Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-12
A GEORGIA YOUTH AT THE
BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS

1 had passed my twentieth year before
the 9Th day of May. 1864, the day of the
terrible battle Of the Wilderness, and as
we were entering into the battle, a mo-
ment before we engaged with the enemy
In deadly conflict, / sent up to Almighty
God a short mental prayer that could not
be surpassed in fervency or earnestness.
I had no time to pray for more than one
thing, nor would If had had more time,
for all my sympathies were concentrated
on that one thing.
1t was for the life Of my brother
prayed.
Nv brother Henry was two years my
senior. There was an affectionate sympa-
thetic attachment between us that is I'M
common, except between twin brothers.
and that each of us well knew could never
be broken. thought he had the finest In
tellect of any one I ever knew; nor was
this partially in me, for others who knew
him well thought as did.
One can think fast in time OF great
danger. 1 did not suppose our people at
home would mourn less at my death than
his, but / felt while 1 prayed that they
could better afford to lose me than 70
lose him; besides he would be more useful
in the world than could ever hope TO De.
These reasons, together with my grea'
love for him and knowing how well he
L
still think It was right and best to plead
with the giver of life for his life In prefer
ence to mine. So 1 appealed directly to
Almighty God that II either OF US must
die on that occasion 1t should be me
and that he might live.
At Gettysburg, during the severest mo-
ments OF the second days battle, when we
OF Benning's brigade had advanced SO
near the enemy that all on both sides must
be killed unless one side would give way
within a few minutes, noticed him. TO-
gether with another young man named
Watson, quietly advance several yards IN
front, nearly half way to the enemies
lines, seemingly to get better view OF
their position and numbers, and while
admired his cool courage, l did not feel
the least uneasiness. 1t did not seem to
me on that occasion that he would be
hurt. And what made his cool bravery
the more remarkable, It was the first time
he had ever been in battle.
But I will return to the dreadful scenes
of the wilderness. We had marched hard
the day before from the vicinity OF Cor
louisville and bivouaced late in the night
near the battlefield. At daylight we
marched rapidly to the assistance Of A.
p. Hill. My brothers feet panied him Sc
severely from the previous days march
that II was plain he was in no condition
10 remain in ranks and we tried to per-
suade him to drop out and get in the
rear. on any other occasion he would
have gladly done so, but as we were to
go into battle he held his place in great
pain. II was seeing him suffer so as we
were fastening 10 the battle that made
me feel uneasy and intensified my sym
patnies.
We soon met Thomas brigade, which
after a most heroic resistance, was finally
overpowered by the weight of the enc
mics numbers and forced from the he'd
We had not a moments time for re-
connoitering or planning. The tremendous
forces of the enemy flushed with victory
were rapidly and confidently moving down
upon us before we were in position to
receive their onslaught. Generals Lee
and Longstreet were in the front with us
and all they could do was to quickly, hasti-
ly. in double quick time form JUS across
their front.
We did not wait a moment for the on
slaught of the advancing enemy, but
quickly and rapidly moved forward to
meet them. We all well knew what was
before US, that our ranks would be quick
~ thinned; that many or US would be