Sergt. PETE COLLIER 5th Ga. Regiment.
Confederate Veteran Mag., dated Feb., 1924, page 45.
From Gen. J.H. Harp, Commander Florida Div., U.C.V., Crescent City, Fla:
In the last days of May, or first of June, 1864, while we were in the trenches to the left of Kenesaw Mt., Ga., there was continuous heavy artillery firing on our lines, making it necessary for us to stay in the trenches, through the frequent heavy rains had made the trenches damp and muddy. One day a time-fused 12 pound shell struck our earthworks below the headlog, and it's velocity was so impeded that it fell in the trench right among the men at that point, the fuse burning and spluttering, just ready to explode. Of course, we sprang out at once, but while the fuse was still burning, Sergt. I.P. [PETE] COLLIER, of Company K, 5th Georgia Regiment, jerked up that shell in his hands and tossed it out of the trench. It fell into a puddle of water and the fuse was put out.I think that was a cool, brave act, and for it PETE COLLIER was offered a commission as lieutenant in Company E, but he would not leave his old Company K, the Upton Guards. When the shell struck the puddle of water, we sprang back into the trench without waiting to be told to get back. I wonder how many of the old 5th Georgia who witnessed that scene are still living. Comrades, speak up!
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{ I hope the families will enjoy reading this, he is not my family]