The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-16

soon put himself out Of range by steam ing back down the river.
 After crossing the river we fell back rapidly to Tupelo, Miss. After a short stay. We were hurried toward the east to assist our comrades in resisting Sher- mans triumphant march He had I1aeh- the Confederacy In two. and was now marching with fire and sword through South Carolina. Captain Brewer. who had been granted 2 short leave of ab- upon reaching Augusta, Ga. on his re- turn to the army had placed under his command a number of mon belonging to stephen D. Lees corps. At New6erry, making 460 in all. He was to cammand these until such time as he could turn them over to their proper officers. It was a difficult task to handle these. who their own officers. When Chester, g. C.. was reached. Cheatham save him one of the first trains and as fast as steam could bear the train, he hurried on to Greensboro, Lieutenant Colonel Kyle, just from prison, took massage on his
 train, and reaching Kingston ir the night. they made at once for the army, a few miles off. The army had that cessfui engagement. The line was reach- ed about 1 o'clock in the morning. and the soldiers were turned over to their commanders. The next morning Lieuten- ant Colonel Kyle took command of the command of the picket line for two di- visions of Lees corps. and Hoke's di- vision of North Carolina troops. A sharp engagement was had during the day. in which the picket line acted as skirmlsh- CTS. The enemy were forced back for a short distance. but no decided advantage gained.
 Just after dark the main line with. drew, and Captain Brewer was directed l to hold his picket line until about mid knight, then quietly withdraw and follow he main Hne. This was rather haz- E edous position. The enemy was in front. I1 force. a deep. dark stream lsss than 3#mfe in rear, and the only way Of croxsing an eartffen dam over which the ] road to Kingston ran. A part of the encny's >line was nearer the dam than should learn the situation. 1t would be easy to possess the dam, and no support Ing foree near. capture would be inevit- stle. But the movement va: successfully army was overtaken. When reached, 1t was found that Lieutenant Colonel Kyle had heen placed In command of Jack sons brigade, and the command of the Nth again turled over to Captain Brewer. Major Handy subsequently, came ta the \regiment. but remained only a few dlys. 1knowing his stay to be short and, not familiar with handling the regiment, he
 
 active command.
 Tho battle of Bentonyille, the last of the war so far ayths Army of the Tennessee was concerned, was fought, and our soldiers showed their usual dash and courage We repelled the assault of the enemy. and then drove them about two miles on the first day The second and third days, each about held It's own, the Confederates withdrew to Smith field. During the charge on the hrst day Gen. Joe Johnston came in sight of our part of the line. It was the first sight mand at Atlanta Involuntarily the rap idly charging line halted, of went every
 hat and the welkin rang with the hearty shouts as they greeted the return of
 tinued till General Johnston recovered | his head, and with his uplifted hat waved the line forward
 | At SmithfieId a reorganization of the
 1865. It resulted in many changes Two
 and three regiments were" consolidated
 into one. This dismissed many officers
 from service. and changed the places of
 thrown together. with Col. Joseph B.
 Blbb as Colonel, and Osceola Kyle stil.
 Lieutenant Colonel. and Major Hester | as Major Col, M. L. Woods was as-
 signed to the command of the 18th Ala l bama having been put in that regiment
 The offices of Adjutant and Ensign were abolished.
 Colonel Woods, by direction of the
 Secretary of War, was forwarded from
 Johnson's Island. Ohio. where he was confined as prisoner of war. Decem-
 Der 25, 1864. to Fortress Monroe, for spe- cial exchange. He was at home in Mont
 gomery. Ala. March l, 1865. when he learned through the press dispatches that all prisoners of war paroled prior to 12 o'clock. midnight. February B, 1865. were declared exchanged. He proceeded al- most immediately to Augusta, Ga, where 3 camp of rendezvous was established, and reported to Gen. Birkett D. Fry.
 who was in command. He was held there
 for two weeks or more, and was then
 placed in charge of about 100 men be- longing to various commands. with in- strnctions to deliver them to their com
 mands, respectively, in the field. When he reached Charlotte. N. C., he received an order from Brigadier General Gard | ner, at Saulsbury, to hasten with these men and report to him at once, when the men would be armed for the purpose of | resisting an expected attack upon that | town When he reached Salisbury, about 3 o'clock in the morning. arms were is- sued to the men, and, upon reporting to General Gardner. he was ordered to oc- | cupy a position near the town in the direction from which it was expected General Sherman, with his Federal cay airy. would attempt to enter and cap ture the town. There was at the time a battalion of artillery at Salisbury, un- der command of Major J. W. Johnston Colonel Woods had scarcely taken posi- ton when General Stoneman made an attack and a brisk fight was kept up during nearly the whole day, the infantry and artillery under the immediate com mand in the field, of Colonel Woods lighting with good spirit. Finally, how ever. General Stoneman outfianked our line. both on the right and left. com polling a retreat. Colonel Woods fell back a short distance below the town and halted. General Stoneman passed on | in a different direction, and Colonel | Woods. the next day. returned to the | town to find General Pettus brigade en- | tering 1t by another road. He reported l to General Pettus and was placed in command of the 18th Alabama as reor- | ganized
 It so happened that Lieutenant Colonel 1 Kyle and Major Handley reached Rich ! mond, Va, before midnight February
 2S, and were therefore within the order i there to their regiment
 After reorg anization the army fell back l to Raleigh. Just as our brigade was to | be assigned its quarters an order came | for it to proceed tp Greensboro. where | President Davis and his Cabinet then | were, to assist in defending the place ] against a threateped attack. Our pres ence so st:engthehed the place the at | tack was not made.
 Colonel Bibb and Major Hester were granted leaves of absence. Lieutenant Colonel Kyle had been rendered the Col