The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1961-07-07

the gray line crashed through
the woods much to my delight.
Challenging shots soon came
from the Federals. next some
pretense Of volley, and. q few
cannon shots. Instantly, as ex-
cited graycoats realized that
they had flushed the enemy. they
raised the rebel yell. "Hi--eeee!
Hi---eee!"
| 1t rolled and died away on the
| flank; it rose again and SWelled
and swept back along the line
as it echoed through the forest.
Soon l saw a break visible in the
Federal front. 1t widened. Blue
coats ran back into the woods
and disappeared. Now on the
right center they were visible
again. The forest was aflame-
was it a rally? Everytime the
wild yell swept across the fields
and through the woods, ! would
lift my head and give thanks.
touched Old Sorrel to ride.
still nearer to the front and see
for myself what the field prom
iSed. Before l could get to the
front, furious cannonade swept
the roads and the woods. It
forced me to seek shelter, and
compelled group of North
Carolinians to lie down prone to
the ground. After it was over l
pushed on forward in the dark
ness and over un + a m lar
ground. With staff officers,
couriers, and signalmen, / had
a small cavalcade with me.
Some of my companions began
to be solicit0us for my safety.
General, one Of them said,
don't you think this is the
wrong place for you?"
1.-THE danger is all oyer-the
enemy is routed Go back and
tell A. P. Hill to press right on"
/ feared not for my safety as
l rode up the road in the moon
light, but wondered if a night
attack was too hazardous To
assure speed in the attack, /
turned Old Sorrel and started
back the way I had come. ST.
lently l rode by an old house in
the woods yonder off the road.
when suddenly from the south Of
the dark road there was shot,
then a volley rang out. Then
Hills voice rang out, Cease fir
ing"
In the darkness l did not see
who had fallen. nor did I have
time when someone vel e d
again. cease firing, cease fir
ing, you are firing at your own
men"
THAT is a lie! Pour it into
them. boys came the reply.
Suddenly there was a long
flash in front of me-a kneeling
line, then a volley Instantly l
knew / had been hit. My left
arm fell limp. / lost grip on the
bride rein. A bullet also struck
my right hand.
i Old Sorrel, mad with fright
from the volley, Whirled and gal
Hoped furiously in the OPP
posite direction. An oak limb
caught me full in the face. tear
ing off my cap and swept me
back until my body lay on
Sorrels rump. With all my
strength. I headed Sorrel back
toward my own lines.
Welbourn and another officer
rode up and braced me in the
saddle, and with the strength
that l had left, l stared in the
direction from which the fire had
come because l could not be-
lieve what had happened. They
helped me down off Old Sorrel
and propped me up against a
tree because l would not allow
them to lay me down. I told
: them to get me skilled surgeon
and not to tell a soul that l was
wounded
The trip to the field hospital
was a rough one. One that
would not take over again. On
the way there, l thought I was
going to meet my maker more
than one time. We finally made
it. DR.. Harvey Black had pre-
pared and warmed a tent where
I was Immediately carried.
After time. DR.. Mcclure, DR..
Black. DR.. Walls, and DR.. Cole
man entered the tent. DR.. Nc
CURE told me they were going
to give me chloroform to permit
examination of the wounds. He
also asked me if they had to,
. would l permit them to ampu-
tate?
Yes. certainly. DR.. Mcclure,
do for me whatever you think
best"
The operation over and my
left arm gone, 1 began to feel
somewhat b t t n although in
great pain. DR.. Mcclure told me
that General Lee had sent him
. a message saying that the Fed
erals were close at hand that he
; should move as quickly as pos
, Sih1o RI tho roor nr McGllirp