"To let go, so helpless, would be to go down with the current. All of a sudden the army having exhausted their supply of ammunition, were ordered back in great haste; he heard the troops coming, saw some of the comrades cross the creek above him and some just below him, expecting every moment in their haste and excitement by their jumping into the water he would be struck by the retreating forces. As he heard the continuous firing and connonading, and shouting from the oncoming rebels, he begged and pleaded with all his strength to the retreating comrades to take him to the rear, though he died in the attempt on the way, to take his body, and not allow him to fall into the hands of the rebels; many replied if they stopped to take him they would e captured or lose their own lives. Finally as the rear column was swiftly passing an officer moving close to him, hearing his pitiful cries, then recognized Sergeant Jones; quickly he commanded a squad of soldiers crossing the creek to assist him in taking the wounded soldier along; appealing more earnestly, he induced four comrades to turn and assist, jumping back into the stream up to their waists, they drew a rubber blanket under the wounded soldier; after lifting him out of the water, with one hold of each corner, the four men started on a double quick with the retreating forces, carrying their precious charge in the gun blanket. The oncoming revels kept up a constant firing and yelling as they advanced nearer to them; they had gone perhaps a quarter of a mile through the woods, underbrush and over logs, when a minnie ball struck the wounded soldier's back, inflicting a painful wound, and ripping the gun blanket, causing him to fall through upon the frozen ground. There were frantic appeals from the three times wounded soldier, to be carried along and escapt capture, but it seemed impossible; they had no way to carry him." The author has some of the longest run-on sentences that I have ever typed. To be continued............Connie