The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-08-07
Incidents of the Battle

dence of the Charleston Mercury various
interesting incidents of the great battle
fought at Manassas ON 2lst ult Speaking
Of the battle at Stone Bridge, II corrrspon.
dent gives the following account of the
part which the I'd aud 9th South Carolinn
Regiments (Cols kershaw and Cash) aud
Kemper'- Battery bore in the battle
Suddenly an order comes, borne, believe,
bv Gen. NrGnwan. for the I'd aud g. h Pal
meto Regiments to hasten to the assistance
of tn. left wing. Couriers are dispatched
TO Capt. Perr' man, out scouting, aud Cant
Rhett, on picket guard. To march across III.
fields to the left, and join their Regimru,,
the I'd, which is on the march to aid the.
left wing This Regiment. to which was
attached kempers Battery, followed by the
9th, Coz. Ca.h, hurried to the scene of nc
lion. 1t was met along the way bv numbers
Of the Wounded, dying and retiring, who
declared that the dav had gone against rs :;
that Sl"an's Regiment, the 4ih, was cut TO
pieces that ilamptons Legion coming to
the rescue, and the Louisiana Battalion,
were anniiliated that Gen. Bee and Col
Hampton were mortalv wounded, and Col
Ben Johnson killed and that the Cnnfed.
eIute were out ana routed,
and the day last. This was the unvary,nu
tenor of the words that greeted us from the
wounded and diving and the fugllives who
met us during the las. mile of our approach
20 the field of battle. TO tho sharp cry Of
the 2d Regiment "On, men "n! these fel.
lows are whipped, and think that every
body else is," the troops responded n"bIy,
and closing up lhi"r columns. na.ched rap
idly and boldly forward.
The FAST lying cannon shot now cut down
several of our number before We got sight
Of the foe. Presently they became visible,
with banner in~olentlv haun.ing. and dri
wing before them the reuialns of our sha:
tered forces. But the I'd. undaunted by
the sight, ployed column, aud, with . shout,
charged up the hill ut the double quick
The Yankees could not stand the snock.
and fell back into n wood on the west nf
the hill, pouring into us CALLING lire
Driven through 'his wood, they again
formed on n brigade of their men IN ~ field
beyond, and For half an hour II severe strng
gle took place between this regiment, with
kempers Battery attached, unsupported,
and an immense force Of United States
troops. We poured in II STEADY AMI deadly
lire upon their ranks. While the butte |
ragged, the Stn South carolina Rrgrmrni |
came up, and Col Cash, pointing 10 the
enemy, says "Col. Kcrshnw are those the
i-d scoundreIs that you wish driven of |
he tieid I'll do il in five minutes, l.,
God |" "Yes. Col"nei," says Kershaw.
'orm on our left, and do it it you can IN
few moments the 9th got close up on the
eft, and poured in II murdcrou, fire, under
which the enemv reel-d and broke.
Again they formed on hill, and new 10
yons covering the hills around rushed Ia |
heir support, bat the terrific fire OF KEN
per's Battery was tou much for them They
reeled again and broke. "F"rward, Second |
Palmetto Regimen, y says Kershnw. "Now
is the tme J" The Second and Eighth now
dashed forward, fast but steadily, and The
victo.y was won. Throwing down tneir
arms and abandoning their cannon, me Unl
ted States troops fled precipitaleIy. The
Second and Eighth pursued them tu the
Stone Bridge. about II mile, and there for
the first lime Kershaw recei ed an order,
since leaving the eR;renchment. lie had
retrieved the lost battle and gained the vic
tory of "St"ne Bridge" with two regiments
and battery of four pieces.
Thus you see that, on the right wing Of
the anemy, their chief force, the I'd and 9th
South Carolina Regiments, assist by
kcmper's Battery, maintained the day, and
upheld the ancient honor Of the silnte. As
Jeif. Davis, at late hour yesterday, said. in
urging forward the Mississippi and
Louisiana Regiments, The I'd and 9th
South Carolina Regiments have saved the
day. and are now gaining n glorious vic
iory."
During the action, the lion hearted Ker. |
shaw received no order, and saw none of
our Generals, but fought it out on his own |
the enemy in immense mum |
bers before him. Too much honor cannot |
be given to Capt. Kemper His GOODNESS
and presence Of mind was mistaken ut any |
moment, and his rapdity and accurac, of |
flre was astonishing. At one time surroun.
led and taken prisoner. he owed his -scaps |
10 his cleverness. As soon rs he found re.
,isfanoe useless, he east his eyes round. and.
seeing regiment Of Virginians near, said,
pointing to them, Take IN. To your
,:ol"nel.' Iii. captors ignorantly did ~ he
and actually carried him into
.he midst OF the Virginians before lney saw
heir mistake. ln a few moments he was
r'd of them, ana again at tn" head Of hi.
battery, hurling desi ructiUu into the ranks
pf the foe. Kersl,aw aud Kemper boin de.
serve to be made Brigadier Generals, as this
: -'N"s s'of hhuouu'culy uub 10 Inelr |
Another correspondent Q. w. S) says
or the many personal Incidents Of tue
Battle have not time TO speak Tonight
NJ e..imab!e friCnd, X. Mckay. of Green
'ile. separated from his company, Capt
Hokes, came mon four Of the enemy in
;harge OF three of our prisoners whom
hey had taken, aud was unc"mfortably con
'cious he was about To add to their number;
70 he certain Of the fact, ho~ever. he ex.
claimed interrogntively, Prisoners bpy- r.
A Zouave answered, ave don't knew ex.
'ct'y who are prisoners here" "On, YOU
oi course" said our ready friend where.
np"n demanding thei arms, they laid them
fown, and were marched If /, the rear
SIX hors"men detached from their CON
paay, dashed forward and came up.m a
;ompany of the enemy all armed, forty five
% number, demanding surrender NJ tue
,est means Of avoiding their own onpipre