The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-19
Historical.

Coming down to Montgomery last Oc- tober, 1t was our good fortune to occupy a seat in the car just in the rear of a gallant Confederate soldier and his charmlng wife. It was not long before our talk had fallen upon war topics--for editors have always an acquiring mind and We knew the gentleman before us had been in the thick of tho fight. Not one word would he tell of himself how ever, but spoke in most glowing terms of Captain Edward Crenshaw of Greenville, and his gallant conduct at Chickamauga in critical moment. So we wrote to ceive the following interesting reply. in which he referred us for further infor- nation to Captain A. T. Goodwin of Robinson Springs. We have written to Captain Goodwin. and hope soon to have an article from him, giving some of his personal experiences and interesting in cidents that came under his observation.
 The veterans are all so modest 1t is very difficult to induce one of them to speak of himself. and next to impossible to extract a promise to write anything Even where others have told us of his bravery. We are answered after this man ner: Why. l never did anything worth telling. Why don't you ask my friend A. or B: Now, he is a man worth hearing from"
 Then probably next day we sec and E. only to be sent back to our original c. the man of nil men most compe- tent to All our. column.
 To hear their modest disclaimers of merit. we would think nothing worthy of mention had been done by anybody. did not history prove the contrary? The | battles were not won by unsupported generals.
 And tho moral of this is When next the Historical Editor asks one of vour veterans Tor war "reminiscences, just rem tnisCc in Nour very best style and send to her in time for the next Sundays Ad- Vertiser
 Greenvillc, Ala. November 1S 1901. My dear Miss Clisby:
 A very busy term of our Circuit Court and pressing professional duties have pre- vented my earlier acknowledgement and reply to your esteemed favor of the 23d ultimo, requesting me to write something ot my experience at the battle of Chic amauga.
 regret very much that 1 have no, sufficient time at my disposal to do jus ttce to the subject and beg that won VII excuse me and call on my esteemed friend. Captain Goodwin, as brave and true soldier as ever drew sword for the Lost Cause. l know of no one more | competent to give you an interesting and reliable account of the battle, because he was In 1t from beginning to end. as an officer In my regiment, the 5Sth Ala bama Regiment. Batess Brigade and
 Burkner's Corps. which regiment went into the battle with twenty-seven off, cers and about two hundred and fifty men, of whom twcnty-one officers and
 one hundred and forty-nine men were killed and wounded.
 will give you, however two incidents showing the devotion of youth and age to the Confederate cause
 During short pause in the advance of our brigade in the hottest part of the battle. word got to us in some way (and 1t is wonderful how the word gets around 10 the men In battle) that Hoods far famed Texas brigade was coming upon our left to our support. Hearing the well known Confederate yell, and seeing a movement in the thick bushes in our nous brigade as It came out into the open under fire. l kept my eyes turned and the first thing I saw come out of the bushes was long lanky old horse ridden Inv an old white-haircd colonel having the appearance of being at least 60 years of age or more, who was riding with d switch and leading the most ia nous brigade in the Confederate army