It was in the gathering shadows of the summer evening that the "Picayune's" representative sought General Bulger again and asked him to tell the reminiscences of his life and especially his reminiscences of the historic Confederacy. "Of my life," said the old general, "it matters little as such, but of the Confederacy," and here his eyes lit up with the glow and spirit of the southern Patriotism which time nor defeat can ever quench, "it matters much. For it seems to me that we of those memorable days should leave no stone un-turned to bequeath to our children the true story of those days and those principles which, though shadowed by defeat in war, are not dead but must live as the very basis and safeguard of our people. Therefore, the reminiscences all who fought in that struggle are worthier to preserve than for each recurring story told in its own way what our people of the south suffered in defense of a truth as eternal as the everlasting stars. As I stated before, I was born in the city of Columbia, S. C., February 13, 1806. There has been so much discussion about my age that I am glad of the opportunity to settle that question permanently.                                                                             Page 2

My father was Pierce Bulger, who was the son of that gallant Irishman, Michael Bulger, who accompanied the Baron De Kalb when he came to the United States to aid the army of the revolution in securing independence for the American colonies. He remained a member of De Kalb's military family until he was left seriously wounded by the side of his noble chieftain on the bloody field of Camden. My mother was Ann R. Adams, the daughter of John Carroll Adams, who was a captain in Major Washington's cavalry. He was severely wounded and his horse killed under him. At the battle of Cowpens, Captain Adams survived his terrible wound, but was a cripple all his life. He died in his 93rd. year at Richland district, South Carolina. My father died in his early manhood and I was left, without protection or assistance, to grow up an orphan in the midst of vicissitudes and sorrows. I managed to work myself through school at Menersville, an institution of high character, located south of Columbia. Many of the most prominent men of South Carolina and Alabama later received their education at this institution. Completing my education I fell in with a migrating family and came to Montgomery, Alabama, arriving there on July 4, 1823.

So much for pedigree. I soon found friends and employment in Montgomery. Sometimes I worked in a shop, sometimes at the desk, and sometimes at a law office. I earned and saved money until the winter of '27-28'. While on a trip to East Tennessee, I met and married Miss Pamela T. Donald, daughter of a Presbyterian minister, philanthropist and educator of note, who participated conspicuously in the founding of a Presbyterian college at Maryville, Tenn. After marriage I came back to Montgomery and bought a beautiful tract of land near Wetumpka, Alabama. I settled down to work earnestly to build up an ideal home on a scientific plan. My methods attracted much attention, and my efforts more than quadrupled the valued of my lands. In the meantime the treaty with the Creek Indians was concluded. By this treaty the land and the territory was divided among the Indian inhabitants subject to sale by them upon certain conditions. The advanced value of my home and the wide field for speculation thus opened, induced me to chance my residence and open traffic with the Creek nation.                                                                 Page 3

I opened a large establishment for the supply of Indian goods to the Indians at a place I named Nixburgh where the village of that name now stands. In 1836, the reservations were exhausted, the Indians removed and mercantile business destroyed. I closed out my entire business with a handsome profit, invested largely in slaves and stocks and farming implements, and moved to Tallapoosa county, settling on an Indian reservation which I had purchased. Here, I commenced a remarkable succession of farming operations. At an early day I was elected major of a regiment in Montgomery county. I held this office and exercised it until I moved to Coosa County in 1834. When the military was organized in the Indian territory, I was elected colonel. I vacated this office and moved to Tallapoosa in 183?. I was soon after elected brigadier general and held this office until the secession movement, when it was abolished. I was a member of the Alabama legislature which assembled in 1851, 1852, and 1853.

The reports which I made from the committee on military in response to a resolution to examine into the military law in Alabama, attracted much attention. The committee reported what enactments, amendments, and repeals were necessary to make the military laws efficient. This report was adopted and called the military code of Alabama, and all other laws were repealed. The new law required the governor to review the militia once in two years. This inspired new life in the military system. From 1841 to 1853 a fierce contest existed between the Democratic party and the Whigs. The Whig party had put up a newspaper establishment in Alabama which it called the "Times.'' The Democratic party at once organized a joint stock company and started a paper, which was called the "Dadeville Banner," and opened a spirited warfare. About this time the "Know-Nothing" organization swooped down from the North-west like a tornado and almost extinguished party [times, lines?]. The party threatened to exterminate the "Banner" office. I was president of the joint stock company. I at once saw the necessity of going to the helm. I employed an overseer for my lands, bought a house in town and assumed control of the stock.                                                                              Page 4

