The National tribune., 1903-10-22
CONFEDERATE CONFESSION.
Some Startling and Almost Incredible State
ments About missionary Ridge.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I have
read with interest the accounts of the
boys in blue in their war experiences.
have been especially interested in several
accounts of the capture of the two guns
Lady Buckner and Lady Breckenridge in
the battle of Missionary Ridge.
was captured just south of the road
leading from Chattanooga TO Chicksmauga
Station on Missionary Ridge. l was the
first man on the north side of section of
artillery two guns and find it no matter
OF wonder that so many claim the credit
for capturing those two guns
will say. in the first place, the party
IN front of those guns could not claim
them, for they did not carry the works.
Our lines gave way south of the guns, and
the Yankees crossed over the brcastworks
at the gap, and swung round in our rear
and bagged us, and with us the guns.
AS for my part l surrendered to the
men in our rear, and after that the men
IN front of us came over the breastworks
Here | viii relate my personal expert
ence, as it may be of interest to some of
your readers.
AS | have already said. / was the first
man on the north side of the section of
artillery referred to. / discovered that the
comrade on my right was discarging his
gun ut random; that is just placing his
gun on the top of the breastworks and
firing without aim or exposing himself.
Exerting my persuasive powers on him. /
told him that Womb do his shooting for
him: just TO load while fired Now. this
is the particular point | want to relate
had passed the guns to him for reIoading
when L discovered that our section of ar
tillery had ceased firing, and on looking
around saw two Yankees coming between
the caissOn and the battery-one an officer
and the other 4 private.
Nha mi \, =, ,.,tS
and n rock in his left hand The private
had his gun in hand. at ready. When 7
saw them jumped to my feet and called
out, Lookout, boys: the Yankees are in
our rear"
This seemed to arouse their anger
against me. The private threw his gun to
his face and the officer came Overhanded
at me with his rock. As | lodged down
to miss the rock the private fired and the
bullet that WAS intended for me struck my
comrade in the head. and the poor fellow
died a short time afterwards. | have al
ways felt sad over this poor comrades
death. as | feel that / was the cause of
his death by calling ont Lookout, boys;
the Yankees are in our rear!'
l want TO say for the benefit of the
young, who were not in this great struggle
contending for what each thought was
right, there was never any luminosity be-
tween old soldiers, especially those who
met on the firing lines. and | will say that
was never mistrcated or inslllted by an
old soldier; but can't say as much for the
man who back in the rear and out of dam
ser-who fought his battles at home.
The officer did not demand even nv
sword from me. and l was permitted to
carry my sword all the way to Chatta-
nooga. AT headquarters, when our names
were enrolled as prisoners of war, an Off
Ger discovered that l still had my sword.
and called my attention to it. l told him
that no one had demanded it. and he
politely told me that he would not, but
told me that | would be sent north to pris-
on, and that some one would insult ME and
take it from me, and perhaps it might get
me into trouble. lie then politely asked
me to make him present of my sword,
and said that he would appreciate it. II
made him present of it.
l was sent to JohnsOn'S Island, Ohio, n
prisoner of war. l landed there on the
night of Dec. Z. 1868. and remained there
until two months after Lees surrender.
and was discharged from there the even
ing of June 13. 1868.
Now. if any of the parties mentioned
are still living and see this effort of a
Johnny reb, would be pleased to hear
from them.-JAMEs e. SMITH, Alma, Ark.