Year: 1865

began to fight, they treated Mr.. Carte


very badly, and forced him into the rel
:, el army. Pretty soon Mr.. Carter ra


away and got back to his home again


but they soon found him and put him o


trial for desertion. Of course he wa


guilty, and they shot him only littl


way from his home, leaving Andy at hi
mother all alone.


Now, can you imagine how poor lit
tie Andy felt when they killed his dea
father? 1t was a terrible thing, and a
he thought about it, his heart grew bit
ter against the rebels.


He had no way of doing anything
though, and remarked quietly at hom,
helping his poor mother, until the rebel
evacuated Corinth and our army tool
possession of the place. Then Andy
went to a recruiting officer and told hin
that he wanted to enlist. To be sure be
was very young only fourteen years old
but he had always been strong, healthy
boy, and was used to hard work, and
that made him hardy. After asking
him a great many questions, the recruit
ing officer concluded to take him. SC
Andy becomes a soldier, though just at
first they made drummer of him.
Andy loved music very much, and could
beat the drum splendidly.


Of course Mrs. Carter felt very badly
about his going into the army; but she
was very poor, and knew that Andy's
pay would be a great help to her. Be-
sides that, great many men and Off
GERS soon became pleased with his good
behavior, and were exceedingly kind to
his mother. They felt very sorry for
her when they heard how her husband
had been forced into the Confederate
service, and shot for deserving.


Several months passed by, and Andy
still made friends because he was so
nice and faithful. The other soldiers
could never get him to tell falsehOods or
say naughty words, and of course, though
they did laugh at him, they respected
him all the more, and would have done
a great deal for him if he had asked
them.


/ dare say somebody has told you
about that terrible battle at Corinth, in
Sep. 1862, or you have read about it
in :he newspapers. In that battle Andy
Carter did brave thing for boy, and
it pleased all the officers very much
They fought hard for two days, and on
the second day, the rebels penetrated the
town, coming up close to hotel that
stood at one end of the place, where
great many railroads met.


Just little way from this hOtel which
was called the Tishomingo, was a pretty
deep cut in the ground, through which
one railroad ran and over this cut was
bridge built somewhat in the shape of
an arch. There was a railing on each
side of the bridge, and long pole erec-
ted from the centre, from the top of
which Ruttered the dear cid stars and
stripes of our National Flag.


Right across the bridge a short dis
tance stood another hotel called the Cor
inth House, and while they were fight
ing so hard on the second day, the reb-
els drove our men back from the Corinth
House, and still on toward the bridge,
over which the rebels pressed gradually,
while our poor men,fghting, one against
four of the enemy, fell like sheep at the
slaughter,


Andy Carter, with his drum, was
near the bridge, and saw our men falling
on all sides. He also saw rebel spring
upon the railing and strike down our
flag. In the next minute the drum was
lying upon the ground and Andy had
snatched up musket which he knew
was loaded, for the man who owned 1t
was killed before the musket was dis
charged. AS quick as thought, he took
aim and fred at the man who took Down
the fag. and he fell to the ground. The
minute after he had scrambled up and
replaced the colors and a storm OF cheers
from the soldiers, who taking heart at
such bravery rallied and drove the reb'
els back in a perfect cloud of smoke
Pretty soon more men were sent to help
them, and as they pursued the advantage
they had gained, Andy limped away to
bind up painful wound in hisleg, which
he had received while replacing the
flag on the bridge.


After the battle was over, l heard 2
great deal said about Andy's brave con-
duct, and wanted to go to see his wound,
but the surgeon told me that it was not
dangerous, only flesh wound, which
would soon get well SO gave all my
time, to those who had Jared more bad
ly, and it was a long time before / saw
Andy Carter. The autumn and winter
came and passed, and spring was again