The paper at once opened a vigorous warfare upon "Know-Nothingism," and in 1853,when the Democratic convention met to nominate candidates for the legislature, I was tendered the unanimous nomination for the legislature. I promptly declined. The convention was not satisfied and sent the committee again inviting me before the body to give reasons why I could not accept. I went and told the convention that I was not influenced by fear of defeat, but by a sense of duty. My whole time was absorbed by the work of my office. The convention asked me to suggest someone and I named my son-in-law, Dr. Shackleford, who was a good stump speaker, immensely popular, and a name that would undoubtedly secure the election of the ticket. The ticket was elected by a large majority and the "Banner" waved triumphly. The "Banner" accepted the views of Mr. Douglas upon the slavery question. I went as a delegate to the national convention which met at Charleston and I was an elector on the Douglas ticket for the presidential election. When the question of secession or pursuance of the law was submitted to the people, it was suggested that we hold a mass meeting in our county. When the meeting assembled, the greatest excitement prevailed, and highly inflammatory speeches were made.

In the meantime I had sent and obtained permission to use the Methodist church for the maintenance of order. I got the church key. A schuffle ensued but, at length, I was recognized and appealed to the excited crowd to act discreetly, and like free men, permit the question to be decided." Continuing, General Bulger said that he invited all who opposed secession for existing cause to accompany him to the Methodist church, where it was proper to nominate a ticket for the county in the state convention. A large majority of the crowd repaired to the church and harmoniously nominated a ticket which was overwhelmingly elected. When the state convention met, although the discussion was protracted, it was soon apparent that the adoption of the secession resolution would be a foregone conclusion. When the question was asked, "Is the convention ready for the, question?" a decided "No" was heard. After a dead pause Mr. Bulger rose and said, " Mr. President." Mr. Yancy jumped up and said, pertently, "Mr. President, permit the gentleman from Tallapoosa to proceed very briefly."                                                                              Page 5

Mr. Bulger turned and looked at Yancy and answered, "Mr. President, if I have to address the gentlemen of this assembly by the grace of the member from Montgomery, I beg to decline." General Brooker rapped his gavel and said, "The gentleman from Tallapoosa has the floor and is entitled to it, and will proceed uninterrupted. Gentlemen will please take their seats." Mr. Bulger proceeded and said, "When I have recorded my vote, and protested against the passage of this ordinance, I will have conscientiously discharged my duty to those who sent me here, to my country and to my God. And when you have seceded this state, and war comes, as it will come, the issue will be changed. And although I have advanced beyond the age of an ordinary solder, I will be found in the front ranks of those who will go out to defend the rights of my section and the sovereignty of my state. Then, sir, if I see some of the valiant members of who are going to whip the Yankees ten to one, and drink all the blood that will be spilled, I'11 have to look behind me."

The storm of war rose, and the southern troops hastened to be mustered in. General Short invited General Bulger to accompany him and assist in the organization of cavalry and other companies. General Bulger did this, devoting most of his time in 1861 to recruiting the army. When the very edge had worn off and recruiting became a drag, Mr. Bulger decided to raise a company, which required but a short time. As soon as his company was full, he started for Loachapoka, staked off a camp, and called on General Shorter, who authorized him to raise a regiment. He returned to camp and spread tents for the dreary winter of 1861. While he was thus occupied, he was joined by his son, the late colonel, William D. Bulger, who was then a youth of 17. A student of Maryville college; He resigned to join his father's company as a simple private. General Bulger mounted his horse and canvassed far and wide, and brought to the camp one company from Cherokee country under Captain Campbell, one from Randolph county under Captain McKee, three companies from Chambers county under Captains Jackson, Menefee and McIntosh respectively.                                                                              Page 6

Russell and Johnston joined the camp and injected politics in it, organizing a ring, in which the old Whigs and Know-nothings joined, and so manipulated as to defeat General Bulger for the command of the regiment. They said, "Just defeat him, and his patriotism will ooze out at the ends of his fingers; he will retire and that will break him down politically, and we will be clear of him." When the election came, General Bulger mounted the stand and requested his friends not to vote for him. His boys flocked around him and said, "Well, general, they have wronged you out of command of the regiment. What's your programme?" "I am a true southerner," answered General Bulger, "and I am going to the front to fight for my state and section, and I am going with this command to protect those boys who have been placed in my care in this camp, by their parents." And he went. The regiment was ordered to report to General Wynder at Richmond, and in doing so was sent to Camp Wynder for instructions. It remained there without arms until June 26, when it was ordered to Salem. It arrived there on the second day after the battle had subsided.

