The Adair County news., 1914-07-08
George Heck Burton.

"a remarkable illustration of the
influence wroughG by music, was re-
lated by Gen. P. NucKoIs, who in a
conversation with your reporter told
of all incident that happened on the
bloody field of Shiloh. Gen. Nuckols
was a gallant and distinguished officer
III the Southern army, and now car
ries more lead in his his body as re-
minders Uf the bloody struggle than
any other Confederate hero thai we
know of. Among the members of tile
Fourth Kentucky infantry T.. S A
was one George HecUer Burton, d tall,
brawny, bIackeyed, brave fellow, a
Titan IN strength, enthusiastic in his
devotion TO the South, and yet with
all his reckless courage, he was joyous
as d school boy and Ioved music am
fun next TO fighting. 1t was on the
plains of Shilon, the evening of the
last day of the battle and the Ken
lucky brigade which had suffered
fearfully, was covering the retreat of
the Confederate army. Maj. Monroe
had been killed, Capt. Monroe had
been mortally wounded, Capt. John
Adair had been badly shot, and the
command of the regiment had fallen
upon Gen. n Ickles, who was himself
badly wounded, and faint from loss of
blood. The regiment tired, worn out
and fearfully depleted, retreating sui
lenly and slowly, as wounded bear,
not satisfied with his recent encount-
Ell, was halted TO receive and repel a
Threatened charge OF the enemy, ana
the men were lying listleSsly on the
ground Suddenly volly of shot aud
shell from Yankee battery was
poured into their midst, with the de-
sign OF throwing the men Into disor-
der preparatory 10 charging them
with infantry. As the shells like an.
gels OF death spread their wings Oh
the blast, Burton, who was standing
up ia front facing the enemy, was
seen 10 faIl, being wounded in tie
head by a spinner of an exploding
missed. All hearts for the moment
STOOD sill, for the regiment saw him
fAn covered with blood, and with
bated breath and bianched cheeks
they Witnessed him writhe and strug.
gle Ia what they supposed was his
death agony. On came the Federal
infantry in uniform rank of unbroken
blue, with gliStenIng bayonets liked III
front. Suddenly Burton staggered u
his feet, steadied himself, looked Will
dazed eyes and added sight at the a. /.
proachipg enemy and rousing himself
with daunUleSS and almost Superhu,
man effort dashed the blood from his
lace, tossed his cap high in the air,
seized his gun, and with d voice like
a war trumpet broke out in the chorus
OF the kenJuckian's battle song,
Hurah. Hurah. for the bonnie flag
that bears aSingle star" The mel
Sprang into line as if Oh dress parade.
The chorus rang along the line Tie
Yankees heSltaUed. Steady men. aim
low, ready-aim-tire, roared out tile
command from Nuckols. The enemy
halted, their lines were broken.
Charge bayonets again, came quick
and clear from the gallant Nuckies.
The enemy's front no longer faced tie
boys i'll gray. This WIS the last charge
made upon our army at Shiloh, says
Gen. Nuckels, and it was repulsed by
the song of Heck Burton. He mod.
estiy adds, Capt. Burton now lives in
one of the Southern States. He is a
lineal decenOant of Simon, Kenron
and was one of the bIavest soldiers
in the Southern CouIederacy. Gen.
Nuckols, as is well known, is now the
very efficient Quarter-master General
OF Kentucky, and Will Doubtless be
quite surprised to see this incident in
Kermit, as he was totally unaware at
the time he narrated il, that Ire was
cOaVersinQ with a scrihhlar -. g. 81