The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-21
Letter Written by Maj. Falcomb After
 the Battle of shiloh.

| COrlnth. April ', 1S62. T have just returned from the great est battle which has been fought in this war. It was terrific fight! We had about 60,000 men in action and the enemy about 112.0o0. ! can never thank Providence enough for spariiig my life, as 1t was e perfect fniracie<that was not hit some where, My horse got piece of e shell in his side. The balls and shells were flying around us like hail. The battle ground extended over five miles in breadth. We drove the set over four miles. to the river. We stayed in their camps. which were fill ed with everything men could wish for, plenty of clothes and nice eatables. On Monday, Buell. attacked us with 60,000 fresh troops, and our men being worn out. were gradually driven back. The enemy did not pursue us. however. and I had the honor to help cover the re- treat with a yankee gun, captured on shot. We had retreated in order. We took two or three thousand prisoners and three batteries of artillery, but could not carry many guAs back as the roads were top heavy. HAs 1t has rained ever since Sunday and the weather very cold, we have suffered very much. Nothing can describe the suffering of cek WOuhaC4s no Attily AHS not yet reached Corinth. Our battery distin- Ruished itself. of which I am very proud. Nearly every man wears a yan- kAe overcoat. Our army fought heroic- ally. but we were outnunbered as usu- al. General Albert Sydney johnston was killed having lead a gallant charge. He 'bled to death. Gen. Beau regard Is in command. We lost many officers and men. The ground Is coy- ArA6 with fhA AaaA Co Such terrific fighting has not taken place for long time. Gen. Prentice. of the Union Army. was taken prisoner.
 Evening Of April 9.
 The news from the battlefield is more encouraging. the enemy suffered more than we did. We captured more pris- oners yesterday and Gen. Breckin- raases Division held the battle ground and destroyed the enemy's camp. From what we can learn the battle was more extensive than was thought each division of the army having fought a separate fight all day. BueIl has sent us a flag of truce, ask Ing to bury their dead and six days armistice. This shows they are badly whipped. Our cavalry occupy their camps and are destroying everythinp All the captured guns will be gotten on. also our guns, which were left behind. We have been buryine our dead all day. Gea. Van Dorn vii, he here tomorrow from Arkansas with n good army and we will prohablv havo another fight
 Very truly,
 E. F. FaicSmb
 stratham's Brigade. Crittendon,s r,.,,,s
 Ion, West Department
 Sent by Mrs. Falcomh to the h,.. rian Of the Florence U D. c.
 Lees Birthday.
 An address delivered at the CeIebra. ton Of the Birthday of R. E. Lee hv iSev. Etrs, D. T. GWaltney, pastor of the
 As I appear before you on this occo- slon' l consider myself doubly honor ed; First I appreciate the invitation as coming from this noble chapter of the U. D. C.. and secondly having been born in Virginia myself, I am honored In that 1 am now to speak to you on this greatest of all VirginIans. the prineeliest of all Southerners, and the klngliest Of all Americans--Robert E. Lee.
 As I revolved in my mind what I am now to say to you. 1t brought back afresh to my memory many of the scenes of my childhood. and my father who sat by the old freside and so ire quently told his boys of the hardships or the Army of Northern Virginia. in which army he was himself a soldier under the great general. Such. an ad mirer was he of Lee that he named his fourth boy Lee. but this, of course. ! makes the boy none the better nor none the worse
 "As the clouds of passions and pre- tudice clear away from the war be- tween the States" R. E. Lee is &C., 1 knowledged by both sides to have been fhe greatest soldier of the modern | world. He was born in Westmorelano County, Va. .on January 1s. 1907. and \ vas an illustrious son of an Ilustrious