The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-10

couldn't shoot down man in cold blood.
and that, in the psychological moment,
he remembered the flag of the union.
He represents that on returning to the
Confederate lines, he was subjected to
horrible punishment because he declined
to shoot.
1t is understood that the government
will not grant the pension. 1t is I'M
derstood that the government, even If
inclined to believe the details reported,
would hesitate on the theory that the
deponent withheld his fire because of
fear lest the explosion of his rifle would
attract attention to his immediate where
abouts.
AT. the same time the government
agents state that seldom does more
Interesting claim come to their attention.
The story in affidavit form, follows:
in time of the war between the states
belonged to Company d, Fifty-seventh
regiment. North Carolina troops, Hokes
brigade. Erlice's division, Jacksons corps.
was detailed for vidette, or scout, for
General Jackson. At the battle of Chan
cellorsville he was shot and died in a
lew days. Otfll was nelQ LOT the same
by the other officers as a scout.
Then, as time went on, at Hatchers
Run, General Pegrim was comma nder
of the corps. and few days before the
fight came off at Hatcher's Run, / was
ordered by General Pegrim and other
officers. to go through the lines and kill
General Grant. Well I was ordered to
go, I had to go, me and another man.
So when it got dark, we crept through
the lines without much trouble, and we
got in an old road.
1--WE went on about two miles and met
boy. asked him if he could tell me
where General Grants headquarters
WERE He said he could, to go up this
road until we got to new road, there
turn to the right, about two miles.
When we got to this new road I said to
my comrade, We will go in the woods
now. We Travelled on until we saw a
light in the house where Grants head
quarters were. The boy told us the first
house was the place. We crawled up
very near and lay there, maybe IS min
utes We heard several men come riding
up the road and we were told how to
know him, by smoking a cigar all the
time
GRANT AND HIS STAFF
well, there has was, him and his staff
MY comrade said to me: Are you going
to shoot him.? MOI, said T can't
murder in cold blood I will risk the
consequences. I won't do it, He said:
Well, If you won't, I won't, either I
said: DO as you like; I WON'T! He went
up to the house. l heard him tell or
give orders for some artillery to be
moved to Five Forks. He went in the
house a little while and then came out,
waItman lit another cigar and handed
it to him. He came riding right along
the road, right by US. Now my COM
rade said to me, what are you going
to dor Nothing said. I will never
shoot him now. I am going to leave
here Where are you going?' he said.
Back I said.
I'VE crawled across the road into an
old field. We got up close to the fence.
I told him we would have to crawl to
the right to get away from them. So
we got into the woods. He said he could
not crawl any longer and got up to walk.
He took two or three steps. We were
fired on my comrade went down. I never
saw him again. My clothes were shot to
pieces across my back. / crawled on
until I got out of range and got to
tree and there rested little. Then
went on and got to the picket line, got
through by crawling through, got to our
headquarters about 9 o'clock next morn
ing.
General Pegrim said to me. Did you
see General Grant?' I said. Yes, sir
He said, Did you shoot him?' said.
No. sir did not. I could not murder
in cold blood He got wrathy and asked,
Where is the other mang said, he
went down. Was shot. i never saw him
any more. He said, Yes. You ought to
have gone down. too. I will punish you
severely for disobeying orders He had
me bucked down four hours and said
he would have me court-martialed and
shot, but as the Lord would have it, the