HLRGazette Archives

AS TIME GOES BY
Wood County History
By LOU MALLORY - Chairman Wood County Historical Commission
Note: Several years of history cols. archived on hlrgazette.com and this site offers a search feature that accesses over 200 of these cols. going back to the 2005 issues.

(Ed. Note: The following is an autobiographical article by J.R. Sonendriker of Golden, Wood County, Texas. It is undated but appears to have been penned in the late 19th century or very early in the 20th century. His words have been very slightly edited for reasons of clarity.)
A Shiloh Survivor By J.R. Sonendriker
I am an old Confederate veteran. I was born at Columbia, South Carolina, June 18th, 1843. At the age of 13 years, I entered the composing room of the Daily South Carolina Times as a printer's devil, and served an apprenticeship of 18 months.
At that time, my father decided to emigrate to Arkansas. We remained in Arkansas until the commencement of the Civil War. In May of 1861, I enlisted in Company I, Ninth Arkansas Regiment, which was organized at Pine Bluff. We remained there until we were armed and equipped.
From Pine Bluff we were transferred to Memphis, Tennessee, then to Columbus, Kentucky, then to Bowling Green and finally, to an outpost. We remained there until spring, when we began our march to the battlefield of Shiloh.
On April 5th, 1862, we arrived near the battlefield. On the morning to April 6th, just at the dawn of day, General Albert Sidney Johnston drove the enemy's advance back onto the main line, following them up rapidly. By sunrise, the battle was in full swing.
We, the reserve corps, arrived on the battlefield about one hour after sunrise. Or division took its position to the right of the line of battle. We were occupied in moving, first to the left, then to the right, as the battle line surged forward or backward, while the battle raged with intense fury.
Some time after 12 o'clock (I don't know the exact time, as I was too busily engaged in watching the progress of the battle) we, the Ninth and Tenth Arkansas Regiments, Bowen's Brigade under the command of Bowen, were ordered into the line of battle.
Moving rapidly forward, we took our place in the line. We were ordered to fire at will. After firing a few rounds, General Johnston rode up to our General and inquired, "What command?" Being informed, he replied, "That's right, General. Order your men to cease firing. I want them to charge the enemy."
The command was given to cease firing and line up. When lined up, he rode around in front of the regiments, turned to face us and said, "Boys, I want you to charge the enemy. Will you charge them if I lead you?"
He was answered with a unanimous rebel yell. He turned his horse's head to face the enemy and cried, "Forward, boys, forward, double quick!" With one wild yell, we dashed forward, and when we were within a few paces of the enemy, they fled.
The command came again. "Forward, buys!" We moved rapidly forward and were met by General Grant's reserve line, which poured a deadly volley into us.
The command came again. "Forward, boys, forward!" With another yell, we dashed forward. When we neared their line, they fled, taking shelter under the bank of the river.
About this time, I was wounded and General Grant's lines were routed and demoralized.
With General Johnston lying dead on the battlefield, with victory perched upon his banner, but with no one to take his place, the victory was lost.
I make this statement in honor of General Johnston and the Ninth and Tenth Arkansas Regiments, as I have never seem any statement as to the troops who served him in that famous charge.
Now let me pay my last tribute to the name of General Johnson, the bravest of the brave, the most unselfish and patriotic hero of the lost cause! We were in the army until the close of the war. We were transferred from place to place, taking part in many battles. We performed military service in every state south of the Mason and Dixon Line, except Virginia and Texas. We participated in the last battle fought by General Joseph E. Johnston at Bentonville, North Carolina. I will say that, though defeated, ragged, worn and hungry, we entered that battle with the same spirit of patriotism and ash as we displayed at Shiloh.
After returning home, without any resources, we began life again under the hardship of reconstruction - bitter day, surely.
In January, 1871, I moved to Texas. In 1873, I was united with T.C. Farris in marriage. My wife is a native-born Texan. We have resided here until the present time and have reared four children - two girls and two boys.