The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-11

hH Y experience in the charge on Fort M steadman was recalled to my mind by a recent meeting with Capt. John Fitzpatrick, son of ex-Gover- nor Fitzpatrick at Fillmore. Ala. Captain Fitzpatrick asked mo to tell him my ex- perienee in tho charge on Fort 5teadman. My time was limited and could not give him nil tho details. so l decided to write my experience, ns perhaps 1t would interest some of my other rebel friends. some who perhaps wore in the Third Ala bama regiment with me.
 On April Q. 1sdi. J Joined tho We tnmpka Light Guards, and took boat for Montgomery, where wo mot two Mont gomery companies. four Mobile companies. ono Union 6pringa company, one TuEise- goo company. and one from Lownsbor- ough. Together wo formed tho Third Alabama regiment.
 We wore camping In the ditches be- yond the suburbs of Petersburg when. on the morning of March 24, 1865. tho sharp shooters were ordered to cook three days rations. and be ready to march at night fall, for the sharp-shooters would be sent to North Carolina to Johnson's army to shoot for Johnson. We afterward learned that this false report was circulated to keep our plans from reaching the enemy but we were glad to receive any or ders that would take us out of the ditches.
 The rations never came, but in the even ing we were given sixty rounds of car %~t1 fo aba that as soon as night came to assemble at the head of the brigade and march to Petersburg to take the train.
 We marched out of the ditches to the suburbs of Petersburg and halted and remained two or three hours. We then marched back in the rear of the ditches and halted again and the order came to rest on our arms. We were satisfied there would be fight before many hours.
 I went to sleep, and do not know how long I slept, but when l awoke the men were up and in line. General Gordon with two or three men with bolts of white cloth were tearing off strips about six inches wide and six feet long. We were ordered to take off our knapsacks. haver- sacks and canteens and put them in a pile. Then the men put the strips of cloth over our left shoulders. General Gordon told us We were going to charge lHb eUeIIly WOTkS anQ IndJ Ln6 W1lIe cloth would keep us from shooting one another.
 He ordered us to cross over our main line of works without any noise and not to speak above 8 whisper, but to go to our picket line and remain there until the big gun was fired, then to make a rush on the enemy's picket line, capture them and make them come to our rear. You can do it without firing a gun, can t you?" he said. We told him we could, and he told us after we had done this to Ego and tear the shiver-defriese down so our line of battle can pass over it; then go to the fort and capture and hold 1t until the line of battle gets there, and I will give you all sixty days furlough, and silver medal.''
 We crossed over our main line and went to the picket line at o'clock. When the big gun was fired we made a rush for the enemy's picket line. I saw a dim light at the picket post and crawled up and looked over their works. I saw a Yankee sitting over a little fire; he must Have been asleep, and there were three others Tying down, fast asleep. l p.ked my gun over the works straight at the man sitting by the fire and said; Drop your gun and surrender" The others raised lip but I had my gun on them and ordered them to surrender. told them to get their duds and get to the rear and not to be long about it.. About that time another sharp-shooter came up and said, Let's carry them to the rear" I said, NO, 1t is against