The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-07-19

| "'H '"'euHely interesting 10 the Olu
soldier element, and keep the younger
generation reminded of the quality of
manhood it took to discharge the duti s
OF citizenship in our Southern country
forty odd years 90.
On the retreat from Gettysburg the
brigade was detained for several days
in the vicinity of IIagerstown. Md,
waiting for the Potomac River to fall
so that pontoons could be thrown
across it at Falling Waters. The day
before the night Of the crossing to the
Virginia side Company l. was ordered
out on the skirmish line az relief
detail. The cnemy's skirmish line,
OF which we had an unobstructed view,
lay about three hundred yards from
our ri1e-pits and extended through !.
farm yard. The roofs of the build
ings in the yard and other places sf-
fording cover were all manned by their
sharp shooters. To reach our rifle
pits we had to 60 over stretch Of
wheat field Of about two hundred
yards. Notwithstanding the enemy
had the drop on u.s." We succeeded
in getting safely into the pits, though
very short while after we reached
them the lamented Capt. John w.
Chambers was mortally wounded.
This left the company without a
commissioned officer to command it.,
Lieut.. afterwards oaptain) VIM. All
ken Kelly being temporarily in charge
OF Company +, the highest non.com
missioned officer present was the
writer, who, at the time enjoyed the
distinction of being Sd corporal.
In rushing &c get into the rife pits
7. II. Reilly, j. Il, Osborne, Frank
NJ. Martin and myself landed in the
same one together. The pit was too
small for the four, and fearful that
one of US might get killed, 1 told
Frank Martin to go to the one next on
our left and about Senty feet distant.
lie got himself ready, and picking
his chance made bolt for the rife
pit. The Workmanship of the enc
my was accurate, and they did not
permit him to make the distance.
short as it was, without giving him
their attention. lie had gone, per-
haps two.thirds of the way when there
was sound as il bullet had struck
him, and heels over head he went into
the pit. l followed out to him,
Frank, are you iurt?'' In moment
he had his knapsack off his back and
taking from it red flannel shirt held
it up and answered: "No, but they
have killed my shirt as dead ae HI"
A bullet had passed through his
knapsack and perforated the shirt at
each of the folds. This superb SOL
dier was wounded and captured at
Spottsylvania Court house, Virginia,
and died in Washington, D. G.
The enemy gave US another exhibi-
tion of their good Workmanship
when Jim Osborne was looking
through hole between the Chestnut
rails, of which the rifle pit was made,
and exposing the upper portion Of his
head, a shot broke one Of the rails
into two pieces right against his fore.
head.
II n: y
AT the Wilderness, VIM. w. Bunch
game from the crown Of his head to
the soles Of his feet, also of Company
L-was struck in the breast with a
spent bullet. With that dramatic
effect to which he was given, he
shouted: 'Farewell boys" and fell as
if dead. I stopped down and opened
the front of his shirt; fortunately the
bullet did not enter the body, but the
fesh was very much confused and had
an ugly appearance. Upon my telling
him that the bullet had not gone in,
he exclaimed: ''Is that So" and
springing to his feet, rushed forward
at the top Of his voice, "Hurrah for
thatl Give it to them boys" The
last time l heard of this noble soldier
he was leading the life Of farmer.
| hope he is still living and doing
we'll,
Once Bunch came very near getting
me into what bid fair to be serious
little scrape. We were near a place
called Turkey Bend" on the James
River, about the middle of June, 1864,
while Gen. Grant was moving his
army from the line Of the Chickahom.
my to new base south Of the James.
For some reason, that do not now
remember, my company vas merged
with Company H, and the two COM