The men were bivouacked on the slopes and had to build fires to smoke the flies out of their faces. In sight of the enemy, without a gun, while sitting there musing, General Bulger was approached by his friend and messmate, Joseph B. McDonald, who was accompanied by a fine-looking gentleman whom he introduced as Governor Letcher of Virginia. Governor Letcher grasped General Bulger by the hand and went on to say that he heard of his arrival, and immediately went out to inquire for him. He said that he had entertained a great desire to meet the general, for Bulger had published in 1855-56 an anti-Know-Nothing newspaper called the "Dadeville Banner." Governor Wise and himself had been subscribers for this paper, and Governor Letcher said that Governor Wise had used the "Banner" for his textbook in his great war against the "Know-Nothings." After a few complimentary remarks, Governor Letcher proceeded, "Now, Captain, is there anything I can do to promote your interests or desires?" General Bulger replied "Perhaps there is. You see, sir, our condition. We are not conscripts, but volunteers who entered the service with the expectation of participating in the conflict which is going on.                                                                                      Page 7

And here we are in sight of the enemy without a gun. If you can render any assistance in getting arms, it will be a highly appreciated favor." The governor replied, "I have a quantity of arms picked up the other day on the battle field, but they are thirty-five miles off, and I have no transportation. But I'11 tell you what to do. Come to me this evening at a certain house which is the head-quarters of General Ely, General Jackson and myself. I will see if General Jackson can furnish transportation and I'll supply the arms. I know that Stonewall Jackson will give transportation if he can." At the appointed time General Bulger repaired with Mr. McDonald to the designated house and were met at the gate by Governor Letcher and conducted into the spacious hall. Governor Letcher remarked, "Gentlemen, you had better see General Ely first," and he conducted them to General Ely's presence. The latter, after the interchange of civilities, invited them to an elaborately supplied sideboard.

After partaking and listening to the interesting remarks of General Ely, who was a very jolly Marylander Governor Letcher remarked, "Captain, our business is with General Jackson." In order to see him, we will have to go to another apartment. He doesn't come here," nodding at the sideboard. When the gentlemen had entered General Jackson's apartment, where Governor Letcher proceeded to tell General Jackson his business, and what General Bulger had said. The supper bell rang. "We'll take supper first," said General Jackson, "and then I"11 see what can be done." He invited General Bulger and Mr. McDonald in to supper and when the repast was over, the party returned to General Jackson's room and the latter said, "Well, Captain, if Governor Letcher can furnish those arms, you shall have them by 10:30 tomorrow." Thus began a friendship which lasted as long as these two distinguished men lived. The next day exactly at the appointed hour, a sergeant approached the smoke where General Bulger sat and said he had brought the arms and had been directed by General Jackson to report to him.                                                                         Page 8

There being no officer of higher rank present, General Bulger received the arms and proceeded to sort and distribute them. Soon after this General Bulger was detached with three companies to establish head-quarters at the McGee house in the rear of the raging armies. He was ordered to collect the property, bury the dead, care for the wounded, and he remained to perform this sad duty until the final conclusion at Malvern Hill. He then joined the regiment at Cold Harbor and remained there until August 1862, when the regiment was marched off at the head of Wynder's brigade and Jackson's division. On the evening of the second day they came in contact with the advance of General Pope's army, and a battle was eminent. While waiting for the command to come up, Lieutenant-Colonel Jackson notified General Bulger, who had command of Company A, that the colonel had resigned and that the command had devolved upon him (Jackson). He desired General Bulger to assume the second place in rank and assist him in forming the line of battle.

