Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 33.djvu/210

 206 Southern Historical Society Papers.

First Lieutenants: John J. Dillard, Rufus H. Jones, P. D. Ross, John S. Dudley, killed.

Second Lieutenants: R. H. Jones, Abner Hammond, killed at Seven Pines; Daniel Butler, J. M. Hardcastle, died after the war of wounds received at Seven Pines; J. M. Fletcher.

Captain P. D. Ross and Lieutenant J. M. Fletcher of Company G, were both wounded, as I was, at the battle of Gettysburg, and with Captain Hewlett of Company H, and Lieutenant George W. Wright, of my company F, were occupants of the same tent near an old barn used as a field hospital, and during the night of the 3rd of July, 1863, I occupied a blanket near Lieutenant Fletcher, who had been shot through the body, and was suffering greatly, moaning and groaning during the night so that I was constantly inquiring whether I could do anything for his relief, and being told each time that nothing could be done. During the latter part of the night I slept, and upon waking the next day I found him lying by my side, cold in death. He was a quiet, modest, brave young officer.

This company had among its members a well known corporal named Henry Fowler. While we were in winter quarters, on one occasion he was detailed with two men from the Twelfth Alabama, as Brigade Headquarter Guard for General Rodes. General Rodes had had a twenty-five pound turkey given him and had invi- ted some of the brigadiers and colonels in his command to a dinner. It was a current story that this superb gobbler, done to a crisp, with dressing and gravy, but no doubt without cranberries and cel- ery, was on the table in a tent adjoining the General's sleeping quarters, and, while steaming hot, the cook invited the com- pany to the table. In some mysterious way, before they could walk the ten or fifteen feet necessary to reach the table, the mag- nificent bird was wafted out of sight and never more seen, at least by General Rodes, or any of his company. The General is reported to have become very angry with Corporal Fowler and his two brother guards, and expressed himself in very positive language, and during this talk he spoke of Fowler as belonging to the ' 'damned thieving Twelfth Alabama." This not very complimentary appel- lation abided with the Twelfth Alabama, from the" time of this inci- dent to the close of the war.

The Germans, French, Irish and Spaniards, and old sailors from Mobile, and the mountain boys from North Alabama, who com-