Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 36.djvu/265

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The "Red Badge" Explained.
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ing to the men to rally. Some were falling on all sides of him and his horse was shot through the neck. I was standing near the head of the horse, with Lieutenant Frank C. Barnes, now of Charlotte county, on my right. This reminded me of pictures I had seen about battles in books when a boy. But Huger's Division came to our relief, over-lapping and capturing the whole force along with General McCall. General Pickett was not there, as he was wounded a few days before at Game's Mill.

I will never forget the looks of a tall, whiskered North Carolinian as he passed near me, with his musket pointing to the front, saying, "They got you boys; but get out of the way and we will give them hell."

Some years ago I published this incident, and received a letter from Captain Symington, now of Baltimore, who said that he distinctly remembered it; but Capt. Charles Pickett performed equally as meritorious service on that occasion. If any men deserved a badge or medal for extraordinary bravery in the face and under the fire of the enemy it was Captain Symington.

Thos. D. Jeffreys.

Captain Fifty-sixth Va.

Chase City, Va., May 14, 1906.