The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-05-12

OF AN OLD MAN
(By 4 Vsteran.)

Regiment was formed, another call
was made, when Bradley's Old Field
came to the front with another Com
pany of Infantry. This time Co.
K. 10Th Regiment was formed. Capt.
R. W. Lilies was elected Captain, DR..
A. T. Widenlan, James L. White and
William Jay, Lieutenants. There
not being enough companies formed
at first for a regiment, they were
formed into a Battalion and camped
at the Hampton Race Track at Col
umbia. They were then carried to
Charleston and other companies
coming in, they formed the 10Th
Regiment of Infantry with Colonel
Moraigne as colonel. On account
of ill health, he resigned, when Col.
Lythgoe, of Abbeville, was made
Colonel. He has been represented
to me as a very quiet, unassuming
gentleman, but brave as lion. He
lost his life at Murfreesboro, when
Col. Shaw was made Colonel. While
camped near Charleston, they were
drilled and made ready for service.
They were soon ordered to Mississ-
ippi. On the road they were in a
terrible railroad wreck, where a
number were killed and wounded.
Jim Bowick was killed here. They
were not shipped in Pullman cars in
those days, but in cattle cars, and
old freight boxes. This accounts
in part, for The terrible fatality of
the wreck. This accident prevent
ed the Regiment from reaching
there in time for the battle of Shi-
loh, where the South lost one of
her most brilliant Generals.
In this company were, Adamson,
Bradleys, Beasleys, Burdishaws,
Bowicks, Gown, Creswells, Dilla-
shaws, Evans, Jays, Gray, Kennedy,
Lyon, ]. F., McCaslans, McClane,
Neel, Seiglers, Reagens, Truitts,
Whites, Widemans, and a large num-
ber whose names I cannot recall.
A joke was told on DR.. Tatum
Wideman, that one very hot evening
the Regiment was double-quicked to
the front, where the firing was get
ting heavy. When they reached the
place, cheering, the Yankees broke
and ran. The Regiment was lying
down resting when Gen. Bragg came
riding by them. DIR Wideman stepped
out in front of him and with the en-
thusiasm of boy, exclaimed, while
waving his hat over his head, "Gen-
eral the enemy have flown, have
flown, have flown" Gen. Bragg s1nll.
ed, saluted, and rode on. 1t was not
long before DIR. Wdenan was honor
ably discharged, on account of his
health. A short time afterwards,
Capt. Lilies having reached the age
limit, resigned. This made a gen.
eral rise in the affairs of the COM
pany. j. L. White was made Cap
tain, William Jay, R. F. McCaslan,
J. Fuller Lyon were lieutenants. 1t
was not long till Capt. White was
made Major Of the Regiment. Then
William Jay was Captain. At Frank
lin, Tenn, Capt. Jay was killed at
the head of his company. McCas-
Ian was then promoted to the cap
taincy. He remained in command
Of the company till the war ended.
Lieut.. J. Fuller Lyon lost his arm
at Atlanta when T. M. Jay (Dora,
as he was generally called) was
made Lieutenant. A. B. Kennedy
was, I think a Lieutenant also.
This company and regiment fought
all over the west, and for one hun
dred days in and around Atlanta.
When called on they always answer
ed promptly, and nobly did their
duty. No men, no army, with the
terrible odds against them, ever did
more. I have never believed that
Gen. Joe Johnson, or the western
army, ever received their just need
of praise, when you think Of the
vast amount of territory they had
to defend, how thin a line of men
he had to oppose an army of over
whelming numbers, hardly would he
get in position, before he would be
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