He ordered the line to form by the rear rank left in front, As soon as the first company had emerged from a grove where they had been lying, the Federals opened a lively fire upon them and the line of battle had to be formed under the heavy fire of the Federals. When the line was completed, the firing was terrible all along the line. General Bulger went back to his company, the left of which rested upon a deep cut in the road where a considerable divergence occurred in the line of battle. While watching the fight, a Federal officer stepped from behind a large oak in the rear and deliberately shot at General Bulger, the ball brushing the abdomen, and striking the sword arm, inflicting a fearful wound. General Bulger called the attention of his men to the Federal who shot him, and he was instantly killed. This incident attracted attention to the fact that Roberson's brigade and the Irish Battalion would come in contact with the Federals south of the road who had fallen back, leaving a portion of the Yankee army engaged. At once by a frank movement, they moved rapidly through a thick undergrowth which completely concealed                                                                         Page 9

them with a view of passing over the space evacuated by the Confederates and intended to fall upon them in the rear. No higher officer being present, General Bulger, after having his arm securely bound, ordered three companies to file left and form on a fence that rested in a cut in the road. He pointed out the situation that the enemy was approaching with a view of the Confederates. "They can't fire upon you till they come from the thicket." Said General Bulger to the companies, "If you will be deliberate and never waste a cartridge, you can kill a thousand of them." And he moved them up to the left to occupy the ground occupied by the detached companies. Then he told them to hold that position at any sacrifice till ordered away. With this, he started to the other end of the regiment. Here he came in contact with Stonewall Jackson who said to him, "Captain, who's in command of this regiment?" General Bulger answered, "I suppose I am, sir. I found myself the senior officer in the field, and assumed the responsibility," and General Jackson said, "By whose order was that line changed?" " By mine, sir," answered General Bulger without hesitation, and he called his attention to that which he had not discovered.

General Jackson's eyes flashed at General Bulger's wounded arm and said, "Can you hold that position?" and General Bulger replied, "I will hold it while my men last." General Jackson turned to a courier and said something in a low voice. The courier put spurs to his horse and dashed off. A few minutes later the Fourteenth Georgia came upon the scene in a run. General Bulger ran across to the end of his regiment, where he received a wound which severed the inside artery of the right leg. He called for the assistance of a soldier, who placed cob webs upon it and bound the wound with his suspenders. While this was going on, General Bulger was resting on his sword in his left hand and discovered a troop of cavalry preparing to charge the Confederates. He at once called the attention of his command, and when they were ready for the charge, to cease firing until ordered to do so. When the cavalry had approached within [7,000?] yards, General Bulger gave the order to fire, and fell fainting into the arms of his son. Then every man selecting an object , at the word "Fire!" the cavalry was routed pell mell and didn't reorganize or rally during the fight.                                                                         Page 10

General Prince, charging on horse, ran right into the Confederate lines and was seized by a soldier and turned over a captive. The casualties that day on the ground among the Forty-seventh Alabama were Brigadier General Wund, who commanded the brigade and who was killed; General Tolover, who succeeded him, wounded and taken from the field; Captain Menefee killed; and Captains Bulger and McIntosh severely wounded and left on the field. Among the privates killed and missing on the Confederate side there were 114. General Bulger was borne to the rear and laid down in a helpless condition, where he lay until he was picked up by a family of noble-hearted Virginians -- Tinsley by name. He was carried to the residence, which was inside the Yankee lines and was cared for with the most scrupulous attention until the next day when the Confederate army fell back, and a carriage was prepared to remove General Bulger and three others and sent to the door of the residence. When General Bulger was raised, he fainted, and when he came to, he advised the others to drive off and leave him to his fate.

That day the Tinsley family was visited by Dr. Lewis from Alabama and the brigade surgeon of General Roberson's First Virginia Brigade. When they were informed of General Bulger's condition, they returned to headquarters and reported. He returned to Mr. Tinsley's and reported that General Roberson had sent a courier for his ambulance which he had left at Orange court house, and that Dr. Lewis would return with contrivance to move him without raising him up. Soon after, he returned with a cot--so arranged that the patient could be moved from his bed without being raised, and General Bulger was sent to Orange courthouse where General Jackson's command was then assembling. At the hospital at this place, the surgeon, Dr. Livvy, refused to dress General Bulger's arm because he would not have it cut off. In this condition , by the intervention of kind friends, General Bulger was enabled to procure a room in a boarding house and a private car to convey him to Charlottesville, where he secured the aid of Dr. Davis, professor of surgery in the University of Virginia. Dr. Davis resected the arm and removed the ulna and then turned his patient over to Dr. Quails, a private physician.                                                                         Page 11

