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| FORSYTH SEND LONE VETERAN TO LAST REUNION |
June 29, 1938- Twin City Sentinel
B.J. Sheppard, prominent local resident and one of the three surviving Forsyth
veterans of the War Between the States, is shown here dressed in Confederate
Gray. Sheppard, who also stayed at home this year, was a member of a famous
Richmond, Va., company -- too young to fight at Gettysburg but active in the latter
part of the war.
A Lone veteran from Winston-Salem marched into the Southern encampment at
Gettysburg, PA today -- sole Twin City survivor of the forces that moved into battle
on that spot 76 years ago with Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.
The other old soldiers sat quietly at home and though again of the stirring Civil War
days. They had been too young to take part in the Gettysburg conflict but fought
through the stubborn, starving battles of the latter part of the war.
veterans of the War Between the States, is shown here dressed in Confederate
Gray. Sheppard, who also stayed at home this year, was a member of a famous
Richmond, Va., company -- too young to fight at Gettysburg but active in the latter
part of the war.
A Lone veteran from Winston-Salem marched into the Southern encampment at
Gettysburg, PA today -- sole Twin City survivor of the forces that moved into battle
on that spot 76 years ago with Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.
The other old soldiers sat quietly at home and though again of the stirring Civil War
days. They had been too young to take part in the Gettysburg conflict but fought
through the stubborn, starving battles of the latter part of the war.
June 29, 1938 - Twin City Sentinel
ONLY THREE WEARERS OF GRAY LEFT IN FORSYTH
C.W. Hill, who was wounded in one of the battles before
Richmond, sat at home today and told of stirring Civil
War days. He didn't feel able to make the trip to the
Gettysburg reunion, but he's shown above on one of his
infrequent journeys to the Forsyth Courthouse. He
always makes the trip to receive his pension check in
person. Here, leaning on the arm of his son, L.C. Hill, he
takes the voucher from Deputy Clerk Paul Minnish.
ONLY THREE WEARERS OF GRAY LEFT IN FORSYTH
C.W. Hill, who was wounded in one of the battles before
Richmond, sat at home today and told of stirring Civil
War days. He didn't feel able to make the trip to the
Gettysburg reunion, but he's shown above on one of his
infrequent journeys to the Forsyth Courthouse. He
always makes the trip to receive his pension check in
person. Here, leaning on the arm of his son, L.C. Hill, he
takes the voucher from Deputy Clerk Paul Minnish.
David S. Reid, 91, accompanied by his wife, walked lightly across the ground where the Confederate
armies battled. There was a spring in his step, despite his age, and he was one of the first to arrive for
the nine-day commemorative ceremonies.
Eternal Light Planned
An "eternal light" atop the tall column of a peace monument will shine down on the once-bloody field
after President Roosevelt's dedication tomorrow- -a great nation's symbol of a unity, decided there
three-quarters of a century ago.
As the several thousand wearers of the Blue and the Gray began to straggle slowly into the tent-city for
their meeting in peace where once they met in bloody conflict, the two Twin City men who stayed at
home kept up with the 75th reunion ceremonies through press and radio. Both felt that there were not
quite able to make the trip.
"I believe I'm better off at home this year," said B.J. Sheppard, a prominent Winston-Salem man for
many years.
Sheppard was just a boy when he joined the Confederate army during the last year of the war. He was
a member of the famous "Liars" company, a group of Richmond, VA., lads who were given the title
because they nearly all lied about their ages to get into the fight.
His memory is fading today, but he still recalls wartime days. "No one could ever forget them," he said.
Hill Wounded
G.W. Hill, 91, sat in a rocking chair and favored a right ankle crippled by a musket ball at Fort
Steadman. He was 17 when he got into the army and he remembers vividly some of the fiercest battles.
He ran away from the company to join the one he wanted to march with, eluding an officer who called
him a "red-faced boy" and tried to place him in a guard job, and making his way toward North Carolina's
Company , then at Petersburg, he confided today.
Hill was proud of his shooting. He won a place with the sharpshooters and was with Ewell's division in
one of the battles before Richmond when he was wounded.
"We were fighting hard that day," said the white-haired veteran, drawing a vivid picture of the battle."
"The Yankees had the forts (Fort Steadman) and we were being sent up to the lines to shoot for about
six hours every night, then they'd give us a little rest."
"Then, on the morning of March 25, 1865-- it was Saturday morning-- we were in a steady charge for
two hours. We captured 16 cannon and about 500 prisoners. But General Grant came up then with
too many men for us to whip."
