The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-03-15
mand Of Ave divisions-Kershaw.s. A

!. =. Stewards, Bushrod Johnson's and
Hlndman's, together with my own. The
latter formed the center Of my line,
; with Hfndnaan upon my left, johnson
and Stewart on the right, and Kershaw
In reserve. About a. m. the firing on
the right commenced; we immediately
advanced and engaged the enemy, when
followed terrible roar OF musketry
from right to left. Onward we moved
nerVed with determination to become
masters of that hotly-contested field.
We wrestled with the resolute foe till
ABOUT 2:3o p. M, when, from q skirt of
timber to our left. body Of Federals
rushed down upon the immediate flank
ana rear OF the Texas Brigade, which
was forced to suddenly change front.
some confusion necessarily arose. l was
at the time on my horse upon a slight
ridge about 800 yards distant, and gal
ioped down the slope, in the midst of
the men. who speedily corrected their
alignment. AT this moment Kershaw's
splendld division, led by it's gallant COM
mander, came forward, as Hindman adj
vanced to the attack little further to
the left. Kershaw's line formed, as ii
were. an angle with that Of the Federal
line. then in full view in an open space
near the wood. l rode rapidly to his
/ command, ordered a change OF front
forward on his right, which was
promptly executed under a CALLING fire
with shout along my entire front, the
Confederates rushed forward penetrat-
ed into the wood, over and beyond the
enemy's breastworks. and thus achieved
another glorious victory for our arms
ABOUT this time l was pierced with a
mimic ball in the upper third of the
right leg; turned from my horse upon
the side Of the crushed limb and fell
strange to say, since / was commanding
hVe divisions-into the arms of some
OF the troops of my old brigade. which
l. naa directed SO long a period and
Long and constant service with this
NOBLE brigade must prove q sufficient
apology for brief reference, at this
Juncture, to its extraordinary military
record from the hour of its first en-
counter with the enemy at Eltham's
Landing, on York River, I'm 1852, to the
surrender at AppomattoX Court House
In almost every battle In Virginia 1t
bore conspicuous part. 1t acted as
the advanced guard of Jackson when
ne moved upon Mcclellan. around
Richmond; and, almost without an ex-
ceptional instance. 1t was among the
foremost of Longstreet's Corps in an
attack or pursuit of the enemy. 1t was
also, as a rule. with the rear guard of
the rear guard OF this corps whenever
falling back before the adversary. If
ditch was to be leaped. or fortified po-
sition to be carried, Gen. Lee knew no
better troops upon which to rely. In
truth, its signal achievements in the
passed in the history of Nations.
i Wounded Again.
! The members of this heroic band were
| possessed OF streak of superstition as
in fact / believe all men to be: and il
may here prove OF interest to cite an
instance thereof. I had a favorite roam
, horse. named by them Jeff Davis"
whenever he was in condition / rode
him in battle, and, remarkable as 1t
llv he
bullets and bore me unscathed. In this
battle he was severely wounded on Sat
) urday; the following day / was forced
to resort to valuable mare in my pos
session, and late in the afternoon was
shot from the saddle. At Gettysburg I
had been unable to mount him on the
field, in consequence of lameness: in
this engagement I had also been shot
from the saddle. Thus the belief among
the men became nigh general that when
not find me. This spirited and fearless
animal performed his duty throughout
the war, and after which he received
tender care from Gen. Jefferson and
family or Seguin, Tex, until death,
when he was buried with appropriate
honors
When wounded 1 was borne to the
hospital of my old division. where a
most difficult operation was performed
by DIR. T. G. Richardson, of New Or
leans. He was at the time Chief Medi-
cal Officer OF the Army Of Tennessee,
and Is now (187S-'79) the President of
the Medical Association Of the United
States
i The day after the battle I was car
ried upon litter some Is miles to the
residence of Mr.. Little, I'm Armuchee
Valley. / remained there about one
month under the attentive care of Mr..
} and Mrs. Little, the parents Of the gall
liant Col. Little. Of my division, and
III
DIR. John T. Darby.
I then received intelligence from
Gen. Bragg that the enemy was con-
templating raid to capture me.
at once moved to Atlanta, and thence
; to Richmond.
Compliments and Promotion.
, Gen. Longstreet has since the war
informed me that he telegraphed the
authorities of the Confederate Govern
ment from the battlefield, on the day I
: was wounded, urging my promotion to
: the rank of aforementioned and
t was kind enough about the same time
to send the following letter:
"Headquarters. Chattanooga. Sept.
) General: / respectfully recommend
/, Maj.-Gen. j. B. Hood for promotion to
the rank of Lieutenant-General,f for dis
E tinguished conduct and ability in the
: battle OF the Goth inst. Gen. Hood
7 handled his troops with the GOODNESS
: and ability that l have rarely known
by any officer, on any field, and had
the misfortune. after winning the bat
: tie, to lose one Of his limbs.
: II remain, sir. very respectfully, your
4 obedient servant,
: "(signed) ]. Longstreet, Lieutenant
: General.
!. Gen. s. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspec-
tor-General.
E Endorsed: Headquarters. near Chat
t tanoOga, Sept. "a, 1861
{ "W D. 1888
~. Longstreet, Lieutenant General
I recommends Maj.-Gen. j. b. Hood for
promotion to the rank of Lieutenant
General for distinguished services in the
battle Of the Goth inst"
II cordially unite In this just tribute
"Braxton Bragg. General"
al Respectfully submitted to the Score.
8 tary Of War.
"By order.
t ed. A. Palfrey, Iieutenant-Colonel and