He lay prostrate in Charlottesville for six weeks. As soon as he was able to sit up, he went home completely exhausted from his journey. While he was there, an election was held for state senator from his district and he was returned and served from 1862 to 1863. As soon as the session of legislature adjourned, he returned to Richmond and reported for duty. His wounds had healed sufficiently for him to rejoin his regiment. He overtook the latter at Winchester and received the commission of lieutenant colonel from Stonewall Jackson. As the colonel was not present, he assumed command of the regiment and followed Jackson in all his campaigns, until the dauntless hero was mortally wounded in May 1863, at Chancellorsville. Shortly after, the regiment was transferred from Wyner's brigade to an Alabama brigade, commanded by General Law. A little after General Lee began his aggressive movement against the northern states, and the brigade division was ordered to take a direct route to Chambersburg, Pa., where it rested and waited for the first day of July, when it was ordered to Gettysburg.

The division with Law's brigade at its head arrived the next day and took a position from which the heights of Gettysburg Seminary Ridge and Little Round Top were only obscured by a ridge lying west and running parallel with Seminary Ridge. division had marched fourteen miles, only resting between three and four in the evening, when the men received orders to advance and form in line of battle. When they halted, the Federals commenced throwing shells and shrapnel over the ridge that intervened, but to no purpose. When the order came to advance, General Jackson rose and commanded, "Trail arms and quick march," which was promptly obeyed. They advanced down a declivity in the open field. The Federals lowered their guns and threw some missiles among the men, killing two or three, and produced some confusion. General Bulger, from his position upon the right, seeing the colonel, ran down, halted, and closed the regiment, and in a run obtained a position upon the intervening ravine, where he was completely protected by dense forests and uprising boulders.                                                                         Page 12

Here he was overtaken by Lee Terril, one of Law's staff, who told him to take charge of the regiment and conduct it in the battle. General Bulger proceeded with his organization, called the officers to the front and explained to them the situation; that the left would be exactly parallel with General Sickle's right -- that Sickle had advanced his right to the verge of the plateau, which extended to Little Round Top. There was a void of some 500 or 600 yards in the Federal lines and they had placed a battery to protect the rear. "Now, when we drive them, as we will, when we come to them, "said General Bulger, " our safety demands that we press them between us and the battery, and when we get in reach of the battery, we must neglect the running Yankees and turn our attention to the battery to unhorse, disable and capture it." The order to advance and form the line of battle was obeyed with remarkable faithfulness, and here no incident occurred which is well worth relating.

When General Bulger had issued his instructions to his officers, his color bearer sergeant advanced and pushing the color staff at him said, "Colonel , get some one else to carry these colors." "Why?" said General Bulger. "I can't carry them," replied the sergeant. The general replied, "Why, Ben, that will ruin your prospects." The sergeant was aspirant. General Bulger took the colors and said, "Boys, who will carry these colors?" Jeff Smith, who now resides at Collins, Alabama, stepped forward and said, "I'11 carry them, Colonel." General Bulger answered, "Where will you carry them, Jeff?" And the man replied, "Wherever you tell me." And he took the colors and never varied from a straight line, only when necessary, and at length hoisted them upon the captured battery. Colonel Thomas Christian of General Law's staff rode up and said, "Colonel Bulger, charge that line." The colonel replied, "Tell General Law that I am charging to the best of my ability. For God's sake put in the Fifteenth upon my right, and my life for it, we'll drive them when we come to them." Colonel Christian turned to ride off when his horse was shot down from under him and the colonel himself, only by a miracle, escaped with his life.                                                                         Page 13

When the Confederates emerged from the boulders that thickly dotted the declivity, they engaged in a hand to hand conflict with the Federals. General Bulger jumped upon a rock, waved his sword, and cheered the boys on to the charge. While his sword was waving in his left hand, he was struck by a ball which entered his left breast, passed directly through his lungs and lodged under the muscle of the left shoulder, where it remains to this day. Feeling himself wounded, General Bulger steadied himself, stepped back a few paces and eased himself down by a tree that jutted out from the crevices of the rock. He was protected from missiles in front and he sat there with the blood gushing from his mouth and nostrils. The battery had been taken and no other officer of experience being present, the seven companies of the regiment that had made the charge gathered around the gun, consulting what should be done. In the meantime an officer emerged from General Hancock's with a detachment towards the companies with the intention of capturing them. This movement was discovered by General Law's military eye and the men were ordered to fall back. They did this sullenly, but escaped capture.

