A FLAG PRESENTATION.
This incident occurred just as the Dixie Rifles were on the eve of leaving home to go into the army, and was swallowed up in the vortex of the terrible war we then thought was to be of such short duration. I think to mention it now, for its blending of the beautiful and ludicrous will bring it back to the minds of the survivors and their descendants of Company E of the old Thirteenth Regiment.
On a glorious June morning, with just that buoyancy in the air that makes mere existence a pleasure, the company assembled in the little village of Moscow, Fayette county, to receive a most beautiful and elegant Confederate flag that the ladies of the village had made for the company. The then Miss Fannie Steger (now Mrs. Dr. R. L. Knox of Memphis) had been selected to make the presentation of the colors. I do not know if she will thank me now for attempting to bring back the speech that she, a winsome and lovely young lady, made to us on that morning. Of course I cannot recall all that she said, but I can remember enough to know that it sounded like the blast of a bugle, like the playing of exquisite music, and inspired every member of the company with intenser patriotism and with profound admiration for the fair speaker. Feeling myself (then as now) utterly incapable of making a speech, I called on a young member of the company to receive the flag from the fair hands of those who had woven it. He stepped on the platform with every appearance of self-confidence, but to his surprise and to that of all the rest of us, he found himself overwhelmed with embarrassment. Blushing, stuttering and stammering, he began with, "Ladies and gentlemen, we accept," and then broke down. After swallowing a glass or two of water, he began again, "Ladies and gentlemen, we accept," and, still stammering and stuttering, once more took water. This occurred a third time, when one of the boys called out from the rear, "D—n it, say to her, We accept the flag, and will follow it to h—l or to victory." Amid yells of applause the young man reached for the flag and sat down. This flag was kept throughout the whole war, and today, thirty-two years since the struggle ended, is carefully preserved by my friend, Dr. T. B. Yancey, of Somerville, Tenn.
THE PRESENTATION OF A HORSE.
While the army was in winter quarters at Dalton, Ga., an incident occurred in the Thirteenth Tennessee Regiment which has left a memory that will linger with me until the "shadows gather for the eternal night."
The regiment was reduced to less than two hundred men, and, in generosity and love, these few men determined to make me (now promoted to Brigadier-General) a present of a horse. It was difficult to find such a horse as they wanted, but Dr. Yandell of Louisville, Ky., who belonged to the medical department, had a magnificent Gray Eagle horse, for which he wanted four thousand dollars, but said that, if the regiment wanted it for their commander, he would take three thousand dollars. These few men, drawing eleven dollars per month, with their uniforms in rags, and living on half rations, agreed to buy the horse, and absolutely refused to let anyone outside of the regiment give one cent. The money was scraped up among themselves and the present made, Captain Jerry Crook of Company I delivering the presentation speech, and Captain R. F. Lanier of Company G, on behalf of his commander, the reception speech. The horse was christened "Chickamauga." I have lived to forget many things, but never will pass from my heart the gratitude I felt that day when my war-worn soldiers in their ragged gray gathered around me to show their love and confidence. If nothing else, that act alone makes dear to my heart every soldier of the Thirteenth Tennessee Regiment.
MY LOST LEG.
Among the most intimate friends of my evening time, I have found infinite comfort and cheer in two, who for twenty years have been a part of my life. These two, the Hon. James M. Greer and Mr. James F. Hunter, having made me almost a part of their family lives, I wrote out for their boys, Allen, Autry and Rowan Greer, and Douglass Hunter, this account of how I lost my leg, and print it here without apology to my readers.
Soon after Sherman's army was so signally repulsed on the Kennesaw line, he again commenced his flank movement, which forced our army to fall back.