Year: 1866




On Thursday eyening-July ID, at
about 6 o cock-whie the battle of Get
tysburg ragged with appalling severity
along that portion of the line extending
from the cemetery on the right to the
Roundtop" on the left, Gen. Barksdale


leading his command in a desperate
charge on our left centre-fel mortally
wounded within less than a hundred
var Is of our lines His fall-at the very
moment when the presence OF COM
manding officer is most required to en-
courage men to renewed exertion and
sacriice-was speedily followed by the
complete dispersion or capture of his
command. As soon as the discomfitted
troops had retired and the firing ceased,
the General was conveyed, as tenderly
as circumstances would permit, from the
field to the small house about fifty yards
in rear of the line of battle, there to
await the arrival of an ambulance in
which to carry him to hospital. Every
available spot In the house being already
packed to repletion with wounded,
couch was made of blankets upon the
ground near the house-yard, and the
General tenderly deposited upon it.
Here l found him just after dark, while
moving around in company with Assist
ant Surgeon James Hamilton, of my
regiment, endeavoring TO render COM
Portable the wounded, who had been con.
veyed in large numbers to this spot l
came upon the General accidentally, and
by the light of candle which 1 held in
my hand, discovered that he was an otii'
Ger of distinction. Kneeling at his side,
asked him if he desired any assistance,
and rendered him drink from my can
teen, which / had filed with cold water
Just before dark. He informed me that
he was very thirsty, and j endeavored to
give him water from the canteen, hut was
unable to do so in consequence Of his re-
cnmbent position, and the pain from his
wounds was so great as not to admit OF
bis being raised upright. then placed
the candle in the hands Of one of the boys
standing near, and taking my spoon from
my haversack. filled it several times, and
the General drank the water with fever
ish avidity. Seeing DR. Hamilton about
this time, called to him-the General
having previously informed me Of his
name, rank, and that his command con
stituied a part of McLaT s division,
Longstreets corps; also that he had been
in Congress for six years, if / mistake
not-saying that we had dangerous
case-perhaps he could do something for
IL The Doctor Immediately came to
where l was sitting, examined the Gen
erals wounds, and in response TO his in
terrogatory as to their nature and proba-
bic results, informed him in kind bat con
fident terms that they were mortal, and
that the best that could be done was to
render him ms comfortable as possible;
and to this end began to administer NOR
phine as a means Of assuagiDg the pain.
Taking the Generals right hand in my
left, and holding the spoon in my right, l
began the administration Of the NOR
phine dissolved in water. The General in
quired several times, do you think there
is no hope 2 How long do YOU think |
can hve2 r. To which / could but reply,
General, there is no hope you are now
sinking rapidly; compose yourself; We
shall do all in our power to make you
comfortable About this time an officer
came up, and upon ascertaining who We
had in charge asked If the General would
like little liquor. 70 which the latter re-
piled afhrmatiyely. The spoon was then
flled with liquor and pressed TO his lips,