Alan J. Pitts
9th Alabama at Gettysburg story....
Sat Apr 28 01:42:22 2001


The following story may be found in the correspondence file for the 9th Alabama Infantry, ADAH, Montgomery AL. It appears in a letter written by A. L. Scott, Co. “G”, 9th Ala. Inf. Regt., to Dr. Thomas McAdory Owen, founder of the ADAH.

San Antonio Texas, Oct. 22, 1909:

I find that there are several on the roll of our company, even amongst those who were known as good soldiers and always in their place, whose fates I can not recall. I remember that they were not with us at the last, but how, or when they dropped out is more than I can recollect. I could give the individual records of most of the members of our company (and some few of those of other companies of the regiment). Among them are some, deserving of specially honorable mention, of monuments, in fact, whose names are likely to remain blotted out from the recollection of man.

As an instance, I recall, just now, that of George Mastin, of our co. He went out with us volunteering “for the war” a mere boy of sixteen years, and was from first to last, recognized as one of the very best of soldiers, whose conduct was exemplary and inspiring in every respect, whether in camp, on the march, or on the battlefield, not only uncomplaining in the midst of hardships, but going through it all in a spirit of boyish fun. He was a crack shot, and remarkable in every battle for the coolness with which he took his aim, as well as for his alert and intelligent interest in the battle.

Fortune had favored him in all our battles up to the second day at Gettysburg. On that day, while waiting for the signal for one of our charges, the enemy were coming up in desperate haste and forming in our front, with infantry and artillery, while our line was for a short while stationary. Mastin noticed a battery of field pieces rushing up and going into position immediately in front of our part of the line. As usual under such circumstances, he was in high spirits and commenced calling out to the Yankees, “That’s right! Bring them all out! We want all you’ve got!” Then calling to his comrades, he said, “Boys, that gun under that peach tree is mine.”

The charge was made, the enemy driven from the position and the battery captured. Sure enough, through a storm of grape, which did considerable execution to our company, Mastin reached that gun and clapped his hand on the breech of it, with a yell of triumph, but was killed just as he did so. When the struggle was over, he was found lying dead across the trail of the gun.

I never knew any of his relatives, but from his general character and conduct, I feel sure he had been brought up in a pious household, though from the fact that he seemed to have lacked advantages of school education, it was plain that he could have had no hopes or interest in the struggle, except those inspired by pure patriotism and innate[sp] manhood.

I have always thought that to the memory of such if to any, are due the highest tributes. I know that every member of our company would join me in proclaiming that if the State of Alabama should ever inscribe an “honor roll” of her dead heroes, the name of George Mastin, Co. “G” 9th Ala. Infantry, should appear on it in capital letters.


The battery mentioned in this account must be that of Lt. John G. Turnbull, Battery F & K, 3rd United States. Four of his six Napoleons were lost in the four hundred yards between their firing position on the Emmitsburg Road and Plum Run. See Harry W. Pfanz, Gettysburg -- The Second Day, pp. 358, 362-63 & 367.