The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-02-04
"REMINISCENCES

bring your guns to shoulder arms"
az he had given the order Shoulder
armsw the order could not have been
more promptly and completely obey
ed than was the response to the cap
tain's call.
All Volunteered.
well" ne said, 81 can't take you
all as | would like to do, so I'll be
compelled to make detail" He then
selected ten men from the right Of
the company, who were, of course.
the tallest men. This" said the
captain '.is not giving the little men
a chance" whereupon he proceeded
down the line, selecting a man here
and there until the number was com
pleted.
Being one of the .little" men, /
was near to the left end of the rear
ranks. My heart thrilled with de-
light when the captain pointed his
finger at me and said you" and
proudly stepped to the front with the
others. Being on of the youngest
boys in the company and a new re-
cTuit besides, / really did not expect
it, for | felt that it was en- honor to
which | was not entitled.
The company was then dismissed
and the "elect" ordered to hold them
selves in readiness to march at any
moment, with sixty rounds of cart
ridges. The camp was hustle of
excitement and preparation. Those
detailed were busy getting their arms
and accoutrements in perfect condit-
ion. Some of the boys found q grind
stone, and ground their ssbre-bayon-
cts as sharp as butcher knives. While
this was going on, one Of the disap-
pointed ones, Charles E. Staples by
name, approached me with tears in
his eyes, saying "You are not emit
tied to this honor. I'll give you S25
Confederate money was then almost
as good as gold) to let me go in your
place." Think of conquering an army
Of such soldiers; 1 replied my op-
portunity Is not for sale; / am GO
ing"
SIS for Chance to Die.
Speculation was at its highest to
guess where we were going and what
we were to do. Soon after dark we
were called out, and the several de-
tachments from the different compa-
mics of the regiment were marched
to the wharf at Pensacola, where we
were Joined by a number of other
troops, constituting, learned after
ward, altogether q force Of about
1900, commandered by General r. n
Anderson. We were embarked upor
a steamboat and two barges which i
carried In tow. The steamer was
then headed across the bay toward
Santa Rosa Island, at point about
two miles eastward of Billy Wilson's
camp. The tide being in, the boat
and barges were enabled to approach
very near the beach, and we landeC
by wading ashore. Here the com.
mand was formed into three columns
one moving along the north beacl
commanded by Colonel jackson. on,
moving along the south or gull
beach commanded by Colonel Jane.
R. Chalmers, of Mississ ppi Will,
the third commanded by Colonel Pat
ton Anderson of Florida, moved alons
the center Of the island between tn,
other two columns. Our detachnen
was in Colonel Jackson's command.
Approaching the Enemy.
When all was ready pickets wer,
placed in front and we marched eau
tiously and noiselessly toward TIL,
camp Of the federals. After we ha,
proceeded some distance body o
| troops was seen through the darkness
coming up in our rear Excitemen
was intense for a few moments. Ar
they the enemy, and have they dis
covered us; or are they our men, an
If so, will they not mistake us TO
the enemy and fire on US? Upo
near approach we could discern tn
strip of white cloth upon their lef
arms, which was to be our mark +
distinguish friend or foe, and the,
were found to be one of the other col
unins which in the darkness had los
its way and found itself marching il
our track.
The Alarm Given.
A halt and a readiustment havin
been made, the columns again move,
silently along nearing the doome,
camp. A few minutes later a sho
xyac f5y.aI IN front E;4ba,- me -.
discovered and the enemy's sentine