The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-02-05

| noticed the account Of the battle
above the clouds at Lookout Mountain
by member of the Eighteenth Ala
bama and his close call, and it inspires
me to write something as / was there,
private in Company G, 37th Alabama
volunteers.
Our regiment occupied some tenn
porary breastworks just below the
pinnacle Of Lookout, on the morning
of the 2Sd of November, 1868. The
engagement commenced at daylight.
1t was cloudy and rainy all during the
forenoon, the clouds and fog hanging
so thick at times we could see only a
few yards before us, hence, we could
not get at the situation Of the enemy,
but shirmishing was going on in front
all the time. After time the clouds
lifted, the enemy sighted our situa-
tion and brought their cannon to bear
upon us. They shcllcd us with such
force that our officers thought it best
to fall back from the brcastworks TO
safer ground, hence the rifle pits were
lost to us. There was nothing more
than heavy skirmishing done during
the day; night came on, the skirmish-
ers came in and strong picket was
put out.
was one Of the pickcts and was
stationed about eighty yards in front
Of our regiment on the line of battle.
A young man by the name of Alonzo
Allen, Of my company "a new rccruiD,
was put on with me. Our post hap
l'ened to be near large shell of q
stump with an open side that favored
). I bade him sit close at my feet
which he did Git was his first time
out.) Tue weather was cold.
The officer had given me particular
instructions to be very watchful.
"The safety Of the army depends upon
you" he said, "and do just as I tell
you; watch close ahead Of you, and if
you sec men approaching, fire on them
and run in; don't hail them;
don't provoke night fight by
shooting at objects of Imagination.
If you sec anything and it is not com
ing in, don't fire, but keep quiet and
watchful: l will relieve you at the
proper time. Now, listen, jackson
is the countersign; don't forget now
don't 60 to sleep for thai means
: death
''rhe officer went his way. was
the last picket put on. Just about
fifteen minutes after he left, saw
objects just about thirty yards away
in front of me. l whispered to my
companion and told him l was going
to fire on them. / could see and
heard plainly it was the enemy put
ting out pickets. They passed on;
dark clouds were fitting between US
and the moon; Mt times I could see a
man plainly outlined and then again I
could not. raised my gun to shoot
and bore hard on the trigger but some
thing seemed to say, Don't shoot,
his blood will be on your hands before
God; don't shoot
took down my gun and whispered
to my companion: MY heart has
failed me, I can't shoot that man. l
will watch him." And 1 did watch
him, until the moon was covered with
darkness and heard in my rear creep
ing footsteps very close By. said in
low tone, 'Who comes there?"
GA friend with the countersign,
he answered over the point of my
bayonet.
Jackson" he said, II came to take
you back.
We stealthily crept out of danger,
then made our way to Mission Ridge.
just after crossing the bridge over
that winding stream Of death (Chicka-
mauga) going through an old field l
stumbled over the biggest bass drum
1 ever saw. 1t was fully four feet
high and twenty inches wide. Feel
ing about it l found the shoulder
straps ed strung it on, then went on
to the foot of Mission Ridge, where I
came up with hundreds Of men rolled
up in blankets asleep.
[ did not know what regiment they
were as all were asleep, so | stopped
near, corded up the drum. Qt was
about an hour before day., and thought
I would try it. tapped it pretty
hard with my fist, and every man was
on his feet in moment. There camc
near being stampede, but my col
onel, ak A. Greene, who was near
est, recognized my voice. He quickly