The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-29

until he had obtained possession of the enemy's flag. His name was among those who were killed. and 1t was some time before his family knew that he was living. If he had not been cap-, tured he would have been promoted for bravery on the field.
 In the glowing words of q comrade. There was no braver soldier in the Confederate army than he--always hard our duty, he would encourage his comrades with Its all right, boys; Providence will take care of us." So we nicknamed him 'Providence' because he always trusted Him. I cannot ex- aggerate his faithfulness to his duty, his country and his friends Don't be too modest to speak of him in glowing terms for you cannot overdraw the facts"
 He was sent to prison at Rock Island, H., remaining there fifteen months, Here his trust was to be tried to the very utmost. Starvation and sickness were to be his lot. 'Oh. God. if I am ever free from this I'll never murmur again at Thy will"
 So two weary winters wore thems selves away and the stalwart boy had reached mans estate. But, oh, the dreariness of this prison life, with all the severity of the Northern winters. with scarcity of clothing and with little food. In such dire distress were che, prisoners that they killed and ate the suffers dog. besides daily visited the garbage barrels in search of scraps of food. Fortunate was the prisoner who found in his allowance of food bone, for he could have the luxury of soup for several days, besides afterwards using the bone to make combs and rings. which the sutler sold for him. In this way a little more food was added to his meagre allowance.
 Today have in my possession rusty knife with its back filed into a saw with which my father made combs and rings. With the sale of these little trinkets gaunt hunger was not kept away, and unable to walk but step or two without resting, he said Good by to his comrades for the last time. he thought, and was carried to the hos- pital. Sickness in the form of scurvy had seized upon his body, causing 1t to turn a deep purple. The doctor said he needed only vegetable food and sent him to the kitchen, where the cook gave him plenty of Irish potatoes and beans.
 He was allowed a parole of sixty days on account of bad health, so leav- ing Rock Island, March, 1885. he was dt nome When 1ee SuTTcnUeTeu.
 To make living was now the ques- tion and out of the red hills of Lee County came the cotton and the corn from his labors. In a few years he married, so from the old homestead he moves only a few miles and here for twenty-five years he lived.
 The 37th Alabaa regiment held re- union in Lafayette in the summer of 1885, and had the old flag with the shat tered stan. Major w. F. Slaton of At- lanta, Ga, in whose possession the flag now is. was there. and made an address. having my father come up on the ros- trum to hold the flag, also sent 1t down In the audience to his eldest daughter, in order that she might hold the flag. which was shot from her fathers hand.
 John Summers died Feb. 14, 1S96. In little country church yard. Liberty, six miles northeast of Opelika. Ala. hs is buried, surrounded by the rural scenes which he always admired. A simple slab marks the spot. And on it is carved a Confederate flag with a shattered staff.
 Berta L. Summers,
 opelika, Ala.