The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-06-18
Atlanta Journal.

VI
derness, and as we were entering into
the battle, a moment before We en-
gagged with the enemy in deadly con
fict, sent up to Almighty God a
short mental prayer that could not be
surpassed in fervency or carncstness.
| had no time to pray for more than
one thing, nor would if had had
more time, for all my symrathics we're
concentrated on that one thing.
1t was for the life Of my brother
prayed.
My brother Henry was two years my
senior. There was an atfectionatc
sympathetic attachment between US
that is uncommon, except between
twin brothers, and that each Of US
we'll knew could never be broken. !
thought he had the finest intellect of
any one | ever knew; nor was this
partially in nc, for others VINO knew
him we'll thought as l did.
One can think fast in time of great
danger. | did not suppose our people
at home would mourn less at my death
than his, but l felt while l prayed
that they could better afford to lose
me than to lose him; besides he would
be more useful in the world than |
could ever hope to be. These rea-
sons, together with my great love for
him and knowing how we'll he loved
me, was Why l felt at the time and
sill think it was right and best to
l"ad with the giver Of life for his life
preference to mine. So appealed
ulrectly to Almighty God that if
either of us must die on that occasion
it should be me and that he might
live.
At Gettysburg, during the scvcrest
moments of the second days battle,
when we of Benning's $ brigade had ad-
vanced SO near the enemy that ali on
both sides must be killed unless one
side would give way within few
minutes, noticed him, together 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 l ad-
mired his cool courage, did not feel
the least uneasincss 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 q
battle.
But | will return to the dreadful
scenes of the Wilderness. We had
marched hard the day before from the
vicinity of Gordonsville and bivouaced
late in the night near the battlefield.
At daylight we marched rapidly to the
assistance of a. p. HILL My broth
er's feet panied him SO severely from
the previous fay's march that it was
plain he was in no condition to remain
in ranks, aud we tried to persuade him
to drop out aud 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. 1t was seeing him suffer so as
we were fastening to the battle that
made me feel uneasy and intensified
my sympathies.
We soon met Thomas brigade.
which, after most heroic resistance,
was finally overpowercd by the weight
Of the enemies numbers and forced
from the field. We had not mo-
ments time for reconnoitering or
planning. The tremendous forces of
the enemy flushed with victory were
rapidly and con6dcntly 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, hastily, in double quick time
form us across their front.
We DID not wait G moment for the
onslaught Of the advancing enemy,
but quickly and rapidly moved forward
to meet them. We all we'll knew
what was before us; that our ranks
would be quickly thinned; that many
; of US would be lying dead and many
mangled with wounds within the next
Few minutes. But not man among
US ialtered, not one.
It was while thus advancing to meet
the enemy, and moment only before
the firing commenced, that I turned
my eyes and looked into my brother
face, who was few feet to my right.
Our eyes met, for some influence
caused each Of us 10 look into the