The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-26
THE MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER.

always obeyed with alacrity. A couik mon enthusiasm nred all hearts, a com mon impulse, moved officers and men alike. There was not much etiqustte, but there was terrible lighting at shiloh. Both armies were in the tumult of mortal endeavor. and whetf,- CT in assault, or recoil. both sides saw their bravest soldiers fall in frightfpl numbers. Over the blue-clad lines of the Federal troops. noated the stars and stripes" endeared to them by the traditions of three-quarters of a cen- tury. The Confederates came on, in motley garb varying from the favorite gray and domestic butternut to the blue of certain regiments which paid so dearly the penalty of doubtful coIors. On they came. their banners brightly glinting through the pale green of the foliage. but soon to be riddled and tornj and stained with the blood of the color bearers. At each charge there went up wild appalling yell, heard high above the roar Of the artillery--only the Kentuckians ad- vancing with measured step poured out in martial chorus the deep full notes of their war song, Cheer boys cheer. we are marching on to battle" Gen. eral Duke, who was with Morgan'e cavalry. marching in their rear says that as they struck up their battle song the. effect was animating beyond description. '
 General Johnston rode out in front and slowly down the line. His hal was on. His presence was full of inspiration. He sat on his beautiful thorough bred bay. Fire Eater" with easy command--like a statue of vic- tory. His voice was persuasive, en- couraging and compelling. It was in- viting men to death, but they obsyed it. When he reached the centre of the line he turend T will lead yous he cried and moved toward the enemy. Those nearest to him as If drawn by some overmastering magnetic force rushed forward. with q mighty shout The rest of the line. took 1t up and echoed it with a wild 7yell of defiance and desperate purpose and moved forward at charge with rapid and resistless step. A sheet of flame burst from the Federal stronghold and blazed along the crest of the ride. There vsas a roar of cannon and musketry, 8 storm of leaden and iron hail. The Con- federate line withered and the dead and dying strewed the dark valley. But there was not an instant's pause. Right up the steep they went. The crest was gained. The enemy were in flight a few scattering shots replying to the ringing cheers of the victorious Con- federates.
 General Johnston had passed through the ordeal seemingly unhurt. Ills noble horse was shot in four places, his clothe swere pierced by missiles, his boot-sole was cut and torn by a mimic but if he, himself. had received any
 n T the meantime knots and groups of Federal soldiers kept up an angry dis charge of firearms, as they retreated and their last line, now yielding, de- livered volley after volley as they sul- lenly retired. By. the chance of war a mimic ball from one of these did it's fatal work. z As General Johnston on horseback sat there knowing that he had crushed in the arch which had so long resisted the pressure of his forces, he received mortal wound. It came in the moment of victory and triumph from foe. It smote him at the very instant. when he felt the full convic- tion that the day was won, that his own conduct and wisdom were justified by results and that he held war, and the success of the Con- federate cause. Governor Harris, the faithful comrade. was with him to the last. He writes as follows: Soon thereafter our line slightly wavered with backward tendency when the general said, T will go to~ the front, order and lead the charge" Just as he was in the act of passing through the line, to the front. he said to me, GO to the extreme right and lead the Ten nessee regiment stationed there" The general immediately established his line upon a parallel ridge, easy musket range of the enemy and a galling fire was opened on both sides. I had never in my life seen General Johnston look- ing more bright, joyous and happy than on that occasion. The charge he led was heroic. It had been success full and his face expressed a soldiers joy and a patriots hope.
 On my return I discovered that a musket ball had struck the edge of the sole of his boot, cutting the sole clear across and ripping 1t off to the toe. I asked eagerly. Are you wounded T' He said, .'No." and was proceeding to make other remarks when a Federal battery opened fire. He paused in the middle of a sentence to say, "order Colonel Statham to wheel his regiment to the left charge and take that bat I only about two hundred yards distant, gave the order. galloped back to the general. where a moment before I had left him. rode up to his side. and said, General. your order Is delivered. and Colonel Statham is in motion." but as I was uttering this sentence the gen. eral reeled from me in a manner that indicated he was falling from his horse. put my left arm around his neck, grasping the collar of his coat and righted him up in the saddle, bending forward, as I did so, and look ing him In the face. said, General. are you wounded?" In a very deliber- ate and emphatic tone he answered, "Yes, and I fear seriously" At that moment requested Captain Wickham to go with all possible speed for a surgeon, to send the first one he could find, but to proceed until he could find Dr. Youdell, the medical director, and bring him. The generals hold upon his rein faxed and 1t dropped from his hand. Supporting him with my left hand, I gathered his rein. with my right, in which held my own also and guided both horses to valley about