The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-09-18

captain agreed to do SO, and when
he returned to the army | accompan-
led him. We found the Legion near
Suffolk, Va, the Yankees in the town
and our forces outside, in line of
battle. Capt. Nicholson immediately
reported to Col. Gary on arrival, and
stated his agreement with me. Ine
colonel readily consented and issued
an order for the f,mlough. 1t was
soon i'll the hands of my brother,
and he on his way home for thirty
days. Oh! those blissful furlough
days at home, when we were heroes
III the eyes of the girls and the re-
cipients of every good thing imagi-
nablc, from the hands Of the old pco-
pie. And 'how we hated the shortness
OF the time and had to return to
duty, corn bread and bacon-after
dcvouring the box of substantial edi-
bles we always took back with us.
[ was the first recruit to the Legion
that a furlough was granted on, if
not the first in Gen. Lees army. It
appealed so forcibly to Col. Gary
that he forthwith issued regimcntal
orders urging the men to obtain re-
cruits and get furloughs. Many avail
ed themselves Of this privilege, and
the Legion was greatly strengthened
by the coming to it of fresh new men,
| could write many interesting cxpcr-
ienccs during the term of my soldier
ing from April, 'G3 to April. 60.
two solid years of excitement and
hardships, commons too, then. but
space forbids. Yet, will detail my
feelings and experience as a 1G-year-
old boy the first time under fire.
r." irSt day T was in camp
heard the older soldiers "uyinw some
OF the Younger ones as to how they
h'd acted in Il recent engagement
with the enemy. jus, thought
could not stand such guying; but my
brother told me when he left me for
home, to put on a bold front and
stick to my captain. The next day
two companies of the Legion were
sent on picket duty, one being my
company. When this detachment cot
to the skirmiSh line. thc other de-
tachmcnt went into thc rifle pits.
| while ours was put in reserve. in il
body Of woods, near at hand and con-
vcnient to a railroad cut. AS the re-
lieving Of pickcts by the other com
pany was taking place, the Yankees
commenced to throw solid balls and
shells at us. This stirred us IN, and
the men OF our company did about
pretty considerably in getting into
that railroad cut. thought to N.Y.
self now is the time for me 10 show
of my bravery, bnt for fact, 7 was
| SO scared | could hardly stand. 7
managed to do so though until all the
others had gotten in the cut and 7
alone. then I leiSurcly walked into il.
The shclling was so great in my mind
that ] had my doubts of being able
to stand il. bnt T said nothing
though Shakin" with fear and apprc-
hcnSl"n. Fortunately. il did not last
long. y short time afterwards while
III quiet camp and 7 had become
black and dirty, was passing the
captain, when he said to me, "Wal-
ton, ! think You will make a good
soldier: ] noticed that You did not
seem to mind the shclling we GOT the
other day. 7 replied, "thc shot and
shell did not pay any attention to
me. 50 | did not care 10 bother abont
Them. but I was. feeling one wav
and talking another As had shown
Il bold front at This first fine under
ilrc was free afterwards when we
cot INTO trouble. 10 du as | saw bcst
with myself and never was o,,vcd
about beng excited. 7 do moi mean
I" rXtol myself. bmt simply say as a
lac! that whenever onr company was
ON march, | always started with it.
and was with it when it halted. and
was always on hand to obey orders.
40 not know whether l ever killed
Yankee on not. I generally shot
to MT, and there were always dead
ones III the direction I aimed Our
ranks are yearly getting thinner, and
as we approach the time for the last
roll call our thoughts are of a happy
reunion beyond the river where there
Will be no more fighting and Destroy
ing of mankind.
W. T. Walton.
Johnston, S. c..