Tells of the Battle
"During one charge I'd run up a little ahead with another fellow and we hid behind a big pine and were
sniping from there,"
"It was a bad place--we knew it...balls flying all around...and we knew we were going to have to fall
back. I kept watching our flag behind us and I saw it come down and start moving back.."
"I grabbed the other soldier--- he'd crawled down into a hole, sort of---and we ran for the lines."
"We'd almost made it when a musket ball hit me in the andle. It went in big end first but it did stop me. I
got it dressed and later went to the hospital. Gangrene made a big hole here," he pointed to his heel,
"but I got over it."
Recalls Wounded
Hill was coming from the hospital when he saw the troop trains begin to move back from Richmond,
loaded with thousands of wounded Confederates, and everyone knew the South was just about done
for, he related.
Then he was lying with his comrades on a hillside one morning waiting to go into action. There was
shooting in the distance for about half an hour and then it all stopped. The word to charge didn't
come.
"A little later we heard that General Lee had surrendered," the old soldier continued, with tears in his
eyes. He left Appomatox on foot and walked most of the home to North Carolina on the lame ankle.
armies battled. There was a spring in his step, despite his age, and he was one of the first to arrive for
the nine-day commemorative ceremonies.
Eternal Light Planned
An "eternal light" atop the tall column of a peace monument will shine down on the once-bloody field
after President Roosevelt's dedication tomorrow- -a great nation's symbol of a unity, decided there
three-quarters of a century ago.
As the several thousand wearers of the Blue and the Gray began to straggle slowly into the tent-city for
their meeting in peace where once they met in bloody conflict, the two Twin City men who stayed at
home kept up with the 75th reunion ceremonies through press and radio. Both felt that there were not
quite able to make the trip.
"I believe I'm better off at home this year," said B.J. Sheppard, a prominent Winston-Salem man for
many years.
Sheppard was just a boy when he joined the Confederate army during the last year of the war. He was
a member of the famous "Liars" company, a group of Richmond, VA., lads who were given the title
because they nearly all lied about their ages to get into the fight.
His memory is fading today, but he still recalls wartime days. "No one could ever forget them," he said.
Hill Wounded
G.W. Hill, 91, sat in a rocking chair and favored a right ankle crippled by a musket ball at Fort
Steadman. He was 17 when he got into the army and he remembers vividly some of the fiercest battles.
He ran away from the company to join the one he wanted to march with, eluding an officer who called
him a "red-faced boy" and tried to place him in a guard job, and making his way toward North Carolina's
Company , then at Petersburg, he confided today.
Hill was proud of his shooting. He won a place with the sharpshooters and was with Ewell's division in
one of the battles before Richmond when he was wounded.
"We were fighting hard that day," said the white-haired veteran, drawing a vivid picture of the battle."
"The Yankees had the forts (Fort Steadman) and we were being sent up to the lines to shoot for about
six hours every night, then they'd give us a little rest."
"Then, on the morning of March 25, 1865-- it was Saturday morning-- we were in a steady charge for
two hours. We captured 16 cannon and about 500 prisoners. But General Grant came up then with
too many men for us to whip."
Tells of the Battle
"During one charge I'd run up a little ahead with another fellow and we hid behind a big pine and were
sniping from there,"
"It was a bad place--we knew it...balls flying all around...and we knew we were going to have to fall
back. I kept watching our flag behind us and I saw it come down and start moving back.."
"I grabbed the other soldier--- he'd crawled down into a hole, sort of---and we ran for the lines."
"We'd almost made it when a musket ball hit me in the andle. It went in big end first but it did stop me. I
got it dressed and later went to the hospital. Gangrene made a big hole here," he pointed to his heel,
"but I got over it."
Recalls Wounded
Hill was coming from the hospital when he saw the troop trains begin to move back from Richmond,
loaded with thousands of wounded Confederates, and everyone knew the South was just about done
for, he related.
Then he was lying with his comrades on a hillside one morning waiting to go into action. There was
shooting in the distance for about half an hour and then it all stopped. The word to charge didn't
come.
"A little later we heard that General Lee had surrendered," the old soldier continued, with tears in his
eyes. He left Appomatox on foot and walked most of the home to North Carolina on the lame ankle.
David S. Reid, sole
Winston-Salem survivor
of the Battle of
Gettysburg, returned
alone today to the field
where he marched with
the Army of Northern
Virginia 75 years ago.
Winston-Salem survivor
of the Battle of
Gettysburg, returned
alone today to the field
where he marched with
the Army of Northern
Virginia 75 years ago.