Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 33.djvu/227

 The Twelfth Alabama Infantry. 223

ductor or engineer of the train, did not reach the field until the battle was over. For weeks and months after, near Fairfax, Va. , Lieutenant Keeling" and his brother officers employed themselves drilling, disciplining and training their command for the duties and realities of war, and the company was conceded to be the best equipped, the best instructed and the promptest and most intel- ligent in the regiment. Lieutenant Reeling's previous experience in the army proved of great advantage to his men, and his excel- lent advice and instruction was often afterwards found to be of great benefit. He was tall and commanding in figure, with a lofty brow and piercing eyes. These, together with talents, en- ergy and intense devotion to the success of the Confederate cause, promised a brilliant career as a soldier. In April, 1862, the I2th Alabama was reorganized, and Lieutenant Keeling was unani- mously elected captain of his company. During the trying York- town campaign, and in the arduous retreat to Richmond, before McClellan's advancing hosts, he cheered and inspired his men by his self-sacrificing example. On the night of the 3Oth of May the 1 2th Alabama was on outpost duty in the vicinity of Seven Pines. It had been raining incessantly during the day and increased in violence towards night. The writer of this shared with Captain Keeling his couch, consisting of blankets spread on rails, under a blanket stretched over us, for protection from the torrent of de- scending rain. Never shall I forget that night, nor the conversa- tion I held with my departed friend. He gave me a retrospect of his life, replete with many interesting incidents, and full of in- struction and wholesome advice. But I noticed that a certain degress of sadness marked his discourse, different from his usual genial and happy manner. He spoke of the certainty of a great and decisive battle between the opposing armies, and of the prob- ability of his being killed or severely wounded, and all my efforts to banish the impression from his mind were unavailing. This feeling was but the harbinger of the approaching end. In our comfortless situation it was impossible to sleep, and early the next morning we arose ready for the daily routine of duties.

About ten o'clock an officer from Gen. Rodes' headquarters brought orders to Col. Jones to have white badges placed upon the arms of his men that they might distinguish each other in battle, and to prepare for immediate action. With alacrity each man donned his badge, inspected his cartridges, and carefully loaded his