The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-03

| big trouble yetween the insurance COM
panies and the public comes from the
feet that the public knows practically
nothing about the business which is hand
its money annually. The insurance conf
| panies are, of course, responsible for
| this. l think they should use every means
to let the public know the why's and
wherefores of the business. Respectfully
V. S. GOOcH.
Birmingham, July 1, 1918.
|
How General Reynolds Was Killed
| To the Editor of The Age-Herald
| Just at this time, when the entire coun-
| try is interested in the fftieth anniversary
of the battle of Gettysburg, I am re-
minded of the facts concerning the death
of Maj Gen. John M. Reynolds in the first
day's fighting as told to me by the Con-
federate soldier who fired the shot that
killed General Reynolds All students of
that battle well remember that General
Reynolds was in command of the federal
right wing, which was crushed in the
first days fight by the onslaught of our
men under command of Generals Early
and ENell, the federals losing heavily in
| casualties and captured men, the town OF
Gettysburg being captured and held by
the Confederates. This crushing defeat
was very likely made possible by the ac-
| curate craftsmanship of a modest Con-
federate soldier who lived for many years
and died in Birmingham-G N. Boyd,
a native of Hale county, Alabama, and
who enlisted in that county in an Ala
bama regiment, whose number have un-
| fortunately forgotten. Mr.. Boyd prior to-
| his death was engaged In the real estate
| business here, and some years ago, while
| talking to me about the battle of Gettys-
burg, having just learned from me that
| | had recently been on that field of bat
tie, gave me his account of the death of
| General Reynolds in about the following
| language:
| II was attached to General Ewelrs corps
on the extreme Confederate left and we
came into contact with the federals to-
| wards noon of the first day of July not
far from the Lutheran seminary, we ad-
vancing south and the federals resisting
our advance. was on the advance skirm-
ish line seeking to develop the where
abouts and strength of the enemy and
| had just stepped over fence in COM
pany with fellow skirmsher, when there
suddenly appeared group of federal Of
fcers on horseback about $50 yards in
front of me. These officers did not ride
entirely to the top of the hill, but as they
sat on their horses in a group, the crest
of the hill hid their horses from me and
left them visible from about their waists
up, the hill being covered with thin
growth of scrub oaks. These officers were
watching the Confederate advance fur
1 q 1oft tIa o,,lyi yioo~ affi
of the group was watching our men
| through his field glasses, thus turning his |
| left side almost directly to me. ! had at
| the time splendid Enfield rifle and felt
| sure that I would have no difficulty in |
| killing or wounding any one of the Off |
| GERS selected by me a target. ] Sc
lected the ranking officer, who was using
the glasses, and my fellow soldier selected
one of the others, my aim being directly
at this officers head. After counting
| three, we fired, and | saw the officer at
whom had fired reel from the saddle and
the whole group thrown into confusion
| After a few minutes the entire group
disappeared and our skirmish line moved
| forward so that l passed the spot where
| the officers had been, finding signs of
! hurried flight and blood upon the ground
| I felt sure that | had killed or wounded
| this officer, but had no definite informa-
| tion as who he was until General Lee
while passing through one of the Mary
| land towns, ! got hold of copy of a
| Philadelphia pa per dated July 2, 1868, Civ
| ing a detailed account of the fighting on
| July l. and describing in detail the death
| of Maj. Gen. John M. Reynolds. The
account there given corresponded exactly
with what ! have told you. stating that
General Reynolds was shot by one of two
| Confederate skirmishers, who had just
| crossed fence while General Reynolds
and his staff were grouped near the crest
| of a hill not far from the seminary in
| an oak thicket stating that General Rey-
nods was using his field glasses at the
! time Thus | learned for the first time
| that my victim was none other than Maj.
, Gen John NJ. Reynolds in command of the
federal right wing, and further that my
| shot had entered at the base of the left
| ear. causing instant death
The account given by Mr.. Boyd has
never been in print so far as | know. and
! Ii should be of some interest to the pub
! lie to learn under what circumstances and
! by whom was fired the shot that proved
| so disastrous to the federals on that first
days fighting and that contributed so
J greatly to the splendid victory that rested
| that day on Confederate arms.
| / have known no more modest, simple
| hearted and cultured gentleman tnan Mr..
! Boyd and the narrative given by him had
| in 1t no exultation, but only gave evidence
| of the sincerity, courage and devotion
with which he followed his countrys call
| to duty. Respectfully.
vASSAR L. ALLEN.
| Birmingham, June 30. 1913.
|