17/42 His spirit had flown to its home beyond the skies. Horsley and I were detailed to bring off our wounded that night, and we helped to bring off many a poor dying comrade--Joe Thompson, Billy Bond, Byron Richardson, the two Allen boys--brothers, killed side by side--and Colonel Patterson, who was killed standing right by my side. He was first shot through the hand, and was wrapping his handkerchief around it, when another ball struck and killed him. I saw W.J.Whittorne, then a strippling boy of fifteen years of age, fall, shot through the neck and collar-bone. He fell apparently dead, when I saw him all at once jump up, grab his gun and commence loading and firing, and I heard him say, "D--n 'em, I'll fight 'em as long as I live." Whit thought he was killed, but he is living yet. |