The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-20

all his native resources, he closed with
Hallock's lines, Strike for your affairs
and fires; strike for the green graves of
your sires, God and your native land"
just then minnie ball, apparently hav-
! Ing lost its course, came singing that
song that threatens to strike but does not
indicate where, yet apparently near Cap
tain Tracys head. He bowed low, say
ing, "and dodge boys. when you can"
The battle raging from our right to-
wards our left came nearer. Bullets fell
fast into our covering. The captains, not
knowing what had become of Barlow
and his Georgians, moved us out into an
open field, where we could see the danger
that threatened, A water detail was sent
out while the men rested in the sun. 1t
was here that General Bee rode up to the
regiment. Mortified at the results of the
morning and feeling ali was lost, he call
ed out:
What regiment is this?'
Captains King and Clarke answered,
General, do you not know your own
men? This is what is left of the Fourth
Alabama" He said:
Come with me and go yonder where
Jackson stands like stone wall" The
captains replied I'VE have sent out de-
tails for water and as soon as they re-
! turn, we will go with YOU
| 1t was just before this that the Federal
|
over the line of retreat of the Fourth Ala
ALBANIA, the Union army assembled the hill
to the plateau in front of jackson and
Hampton and the Georgians, and as it
uncovered the crest, there was a crash
of musketry that can never be forgotten.
1 The Yankees advanced loading and FIR
| ing, and their cartridge covers showed
beautiful lines and magnificent drill.
When the water was distributed, GEN
eral Bee mounted, placing himself on the
left and moved In the rear of Jacksons
line of battle. Arbuthnots battery
changing position, cut the regiment in
two at the coiors. When the right again
Joined the left we were told that General
Bee had fallen mortally wounded, while
! leading the regiment to place where 1t
could again go into battle. He died that
night While waiting in front of the
Lewis house, where General Johnston had
established his headquarters General
Jackson rode by, having his arm In
sling For hours he had held his position
and 1t was understood that he had saved
| the day.
! Directly there was an indescribable roar
of battle and shouting. The cavalry came
from the rear charging to the front. The
cry was that the Yankee army was In
! full retreat, and all over the vast plateau
| the glad shouts of victory went up to
| heaven President Davis, at this time,
rode on the field, hat in hand, receiving
the piaudits of the men. StraglerS were
coming in. The happiest people ever seen
| were the negro mess servants, who laugh
ed shouted and -wept Steve, Captain
| Kings body servant, was uncomfortable
| in his joy that he had found his master
alive. The Fourth went back to the juno
ton that night to gather up the frag-
ments and sleep. We were so tired! We
laid down to sleep feeling that we were
disgraced; we walked on Monday morning
to find the air vocal with our praise.
That a great victory had been won was
| being ascrbed to the fact that the Fourth
/ Alabama had for hour held the Fed
eral right in check until brigades and
regiments could be moved from the right
| to the left AS fast as the regiments
| came on the field. marching by the left
| flank they were fronted into line of bat
| tie and moved into action. Mcdowell at
the same time. was always moving by
his right until having uncovered his front
| about II o'clock he advanced to the main
,kattack. His fianking movement had been
! discovered by Evans and checked by the
Fourth Alabama. We never fully knew
what the Fourth Alabama had done until
| General Heintzleman's report to his COM
manding- general was made public In
| that report he paid very great compli-
| ment to the valor of the Fourth Ala
| bama regiment that for an hour or more
delayed his advance successfully driving
back his four regiments, so that he was
unable to again bring them to the attack.
From the position named all knew the
Continued on Eighth Page.)