Crater at Petersburg. When General
Sanders brigade was ordered from the
right to the place where General Grant
was blowing up General Lees line, and
Sanders brigade was marched into and up |
a ravine In front OF the Crater where |
General Malone made speech telling |
General Sandefs' men that they were CALI
ed upon to make a desperate charge, ana |
that they would not only be under his |
eye but under the eye of General Lee.
towards General I,se who was
sitting on his horse near by on top of a |
little knoll in cluster nf fraea 600 nnt,<x