The National tribune., 1902-08-07

Stretcher and carried into another room
and laid on table, with a pile of arms
and legs at the foot of it, and the stew
ard put a sponge of chlOroform to my
nose. Just then Dr. Matthews came in.
He was the Chief Surgeon. lie no
ticed small Masonic emblem on my
collar, and he took my hand and said:
Don't be afraid; l will save your leg if
it is possible thing" The other four
were for taking it off. The next knew
was back on my pallet, and dear Joe was
bathing my face. said: Joe, is my
saved it for you" And that night 1 was
sent on up to GoldsborO, where l lay four
days, and Joe was sent off with other
prisoners, and l was sent to High Point,
n. G.
My wound had not been dressed since
that night in KinstOn, and was attacked
by gangrene, and would have to come off,
but DR.. SmallwOod, who was sent up from
kinston with me, was q Mason, and he
told the other Surgeon that he wanted
to experiment with it, and he burned it
four days with nitric acid and saved me
second time from amputation; but there
is no describing the pain Of the applica-
ton of the acid.
Six of my boys were in hospital with
me. When l had been there about 10
days l was taken down with typhoid
my nurse, Serg't Smell, that / could not
recover. lay there when the war was
over, and for some time after, being too
weak to be moved.
One day Col. Zackery, of the 2Sth Ga,
came in to see Inc, and brought my
sword, which had been taken from me the
day l was wounded and given to him.
He knew by the inscription on the scab
bard that it was mine, and as he handed
fn ha I DOL "
honored at the privilege of returning this
sword to an officer who fought handful
Of men as you did that day. l was
there"
RETURNING HOME.
The next day after 1 got my sword
was carried out on stretcher and put
into a freight car and sent on down to
New Berne. When / got to Raleigh l met
the 9Th n. j., which had been i'll our de-
partment all through the war, and there
heard the first news from our side since
the day l was captured. l learned that
my wife was waiting for me i'll New
Berne, and had not heard reliable word
of me, but several rumors.
When l reached Kinston / inquired for
Mrs. DR.. Miller, and they both came to
my car and seemed as pleased to see me
as if l had been a brother. AS the lines
were just open they were on their way
to New Berne to do shopping, and they
stayed in my car, sitting on my bed all
the way to New Berne, where l arrived
May 8, 1865, and l sent for our Surgeon,
DIR. Fish. He sent for an ambulance, and
then went to tell my wife that l was COM
ing and to be prepared to see handbook
ing case.
had not had bath since my capture;
my hair and whskers were long; l was
reduced from a good-looking man of 1S0
tn n SkRIefnn nr
less; l had on a coarse wool hat, the rim
six or seven inches wide, and that and
my jacket stuck full of down from my
bed; l had on homemade niger shoes,
made up rough side out and not blacked
10 you can guess what sight l was.
When my brave boys heard of my re-
turn they would come to see me, look at
me for a minute, and turn away without
q word, their eyes streaming.
i lay there in New Berne about two
weeks before the doctor would consent to
have me go home. When Capt. Crane,
of the steamer Massasoit, told me he was
going to New York to go out of charter.
and if it was known his boat would be
crowded, but that he would take me-, my
wife and little girl, two servants and four
horses. And when we got to New York
he said: my orders are to anchor in the
stream and go to headquarters and report,
but l have got time to run to Peck Slip
before the Hartford boat leaves, and it
will save you lots of time, trouble and
expense. and | am going to do it, orders
or NO orders" And my baggage and
horses were led across the wharf and
hobbled down the plank on my crutches,
the plank was drawn in after me, and we
were off.
This kind act Of his saved me "a hours,
with sick baby, and probably SIS hotel
and horse fees; yet he would take no pay.