When they came to where General Bulger was sitting, though bleeding profusely, he rallied them and a furious conflict ensued. Here two incidents occurred that deserve a place in history. While the fighting was going on around the general, he determined to ask the first man who passed him and whose canteen looked like it had water in it for a drink of water. Presently a Federal soldier approached him and as he came up General Bulger said, "My good fellow, I am wounded and choking to death with blood; will you please give me a mouthful of water?" Without the slightest hesitation, the soldier threw his hand to his canteen strap and taking it off, threw it into the general's lap saying, "I have no water but here's whiskey which is a great deal better for you. Drink it," and before he had gone five steps more, he got down behind a rock and began shooting at the Confederates.                                                                         Page 14

The other incident which General Bulger seems to take pleasure in relating is this: After the fighting had subsided, and the Federals and Confederates were moving promiscuously about among the dead and wounded, as the general had taken off his sword and pistol and laid them in his lap but still holding on to them, a Federal soldier walked up to him, took off the general's hat and put it on his own head and ordered him to hand up his pistol and sword. Almost fainting from the loss of blood, the general replied, "My good fellow, is it possible that you are a Federal soldier in the army of the United States, and yet you do not know that a private is not authorized to disarm an officer he captures?"

"Well, what shall I do with you?" asked the soldier. "Your discipline tells you," said General Bulger, "that you shall take him to an officer as near his rank as may be." "But, sir," continued the man, "you are not able to be taken." "Under such circumstances it seems proper that you should report to an officer and let him come and receive an officer's arms." The fellow stepped off in great glee, and General Bulger tried to make his way to the Confederate ranks. But he could not move. Presently, the soldier returned with a gentleman whom he introduced to General Bulger as Lieutenant Rice, commander of the Forty-fourth New York. After a few bland remarks, Colonel Rice expressed the hope that General Bulger's wound would not be fatal and continuing, Colonel Rice said, "Colonel, my duty requires me to ask you, for your arms." General Bulger cheerfully handed them up saying, "That's a very fine sword captured a short time ago from the lieutenant colonel of the Twenty-second Maine and presented to me day before yesterday. I have had it on a short loan." Colonel Rice told the soldier with him to run up to the line and bring him a litter.                                                                         Page 15

The man soon returned and told Colonel Rice that all Litters had gone to Little Round Top. The colonel then told him to go and bring a strong blanket and three more men. When those arrived, Colonel Rice took the blanket and spread it on the ground and had the men carefully lift General Bulger and place him upon it. Then he directed each of the men to take hold of a corner and follow him. General Bulger was carried to the rear of the Federal line, where he was laid with their wounded. A heavy cloud was rising and Colonel Rice sent to a barn nearby and had a quantity of hay brought, and with his own hands, put it in a comfortable shape. He spread a blanket upon it, and had General Bulger carefully laid upon it. Then he took his own blanket and spread it over him. He then made the soldiers construct a shelter of fly tents saying, "Now, Colonel, I'11 see if I can get you surgical aid." Colonel Rice left and returned in a few minutes with some capsules, saying, "This is all that I can do for you just now." He expressed a hope that General Bulger would rest and left him.

Early next morning Colonel Rice called on General Bulger accompanied by a gentleman whom he introduced as Dr. Clark of New York who, he said, would carry him to a hospital and do all that was possible for his wounds. It was the kindness of these two gentlemen that General Bulger says he is indebted for thirty-odd years of life. General Bulger said that he was sent to West Building Baltimore. As soon as he was in condition to be moved, he was sent to Johnson's Island where he found thirty odd hundred Confederate prisoners. He passed here the dreary winter of 1863-64 and the next spring, when an exchange of prisoners was agreed upon, he and quite a number of Confederates were ordered to City Point for the exchange. When the boat conveying them was ascending the James River and nearing its destination, the boat was stopped in the middle of the stream and the prisoners were startled by the information that the boat had been ordered to return to Fortress Monroe with its cargo. Fitzhugh Lee, who was among the prisoners, called council of the prisoners and organized a plan to prevent the return.                                                                         Page 16

He boldly went to the officer in command and told him that the prisoners should be disembarked at the designated point. The Federal officer in command requested a delay to give an opportunity to confer with Butler. This was granted by General Lee upon the condition that if any steps were taken to force the return of the boat, General Lee should be notified at once. After several hours' delay, General Lee was notified and the boat proceeded to disembark the prisoners. They were exchanged and went to Richmond where General Bulger learned that his regiment was at Hanover Junction, not far from Richmond, opposing the Federal advance on Richmond. He rode out to visit his men, and while at the front, received his commission as colonel of the regiment at the instance of General Law, who was glad to welcome back the man who had done so much to sustain the regiment's reputation. General Bulger assumed command and remained [all?] after the conference of Mr. Stephens and President Lincoln. When hostilities were renewed, the skirmishing continued for days. This continued exercise irritated General Bulger's wound so much that it alarmed him and he rode to Richmond and consulted the surgeon general of the army.

