Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-30
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
A HERO
BY Eli Perkins

and then he went and gave himself up"
What was done about it?" I asked.
"Well, Mason was tried before court
martial for striking superior officer,
sentenced to be shot and the sentence
was sent to Gen. Jefferson G. Davis to
be approved. Poor Mason was i'm
prisoned on bread and water, with a
ball and chain to each foot"
did Gen. Davis approve the SEN
tence?"
Eyes, he approved it,"
But how did Mason escape being
shot?"
"WelI, the next day, before the ap-
proved sentence arrived, came the bat
tie of Mission Ridge, and our regiment
was ordered forward. Mason, OF course,
was in the rear, under guard, with a
ball chained to his ankles. We heard
the Confederate cannon in front all the
forenoon; we knew there was big bat
tie on, and we needed all our men. So
I rode over to the guardhouse and told
Mason that we would have to leave him
behind alone with his ball and chain on
till the battle was over. -'''"''' =
"Let me go with the boys, colonell'
pleaded Mason; I don't want to see the
boys in fight without me-
"'But you might escape, Mason. You,
KNOW tAAcIe ID d ScuG<uCc ildusA1B oFSA
| you
"'By heavens. COLONEL You amt
going to let the boys go into this fight
without mel" and the tears came to his
eyes.
Then" continued the narrator. "the
order came from Gen. Davis for our
regiment to move up and charge q
redoubt, and the boys dashed forward
1t was an awful sightl Twice they en-
f1laded us, and the bullets moved down
our men by dozens, while the Confed-
crate flag still waved on the redoubt.
Colonel, you must capture that re-
| doubt!' was the order that came from
Gen. Davis.
Our men were now badly tired out,
and the dead and wounded were all
around us; but I got our men together,
and made the final charge. What q
charge! My horse was killed under me.
Then we went forward in a shower Of
bullets. I thought they were going
straight for that flag; then all at once
| they wavered. The bullets flew like
| rain and the advance men were all
shot down.
There was no one to Lead and
thought all was lost. Just then I saw
a man come rushing up from the rear.
He grabbed a dead soldiers repeating
rifle, pushed right through the dead and
dying, reached the head, and pushed up
the redoubt. The boys saw him. took
courage, and followed. In a moment
saw the brave fellow swing his rifle
around him on the top of the redoubt,
grasp the flagstaff and break it off
while the boys struggled up the side and
emptied their guns into the retreating
ConfederateS.
1.-THE day was oursl AS came up,
shouted:
WHO took the flag boys?'
1T was MasonP said the boys; and,
looking down, I saw a broken. chain
and shackle still on his ankle"
Then the narrator's voice choked him,
and the tears came into his eyes.
I couldn't help it, colonel said
Mason, I couldn't see the boys fighting
alone; so I got an AK and pounded off
the ball and chain. and now colonel, I'll
go back and put 'em on again.
go back and put them on again!
I almost cried. No, sir! Mason, IL
put them on myself first
Then" said the colonel, "I reflected
that this wasn't military, and told the
brave fellow to stay with two of the
boys.
THAT night" continued the colonel
; Il wrote over to Gen. Davis about
, Mason's bravery; how he captured the
!
fact, saved the battle; and begged hin
IF he had not approved Mason's SEN
tence of death to send it back to the
court unapproved. In an hour the mes
Senger came back with the papers. The
sentence had been approved before thu
battle, but Gen Davis took his pen ane
, wrote across the bottom:
1.-The findings of the court disap
proved, Pvt. Thomas Mason, for dis
o tinguished bravery in capturing Con
: federate flag, promoted to a secont
, lieutenancy.'"
= What did Mason say when you tolt
! him about his promotion?" asked.
! WELL said the colonel, 81 read hin
! the death sentence, and its approva
: first. Mason sank down, his face fell OF
v his arm and heard a deep groan
: Then he said. as his eyes f1llet
with tears: Well, cononel, 1t Is hard
r but can stand it if any one cam
v But here is another clause, Mason
Q I said. ON account of your splendid
" bravery yesterday. you have been pro
t NOTED to second lieutenancy.'
what, me? Colonel, me?'
e Eyes, Lieut. Mason, you'll
: THANK God!' he burst out, and IN
e bravest man in the Northern Army step
v ped into his tent to send streak o
il sunlight to cheer UP his broken-hearte
= mother.
Re "And that's the man who Just LITE
i, Whisky. BILL into bis WAGON I"