The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1902-04-11

April 4, the regiment struck camp
at Bethel Springs and marched
four miles to Purdy, cdmped the
next night on ridge on the road
between Corinth aud Pittsburg
Landing. Cheatham's brigade, to
which the Sixth belonged, was held
in reserve. Wounded men from
the front passed by, which only
whetted the appetites of the boys
to go in. About noon a Federal
battery had been pushed up to a
point near the northeastern edge of
an old field. The battery was con-
cealed by a peach orchard. This
battery opened fire upon Cheat
hams brigade. Then it was that
Martin Cartmell had his lett eye
shot out. and Capt. Geo. Person
and Willie Locke and several others
were killed. Up to this time there
had been no musketry firing on the
regiment. The boys just had to
lay there and see their comrades
killed and wounded with no orders
to move. When the fire from the
battery became intolerable General
Cheatham ordered the Sixth to fix
bayonets and charge. Capt. Free
man, of the "JacIson Grays, Jump
ed on log and blew a whistle "a
signal his men well understood At
the word charge the men sprang to
their feet and rushed up the wood
ed slope towards the battery.
"Dress to the colors, boys! dress
to the colors," rang out the clarion
voice of Freeman, which was taken
up by every captain in line. Up a
wooded slope they push their way
in unbroken column. At this point
a slight oblique movement to the
left brought the right of the regi-
ment into the open field first Then
there arose in front and on the left
two or more regiments of Federal
infantry, and at short range poured
deadly fire into the ranks of the
advancing column. At the first fire
ten men from Company A, on the
extreme right, fell dead. Here it
was that the gallant Captain Free
man received his death wound-shot
in the neck and side. His last
words to Lieut.. Jackson were like,
tell little Fannie (his only child)
that her father died like soldier"
But the message was delivered
by other lips. While starting into
action, next day, Jackson said to
his orderly sergeant, James Miller,
"Jim, l will be killed to-day-it is
hard to leave wife and child"
Then, addressing his company,
Boys, we must fight like men TO-
day Back from the veritabl Choir
nets nest" into which the regiment
had charged, the men gave way to
let re1uforcements come in. That
night they blvouacked near the field
of battle.
Leaving the dead and dying and
wounded, we pass on to the second
days fight.
About 10 o'clock Monday morn
ing, April 7, the regiment, under
command of Lieut., Col. Jones, was
advanced to position Just beyond
Shiloh church. While passing near
a pond the converging fire of the
enemy, from three directions, was
awful. Here it was that most of
he fatalities occurred, Buell. had
come up with his fresh troops. HUI
nan courage and endurance could |
lot stem the tide Of this fresh on
set, and the boys of the Sixth, with
he whole army, retired from the
contest.
Late Sunday evening, Maj. John
ingram and John ]. Campbell, broth
# of General A. W. Campbell, re-
from the front, came across
| Federal officer who was badly
Young Campbell was in
he act of giving the wounded officer
/ drink of water from his own can