Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 37.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

[350] enabling Colonel Browne to escape with the Forty-fifth, and retreat safely. On the fourth fire, I made with the artillery a volley from the Yankee sharpshooters killed several horses of the artillery company, one officer and wounded one, and a minie ball passed through me and knocked me nearly off my horse. Lieutenant Steele, of Monroe county, an officer of the artillery company near by, shouted out to me: ‘Cling to your horse, Major, he will take you right to the ambulances,’ which were a little ahead of me. This I did, and then I was taken off the battlefield.

General McCausland passed me in retreat just as I was shot, and his horse was then slightly wounded.

A squad of Yankee cavalry with surgeon were sent to Guthrie's dwelling house the day after the battle to make prisoners of us. They paroled Jenkins and Smith, but after examining my wound pronounced me dead, as in the opinion of their surgeon, I was bound to die that night, and I was then published in the newspapers as ‘killed in battle.’

To check the invading army, aid was solicited to assist the Confederate forces. Rev. Mr. Hickman, of the Presbyterian Church, was one of several who volunteered their services and went into this battle. He was badly shot, and died Monday night on the battlefield, the Yankees declaring he was a bushwhacker, and entitled to no attention after he was shot.

I shall ever feel grateful to my Confederate friends in Pulaski county for the kindness and attention given me during my long and critical illness from the dreadful wound I received May 9, 1864, at Cloyd's Mountain battle.

It is now nearly forty-five years since I was wounded and published as ‘killed in battle,’ and yet I am decidedly alive, having a wife, three children and six grandchildren living, and much interested in my daily work, though eighty-five years old.

I send you a photo of Lee on Traveler and my letter about same, written in August, 1888.

Yours sincerely,