Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-10-02
For the Advertiser.
s.uonor to Whom Honor is Due"

s. Honor 10 W nom tloHoT Is Duo'
Mr.. Ep1ron Altho' an advocate of the princl-
pie of giving I" Honor to whom honor is due the
extravagaut eulOgies which have been pronounced
upon various Corps, as we'll as upon few indi-
viduuls who participated in the late engagements
in the vicinity of Manassas, have proved exceed
ingly offensive to those who have been thus eS-
solled; us we'll az to those whose actions have
been veilc,l by isnomnious silence. In camp, On
the march, and under The fire OF the enemy, all "
our men acted noJly; remembering the prestige
which our State has ever maintaincd aud deter
mined that her fair fame should never be furnished
by act OF theirs.
It is then unjust to pass any over IN silence !;
and INSTRUMENTATION amounts almost to the cSclu-
of tic uunoticed ones from the praise due 10 all.
Content with the appreciation Of the Generals rs
evincel hy their published reports, my pen should
never have been used in behalf Of my friends in
the TN Regiment, if it had cot been for extract
iu your paper, from the " Greenriile Patriot and
.ountaincer," relative to the share which General
McGowAx contributed to the glorious victory Of
the 2lst July; attribu;ins 10 him the salvation OF
the day.
Without attempting to detract, in the slightest
degree, from the merit of Cen McGowAS, We
must confess, that the writer OF the abore-men-
toned article pays very poor compliment to the
vigilance and ability of our commander, WHO
would scarcely have neglected proper precautions
ayaiust an attack ca the left wing, which was SO
confidently expected. On the Saturday preceding
lodi ~
DENNY, was posted about Il mile from Mitchc!ls
Ford, in grove of oaks on the left OF the road
leading to Centrevle-heing in full view Of the
eneluys pickets, who were stationed upon the "D-
poste side of the old field, Which lay between the
two The Yankee forces appeared to be resting
after the repulsc they had suffered on TIE i'rsee-
ding Thursday. and rallying all their energies for
desperate attack upon some portion OF our line
About P. N. Capt. D. observed dense cloud of
dust in the direction vi our left wtng, inducing
the belief that the cuemys forces were preceding
in that direction, and reported the fact To- the ofi
Ger of the day, Lieut. Col. FOSTER. At p. NJ,
Company E. was relieved by Company I. Capt
HARD; when the Yankee p;cketS were still l'lainly
visible, evidently very much cmboldcncd 10y the
support of superior force. and the known supe-
riority in range of their guns.
The night passed without any particular Incl
dent other than IN unusual cvninotion in the enc
my'S camp, cvinced by vociisrcus cheering, the
beating of drums, and the stirring strains OF ma
tional melodies, which were once 50 sweet to
Southern cars. About a. 81, Oh Sunday morn
ing, the appearance Of L Drummond lSht i;''me-
date!y over Centrevillc clearly Indicated that the
enemy were about to advance, to engage US i'll
deadly conflict. The fuct was 1T once reported
to Gen. DoSuAN: and soon after, dull heavy
rumbling broke upon the sacred stiffness Of the
cool air Of the Sabbath morning The noise was
believed BY Capt. H., and his officers, to be the
rolling Of artillery cnrriuges in the direction OF our
right wing, and accordingly reported to the Gen
eral. On the reception Of the information, Gen.
McGowAS and the officer Of the day rode out to
the posts Of the advanced pic;e.s; but, for so're
minutes, were unable to determine the nature of
the noise. AT length doub, yielded to conviction,
and they returned to repeat Capt. lAnD's report:
"That the enemy's forces were proceeding towards
both wings Of our line, their artillery was mor
ing on those directions and was accompanied by
the beating Of many drums, as well as the sbrill
notes of the cavalry -bugle." The ruubins con-
tinucd until daylight, when dense columns Of in
fnntTy were plainly visible confirming the reports
which had been made to the Generals und prom
s;ng bloody engagement
We have nothing 10 Go with the assertion that
the salvation OF the day was due to Gen. mellow
Az, although it appeared 10 iuc exceedingly un-
lust 10 the brave nen who were impatiently de-
manling to Lc led the sssstIpcc Of their broth
err, ;lal who would have driven back the cnemy
at every cost. Two i;csi;ne.;s Of the First 5. e.
Brigade with mauy t-"oi's FROM more sou;hrru
S,a,es, were ready to mc.: the Toe, tut their ser
vices were unneclcd: and the enemy VA. met and
vauqu;shcd by only portion .; cur forces. The
tlay cvu!l not have been lost, Although many
more of cur men might have hccll killed, if other
Regiments bad been led into action.
Our Object is TO corrcc, The mistaken assertion
that Gen. McLiuwAS'S .'car WAS :nc ir=t I" Gct.ct
the approach Of the enemy" :o7i: hai been a.
l,pLy reported I" &e e""".u"d,' c' o"' f:iJ""s
BE- Capt HAEn: and his whole Company had heea
listening TO the rolling OF lie artillery carriages
Tor half ur hou7 Lctorc ;hc appearance Of 'hc
General. We seek to claim credit ior n1ae! To
DENY j, 10 none. Eut to make simple state
men: of the trntIr Til. iciT. accomplished, we
wc lave done cur
DUTY.