The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-01
my WORST THREE DAYS"
Wartime Story by Veteran, Now Resi-
dent Of Memphis---4 He Survives; Is
Seventy and Well
Seventy and Well

about 10 T.. NJ, when Federal soldier
employed as nurse came to me and
said that he had just overheard Cen
cral Porte!' tell the surgeon in charge
of the hospital TO send all the slightly
wounded To the rear. as the Federal
army would begin retiring ut ~
o'clock This nurse further said that
he WAS tired o, the war, and that If !
would protect him, he would remain
behind and be captured. told him
that ne should have my fun protec-
lion. provided he brought me a cam
teen OF water He did this, and "A
little later told ME that as one Of the
federai soldiers in the church had
died. that could take his place on
the hoor as ii might rain during the
night
For many reasons / got no sleep
that night. one being that there was a
Federal officer whose nose had been
shot on, and who was very angry.
walking up and down the aisles OF
the church all night wishing audibly
that he could get hold of a Confederate
soldier OH whom he could vent his
anger. Owing 10 the soiled condition
OF my so-cailed1 uniform and the aim
hght. was undiscovered and thus
escaped MS vengeance. Just here
VII! state that the Federal troops left
on the porch OF the church an amuIe
supply OF sugar, coffee. etc. for tho
use of the wounded So ended the first
day
From ny position in the church /
could see the country road Jus, little
distance or, and Tuesday morning
ABOUT daylight saw the Confederates
passing rapidly, following up the Fed
efah troops AS IL grew - little lighter
heard one CT the Confederates gay.
hoSs' look yonder on that porch"
wren mere was rush OF gray coats
over the fence. and in a few rninutos
mere was nothing left 10 eat in or
ABOUT that church. This day occurred
The battle OF Malvern Hiil. Tuesday
jury ]. 1869 y little while AFTER day
'isht ihcre was roll OF muskctry and
Sheiis from the Federal batteries OK
plodai about the hospital, some Of tho
Wounded in the yard getting additional
MOUNDS from the pieces Of shells.
i"efe was no Item OF special interest
curing that long, hot day. / Law on
The hard noor without food a., y.,e,.
during All OF Tuesday, listening 10
me shrek OF shells Late in the M.
tcfnoon of thht DAY ComrAde warA.Id
came into the hospital, and. to HIS sur
Prise iouni ms among the Federal
Wounied lie said: Il mus, get Won
gu. OF taiS He told me that the
iadies OF Richmond had hired all tho
N'SSrS III Town and sent them out 10
get lhe slightly wounded. and thot ~
could appear slightly wounded, ne
would get me into one OF the hussas
!, OF course. made a Erea; effort ard
ulu get IN one OF them. Now this ride
10 h'chinonG over such roads as wa
Hhu at mat time WAS the most horribla
Oh my life some OF us were wounded
IN tHe arms and some in the legs. and
some IKE myself, in both arms and
psS' men The bus would drop into
uc"p rrt, we would all fall down
into the middle OF the bus. and II II
lad not been so sad. the scene would
nave been ludtcrous in seeing our eff
ioTts 20 help each other oack on The
seats again. However, we finally
reached Richmond. and. the hospitals
being iu!l, We were carried TO a vacant
storehouse. where | was laid on a
sheh. And This ends the second day.
On me next morning. Wednesday. a
s"on woman came'into the building and
approached me, and asked IL there was
awning she could do for me. replied
.hat there were n number of things
mat needed. but the most jmportont
Just AT that time was something 10 eat
She immediately left the building. and
soon returned with food Now in nv
der for the reader to fully appreciat.
this picture, he will have TO recall some
very not day and imagine. II he can
what IT means TO be feverish from,
wounds and without food and water
from Monday morning until Nyednes
DAY at 10 o'clock. About noon of We'd
nesday by brother, who was I'm the
Confederate navy and stationed al
Richmond. having heard that was
wounded. began a search. and FINALLY
iound me lying on shelf in a vacant
storehouse, Notwithstanding nv niti-
abie condition, he could not refrain
from smile when he saw me. will
Try TO describe briefly my personal an
pearance. What few clothes I had
were ragged and dirty: the bandages
on my wounds were filthy. I was nine
Teen years old. had never shaved in my
Lie, and my hair had not been trimmed
for year. I was never handsome ~
pest and at this time would have sure
~ made good scarecrow MY brother
found barber and / had nv first
shave, had my hair cut. got some clean
ciothes. and was removed to a good
hospltai, and this ended my vicissitudes
AT the close of my third worst dav
III IS matter of wonder to us who
are now living how any human being
could endure so much and vet be alive
am now seventy years of age. have
not n gray hair on my head, and haya
fair amount Of strength left I have
been the recipient OF too many bless-
ings from the Giver OF all good gifts
10 utter one word of what might bc
considered complaint or regret, and
only mention incidentally the occur
rcncos of my worst three days
j. +. JORDAN,
co, I'll, Seventeenth Virginia Infantry.
Memphis COMMERCIAL Appeal.