We were deployed 8 feet apart in order to extend our line as far as possible.

We were behind a rail fence with just enough distance from the road to lie down a full

length, rest our rifles on a low rail where good aim could be taken.

I suppose we were in position nearly an hour before the enemy's advance column appeared

in our front.

About 200 yards distant was another rail fence, a freshly-fallowed field lying between us.

We had strict orders not to fire until the enemy was in good rifle range.

Their force outnumbered our own so greatly that while we were holding them back in our front,

they had lapped around our right and left for some distance.

When at given a signal they made a desperate rush upon our line, though we popped our rifles

as rapidly as possible, it seemed evident that we would soon be overwhelmed.

When they were about 20 yards distant, I was shot in the left arm about 3 inches below

the elbow, the bullet passing between the two bones, then through the elbow joint and

lodged the muscle of the arm.

I do not know whether it was the excitement or what, but I felt no more pain at the time

than if a brush had hit me, but the blood trickling to my fingertips and the utter uselessness

of or inability to move the arm made me realize that it was broken, and before the enemy

reached the fence I pulled myself into the road.

At this moment Cobb's Georgians came to our relief and enabled all who could to escape,

where they halted the enemy at the fence from which we had only a few minutes before

been firing at them.

For fully ten minutes the bullets were hissing near my ears, and as soon as the enemy crossed

...