The Elberton Star, April 13, 1889; Elberton, GA
ELBERT'S HEROES.
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History of Co. H. 38th Ga. Reg.,
Gordon's Brigade.
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BY JEP E. CAMPBELL.
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Third Sargeant John H. Bowers was
a good soldier, always doing his duty.
John was in every battle that the company engaged in from the time he
enlisted until he was wounded. The first
wound he received was on charging the enemy's line the 13th day of December,
1862, at Fredricksburg, Va., near Hamilton's
Crossing, where he received a very painful wound in the right leg below the
knee, fracturing the shin bone. After he
was able to come back to the command, he again resumed his duties and was with
the boys all the time until he was again wounded on the 6th day of May, 1863,
in the great Wilderness fight, with a spent ball on top of his head. In a few days he was again with the command,
and was wounded the third time the 12th day of May, 1863, in charging the enemy
at Horse Shoe Bend, at Spottsylvania C. H.,
Va. This wound he
received in the forehead, the same ball wounding A. Y. Gully through the neck
and passing through F. M. Hendrick's whiskers. In a few weeks he was again with the boys as
usual. In the next summer's campaign,
while in Maryland, he was wounded the fourth time near the city of Washington
the 9th day of July, '64. After he
recovered he again came back to the company and still stuck to the boys. He was with us in the hard march and suffered
all the trials and privation we had to undergo while going to Petersburg, Va.,
in the winter of '64, where we remained in camp at Hatcher's Run until the 13th
day of March, '65. Then we were put in
close contact with the enemy's breastworks and remained there until the first
of April, when we evacuated Petersburg, and retreating to Appomattox C. H.,
where we surrendered. John was with the
little handful of our company that was there on that sad and memorable day that
will never be forgotten by the few who were there. John is still living. He resided near Bowman, and was considered
one of Elbert's best citizens for several years. He removed from there to Hart county, near
West Bowersville, where he is engaged in farming and
is doing well.
