The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-06-29
"Reminiscences of War of '6I.

the Federal movements with his field
glasses. General Malone also compli-
mented the men and officers Of the bii-
gade as Alabamiens who never failed to
do or discharge their duty to their coun-
try at times when 1t tried the nerves of
true and good soldiers. Then the brigade
vas ordered to forward march, and ar
irving at the top of the slope, were
marched straight forward out into the
open field in full view OF the Crater, and
under a heavy fire from the Federal mus
kerry and cannon. The men were ordered
to front face, forward march for the Cra-
ter facing a continuous fire of musketry,
grape and canister, and as q man was
shot down the order was passed along
the line, CLOSE up, men," A prettier line
was never kept on drill. Arriving close to
the Federals in the bitches the order
came down the line to fire and charge.
which was done according to Hardee's tao
tics and with a yell that drowned the rat
tie of musketry, the screeching of shells
and the means of the dying.
General Malone had told Sanders men
that a division of negro troops were in
possession of our line that had been blown
up and had come In yelling. mo quarter
for the Rebels!' General Malone did not
say Show no quarter to the negro
troops" but Sanders men decided that
point to their satisfaction, and charging
the negroes out of the first line of bitches,
General Sanders ever on hand Sinking no
danger where duty called, dashed to the
front on his black charger and ordered
Vance to take his company and go over
the embankment that had been thrown up
by the explosion. Vance gave the order
to his company to forward and he clam
harad tn the of the hank Iienfana ~
Hardness of Company C of the Eleventh
Alabama was soon by his side waving the
colors of the regiment and shouting to the
boys to come on, when at this moment
big negro soldier. down In the pit raised
his gun and fired, sending ball through
Vance's leg, just grazing the bone above
his knee paralyzing his leg for a mo-
ment. and he fell forward and over into
the pit on top of the negro. Then 1t was
who shall and who will get the best of
It," The negro had a long spring back
dirk in one hand and made desperate
effort to thrust 1t into Vance, who
grasped the negro's hand that had the
knife In 1t and held 1t fast and attempted
to run his sword through the negro with
his other hand, but the pit was too small,
he could not use his sword, so he could
only hug the coon and wait until his men
came to his assistance. meanwhile lnhal-
Ing an odor equalled only by a skunk,
which they did at exactly the right time,
and plunged several bayonets through the
coon's body. and one Of his company gave
the negro a blow on top of his head that
forever settled his military aspirations.
AS to what happened to all the rest of
those coons, we leave 1t to be told by
some future historian
One Of the Bibb Greys.
One can easily understand how the Con-
federates held out four years against
overwhelming odds, when Its armies were
composed of men who lived through such
scenes as are here recited.
The belt capeured with the sword by
Vance was used as part of the harness
Of a plaw horse In 1865. Such was the
restitution of the men who returned from
1t should be mentioned that the name of
Of j. L. Darby. an excellent citizen of Bir- |
mingham, was omitted from the list of |
those who charged at the Crater.