The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-22

line and thickest OF the fray. 1T was
Impossible to keep him in the rear"
Father Brannon was present At the
surrender OF Harper's Ferry. and ac-
tually took Il fallen comrades gun and
fought in the Fredericksburg and Get
tysburS battles.
Father Brannon. 1T has been said.
but not proven was the first Confed-
crate TO get into Harper's Ferry after
the surrender of 1900 Federal troops.
We an know boys propensity for
reaching quickly all scenes OF danger
and excitement. so l feel more than
likely he scrambled in where man was
more careful TO follow. Boy-like. too
he AT once entered the Federal stores
ana began TO help himself to the deli
cacies and clothing the Northern SOL
diers always had in reserve. But
brannon also thought OF his comrades.
and especially of young lieutenant
friend who sadly needed pair of shoes.
he was detected In his pilfering. and
oelng absent from his company. was
arrested y. p. HILL in command.
thought Young Brannon a dcscrtcr The
NOT young rebel was angry, as he said,
clean through Not only was he mad,
Out MS company officers swore; and Il
regiment officer mounted his horse and
vent TO \. u Hills headquarters where
not language was INDUCED in and the
iittle drummer boy released.
AS soon as possible, young Erannon
again started for the flesh pots OF
Egypt, and again arrested and guard
placed over him. The young tempter
demoralized the guard. and both were
ioaucd down with spoils when he ran
INTO General Jackson and staff. Only
!, boy knew how To step aside and es-
cape before he could be recognized or
questioned. and no rabbits ever scamp
cred home quicker than he and his
guard did TO Company Is. where the
| fruits OF war were distributed
AZ Gettysburg young Brannon bore II
charmed life. II is known that, mount
cd Oh Colonel OatcsS charger he rode
| Two miles down the line OF battle. with
shells bursting every minute minnie
DaiIs huinming. cannons belching fire.
men railing. horses shrieking. and yet
| the lad rode on. until cannon ball tore
through hive Of bees. scattering bees
ana honey. The swarm lighted upon
Brannon's mount who madIy tore away
unmanageable, and soon dismounted
his rider. Brannon was laid up in "A
/ field hospital. but was able to assist in
caring for the wounded while himself
off the battle line.
The Confederate officers had learned
the trick of the Yankees sharpshoot-
ers, who always tried to pick off the
man on horseback. and the Confederate
officers more frequently went into bat
TIE on 1901 70 AVOID putting their heads
, into the lions mouth. Ii can be read
iy appreciated the daring and cool
courage of the drummer boy. who
dared TO ride Colonel Oates's horse
down two mile line Of battle
Brannon was with the Army of
Northern Virginia which surrendered at
Appomattox Courthouse and by the
way. the apple tree did not figure in
the surrender. though the fruit caused
the surrender Of Eden. Young Bran
non had on the 9th of April. at Long
bridge. bought for $50 in Confederate
money. dandy new Yankee drum. OF
course. OF the best The drum was
captured. as was the drummer. and his
command. Brannon had this drum
when Lees army surrendered but re-
, fused TO give IL UP. threatening ito
bust il before a Yankee should beat il =
However. he finally traded IL for Sc
in United states money to the Yankee.
who seemed already to ply his profess
sion Of trade and with this small sum
Brannon. the drummer boy Of the Fiji
teenth Alabama, started home from the
front.
A. Knoxville. Tenn, he had an expe-