The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-09
CORRIDOR TALK OF
THE ALABAMA CAPITOL
BY HERvEY w. LAIRD.

when Forts Barrancas and McRae were
evacuated. Returning in February he was
soon after elected major OF tine Tnlru
Alabama, with which he proceeded to Vir-
ginia. He was soon promoted to lieuten-
ant colonel and as such was first under
fire at Drewrys Bluff, and led the regi-
ment at Seven Pines after the fall of Col
onel Lomax. He was also in command of
1t in the week of bloody battles below
Richmond. At Boonsboro he was slightly
wounded, and at Sharpsburg disabled for
several weeks. At Charlottesville he
served on General Rhodes staff. General
Ewell was so much pleased with his con-
duct at Gettysburg that he promoted him
to brigadier general, and this was con-
firmed soon after.
After the promotion of General Battle
he was placed in permanent command of
the brigade-Third Fifth, Sixth Twelfth
and Sixty-first Alabama regiments-he led
it at the Wilderness, and was almost con-
tinuously under fire till June 2, when he
was slightly wounded at the second Cold
Harbor. In the valley with Early. he led
the brigade at Winchester where it was
complimented in orders by the command
ing general. At Cedar Creek, while in
command, he was struck in the knee and
SO disabled to prevent his return to
active duty. His commission as major
BeneTdl uale0 from OCTOBER 10 loD4 Wnen
he was thus wounded. Resuming his
profession at the close of the war, he
was elected to Congress the same year,
defeating Hon. r. f. Lyon and Rev.
Mr.. Hamill botn of this county, and
Hon. George Reese of Chambers; but the
majority in Congress would not permit
him to take his seat. and soon after dis
franchised him. General Battle was of
ordinary stature and slender figure, with
n win md a6
was courtly, and he was approachable
and sociable. His oratory was graceful
In manner and forid and sympathetic in
matter. On the battlefield he was DELHI
crate and determined, and in camp was
the friend and protector of his men.
Speaking of the death of General Bat
tie today, Col. Henry R. Shorter, deputy
insurance commissioner, referred to
letter which his mother had a short
time ago from General Battle telling
number of things about his father. the
late Col. Henry r. Shorter of Eufaula.
Colonel Shorter was on the staff of Cen
eral Battle, and in the letter Mrs Short
er was told of an incident at the Wilder
ness. The two men were talking within
a short distance of the federal lines.
Colonel Shorter had piece of hard tack
In his hand. and had broken it and pass
ed half to General Battle. Just as Col
onel Shorter raised his portion to his
mouth ball from the enemys side came
by and shipped it out of his teeth. Turn
ing his face in the direction from which
the shot came he remarked as If some
enc of the yankee forces could hear him,
Quit your snatching. If you had told
me you wanted 1t, l would have given it
to you" General Battle recalled the in
cident as one of the many that indicated
the disregard of danger the late Colonel
Shorter always exhibited. Thought of
fered colone1cy on the staff of General
Rhodes, Colonel Shorter refused to leave
General Battle. preferring to remain
with his old friend rather than accept a
promotion.