Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1911-07-20
80 OKOLONA MISSISSIPPI, JULY %, 1911

hang on tne cnarRe you make WHen /
the line is broken. While we we're
resting, guns in hand, about three
o'clock in the afternoon and while the |
battle was raging all along the line
and the wounded and dying were be.
ing carried back to the hospitals in our
rear. we saw a man come down the
road on a black horse covered all
over in a lather Of sweat in full run
up to Gen. Bates, afterwards Cover
nor. and Senator from Tennessee.)
He told the Gereral the Federals had
broken our lines four miles up the
river, and three brigades had been
repuIsed with terrible slaughter in try.
ing to restore them, and he command.
ed to move at once in double quick
time and take that YANKEES battery at.
all hazards. Gen. Bates always
looking for promaton, said here's to
majorgeneralship or hole in the
ground.
We struck a long tFot down that
dusty road where yon could hardly
see your comrade next to you, and
arrived on the scene, hot sweaty,
dGsty, and tired. We we're mad
eaough to have stormed the devil in
his own stronghold tor we knew the
tate Of the whole army depended on
us and in giving an account OF our
selves many OF US would have to die,
The wounded from A. P. Stewards S
brigade were being carried BY US,
they had Just been driven back, and
told US what 10 expect. The Yankees,
seeing their advantage. had brought
up halt dozen companies OF artillery
and were literally filing the sir with
shot and she'll. While there was a
temporary lull in the 6,ing, Gen
Bates made short speech to his men
Taking the bearing of the man and
the sotemnity Of the occasion it was
the graudest, most uapassioned talk
ever heard, And wcund up by saying
q signal cannon will De fred on the
left TO move. rise with the old rebe
yell aud never stop till you take tha
battery. Ill be there.
Boom! went the cannon and the
yell shook the earth as we moved in
double quick tune with fixed bayonets
The Yankees turned loose all their
artillery, and for abou, 80 minutes
carnage. ruin. death and destruction
seemed to have fell away We were
charging over men S dead bodies. as
three brigades had been there before,
but we oever stopped till we had that
battery and turned it on the fleeing
enemy. When the smoke cleared
away Gen Bate old Bell horse bad
been killed under him and also one he
got from his aid. and he was mounted
on Yankie artillery horse. without
saddle or blanket but the army had
been saved.
Il wss q sad time when we next
called The roll. Just before we got
TO the battery | was struck on the leg
by u ball that compIetIy paruIyzed it
so that had to make an extra leg for
the occasion out of my gun. com.
menced hopping back as best could. |
had gone only little way till | |
found our color bearer, shot in the
head. and bleeding protusely gave
him drink of water that he always
contended saved his life. A little
.ather on came up with great big,
.at Dutchman with Yankie uniform
IN. | took him prisoner, and started
IN to the rear. The firing was heavy
and we got on so slow | told him |
vas afraid we would both be killed
before we got out He said, you
hump on my back. carry you oud
dis" So mounted him and we .
truck bee line for the rear. {
Ahnuf aVnrv ton etaps a oaa,on LII A