The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-06
Was Saved From what Would Have Been Fatal Effect Of His Own
 Order.

Been Fatal Effect Of His Own | order.
 Capt. R. E. Park in Confederate Vet
 In September. 1881, while serving as
 an enthusiastic young private soldier
 in the 18th Alabama Regiment, my l company. then commanded by Capt. R.
 F. Ligon Afterwards Lieutenant Gov ernor of Alabama) with a company
 from the 9th Alabama, and all as bat
 1aion under the command of Maj. John
 ment lwho afterwards became briga-
 dfer general of cavalry. C. s. Al.
 made my first long walk as an infantry
 soldier from sankster's Crossroads. in
 and Mason's Hills. in Fairfax county,
 about three miles from the city of Alexandria and within sight of the
 o Shch oonea s ioftly asose ss dom ane Ga l front of us. After a tiresome walk
 of ten or twelve miles. we bivouacked
 at night near Munson's Hill. and I l was placed on picket at the junction of
 two country roads. with instructions | to shoot any one who came in either
 direction. as there were none in front
 supposed to be cavalrymen.
 As I write. my. mind recalls a bright, cool, crisp moonlight night. My com
 rades radess , with the the exception % of the cor
 wards Capt. K. P. Hendree). were in profound sleep. and was one hundred | feet in advance of them, standing un- ing of home and loved ones and of the lonesomeuess of my situation. when my listening ears caught the sound of an approaching horsemap. The Instruction ito shoot" any one advancing from the direction indicated by the sound of the nSrsss , noafs s came promptly nrs,t to ny my would be assassination. and I quickly determined that I would capture and not shoot whoever approached.
 In a very few minutes I saw soli- l tary horseman riding rapidly in the direction of the crossroads. waited he reached within half ,,Ssas'a Sozsn fee, fee, my place in the shade of the tree and placed my bayonet immediately in front of the breast of the astonishsd ridef, nounced that he was my prisoner and inquired who he was He replied: T am Major John T. Morgan; of Alabama" except in the daytime and had never him. He offered to give me the coun.
 sas srsgn not Tssh Sesn given ny
 detained him while I called for the
 corporal of the guard" and Corporal
 laftsrwards captain1 Hendrse respond
 nized the Major. and permitted him to | pass.
 | I was only seventeen years or age at | the time, but I ventured to suggest to the commander of the battalion that | his severe orders ito shoot" would have caused his death if had not violated l the command and determined upon his capture Since then have often feit. us watched the career of the eloquent and accomplished Senator from Ala
 bama. what crime t ,,wol,cat,y wolN,Ida nfSe fSe l orders given me and had robbed the
 world of so iilustrious statesman and the south of so noble an orator. pa- ] triot and defender. , have never heard of General Morss gan's mentioning this incident; put I | he should see this though more than l two score years have passed since the
 incident occurred doubtilsss; his of nea1 tbs l imminent danger through which he
 passed and al stFsy the rssus Order Uf hif nas
 rather reckless msra an,,rce of profound
 gratitude to myself that s1sreg ' disregardedd Sed
 my instructions in this instsnfc' s,,f e citia Sno | zen and soldier.