The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-04

l CHAPTER ".
 General Hoods division was composed | of Laws Alabama brigade, Bennings Georgia brigade, Anderson's Georgia bri- gade, Jenkins South Carolina brigade
 and Robinson's Texas brigade. There was | an Arkansas regiment in Robinson's bri- gade. The brigade was first Hoods un- | til he was promoted to major general. He
 was a fine division commander. I doubt
 if the Confederacy had his superior.
 loved his spirit He was kind. brave and | a patriot, would go where he wanted his men to go. Perhaps his caliber was not l sufficient to command a corps or depart ment this I shall not say, but he was a | fine division commander. I have often | heard Hood condemned and abused since | the war. but I invariably defend him when hear him abused. as very much admired the spirit of the man; pity we l did not have more Hoods.
 When I arrived near Suffolk where my | command was situated. they were in state of expectation of a battle, as some sharp-shooting, shelling and scouting re- ports indicated that something would soon l take place. Captain Cousins would come in from a scouting expedition and report the condition and the position of the enemy and sometimes enter their lines. He was very remarkable character. l Just before getting to my command the litter bearers had brought several wound- | ed men to the field hospital. There is where I first saw limbs amputated. It was a very horrible sight to me at first. l Frequently a doctor would dissect limb | after 1t was amputated, and after they | got through the limbs would be carried | off collectively and buried. A few days 1 after my arrival on Sunday 3rd day of | May, 1885, we had a sharp engagement, | more of a skirmish than regular en- gagement as Gen. Hoods purpase was not | to bring on a general engagement. My | regiment formed in line of battle, left our baggage in the rear and skirmished through a scope of woods until we came | to s fence that was situated between a large field and the woods. We halted and commenced firing with considerable | spirit, the enemy repulsed us, having brought in reenforcements, but we rallied
 and pressed back to the fence to our former position. The engagement was
 quite lively and spirited. but finally we fell back, some two hundred yards, form
 ed and remained in that position until about 12 o'clock that night. We had several wounded and killed that day l
 came very near being shot in the first en- gagement. I was in the corner of the
 fence, behind a pine sapling. A ball struck so near my face that particles of the bark spattered in my face and caused the blood to ooze out. the only
 blood lost in the war by the missiles or the enemy.
 As son as night came on Gen. Hood commenced falling back to Black Water. My regiment was kept on picket until l2 clock that night. to cover the retreat of the army. This was the first duty l ever did as a vidette. was put on post at 10 D. m. and remained until was re- lieyed at F. and detailed with another soldier to go back and collect our bag gage together, preparatory to following the command. Captain Cousins command ing us. We came out quietly after the
 army had been gone several hours. IL
 was the most solemn occasion that l had ever experienced up to that time.
 Everything was still and quiet, except
 the enemy would fire a siege piece at
 intervals of one minute apart. Having
 had some friends and neighbors killed
 and wounded and being feeble and nun gry I had some very serious thoughts
 We marched the balance Of the night, Tn
 rather a hurried march, but the enemy
 did moi pursue. When we fell back from , the fence the last time. I came by James N ,llis of my company. who was sho' , | through the bowels. The balance of my company was out of my sight. haVihe } retreated through the woods l had a rev . | words with Willis. I saw there was nc
 hope for him, but was unable to do any s thing for him: 1t was great trial ioi .
 I thing I could do.
 f Frank Galloway was killed that day , and Nell McKaskill. and perhaps others Several were wounded. Next morning
 just before arriving at Black Water
 saw an old school mate belonging 10 tn' 4th Alabama in corner or a renee U! . the name of Jasper Ingram. l was yer! s hungry and had nothing to eat. He gav'
 mo two biscuits I told him to call around
 when we got to Black Water. and s would fill his haversack as I had Ter f my box there We arrived at Black Wa 0 ter about F m., opened my box' ant p we had a great feast. as we remalhe' S there three hours resting and cooking ra . tions At that time there were nal . dozen of us messing together. l told m! e men to take such as they thought the | could carry. as I could carry but httI r myself gave balance to the company e that evening we marched in the direction |. of Petersburg. on our way to deVys n burg. passed through Richmond. thenc {. 1 to Fredrick Hall, from thence to Raccoo n Ford on the Rapidan river. We wer , l there on picket duty for about ten day :. or two weeks The finest clover pastur s | I ever saw was there, owned py SoIoIle = Porter. and as fine milch cows. som = of the soldiers would milk Coionei TOT
 ter's cows into their canteens' l was o
 vidette duty near the food one day, Ah V as soon as I stood my time out, go s a mass to go foraging, and got a goo !. dinner at A Mir Stringfellow's. about on - mile from the ford. Dr. Martin, yer ? renutable citizen, lived below on the IlVe s about two miles at or near aoi ilo'i ,'' q Ford. I had not heard from nome Siilc - I left. which was about hVe weeks, pe p k ,nn in active service, our mails were II f regular. One evening after roll cal - Raccoon Ford, sergeant handed me Ie' '. fer I saw that 1t was from my "lle'
 was very eager to see the contents ol i
 never had been so shocked III g r,v fife un to that time. It was shor - letter giving an account of my z-yeal l. ola son. my other two children wel s Sauebters. The little fellow had oecom 2 vorv much attached to me while al nom s on furlough. I could not turn around 10 a him He was a large healthy weil-gro"' '- nhild We had never made light 10
 him He was taken with the measles LII
 day left home, and died the hintn oay Dr Bledsoe was with him constantl Il for three days It completely inhlnge' ' and wilted me for about three davs ,N Finally I became submissive to lt' as " seemed I was rebelling against God. 6
 the grace of God I to an extent becam L. reconciled He gave him to me and n
 had the right if He SO willed 1t to tax
 him to Himself. I reasoned thus. Shoul @ I have raised him perhaps he might hay
 given me a great deal of trouble, and al
 things work together for good to thos
 who love God, who are the called ac
 cording to His purpose. and these afflic
 f,.,