Upon examining the wound, the surgeon general told him that it would be suicide for him to attempt to remain in the army; that the preservation of his life demanded an immediate surgical operation for a pus sack had formed connecting the chest with the wounded lung, and if this were not removed, it would kill him. The surgeon general insisted that General Bulger should remain with him till he could write General Lee acquainting him with the facts. As Colonel Bulger had a brother-in-law, Dr. Nathan Bozeman, who was a distinguished surgeon, the doctor advised him to go to Montgomery and have the operation performed near his own home. General Bulger had to wait a short time till a courier returned with an order from the secretary of war granting him a leave of absence. At will General Bulger took the order and walked down to the department where he met General John Withers, assistant secretary of war, and one of his warm friends. He handed General Withers the order, and looking at it the latter said, "Colonel, this will be disappointing to your friends.                                                                         Page 17

The secretary is now considering your appointment as brigadier general." General Bulger replied, "I was not aware of any application for my promotion. Are you sure about it, General?" General Withers walked to the rear of the room and returning, threw a paper down, saying, "There is your commission, Bulger." There was present Mr. Akin, a distinguished jurist and politician; the Honorable Mr. Bell of Georgia, a member of the Confederate congress from Georgia, with several other gentlemen who were making arrangements to leave Richmond by private conveyance to flank Sherman who had passed Columbia and was pressing his way. The subject of the flank movement was discussed and it was agreed that Akin, Bell, Colonel Lightfoot of Alabama and General Bulger should proceed by private conveyance and flank around through the mountains of North Carolina to Greenville. Upon the subject of General Bulger's commission, Mr. Akin suggested that it would not be best if the party were overtaken to be found with a general's commission along.

General Bulger there upon threw down his commission and said to General Withers, "I will not ask to be assigned to command but will leave my commission with you. If the struggle is protracted and my health recovered, I will report back to this office." He was furnished with his leave of absence and left Richmond. Lee Terrill of Law's staff, was commissioned to fill the vacancy created by General Bulger's promotion. Lee Terrill was afterwards killed while in command of the regiment. The flanking party made an uninterrupted trip through the mountains of North Carolina and South Carolina to Greenville, Ga. where it disbanded. General Bulger took the train to Montgomery where he had the difficult operation performed on his wound. While lying prostrate an election occurred for state senator and General Bulger was elected. Recuperating slowly from his wound, he served through the session of 1864-65. The legislature was abolished by the appointment of a military government for the state, and General Bulger repaired to his home where he found his Negroes free,                                                                         Page 18

his stock confiscated, his farm of 400 acres dilapidated with fifteen miles of fencing -- every panel of which needed repair. But an abundant supply of provisions had been hoarded through the perseverance and management of his excellent wife. He set about retrieving his lost fortunes. He re-engaged in farming and was very successful in that pursuit. He continued despite his advanced age until five years ago, when his wife died and his children, having all settled down in life, he decided to sell out his farm and retire from business. He now resides with his widowed daughter, Mrs. Dr. W. L. Banks of Jackson's Gap. He is financially in good circumstances and his old age is soothed by the kindness of his daughter and his little grand daughter, Miss Lula Banks, a sweet little school girl, who acts as his amanuensis. During his life, and especially in his declining years, General Bulger has illustrated some of the finest and noblest traits of the honored race from which he sprang. His son, Hon. T. L. Bulger of Tallapoosa, is an eminent lawyer and led the Democratic hosts of his county to victory as their nominee for the legislature.

General Bulger has never yielded his convictions as to the merits of the issues that were involved in the war of secession. His love for the southern cause is the most conspicious of the gallant old hero. Brave and loyal to the call, he holds the admiration and reverence of the old veterans who hail his presence at every reunion and hope to one day tent with him within that glorious Confederacy whose builder and maker is God. ---0---

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