Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-01-14
RIcHxOsD, Va, January 18th, 1868,


having still more recently seen, in the Wing Of the 10th
inst, very interesting account of of the heroes
mentioned in the article above alluded to, viz the Grip
pied and gifted cavalrymsn Lamar FOntaine, have
concluded simple act ofjustice to give TO the pub
lie the nameof the other unknown and mysterious actor
in the scenes delineaed at Cedar Run. You will doubt
less remark hat place the emphasized word "actor
in the sOgu INSTEAD of the plural for strange it
may sscm ~ usknown Colonel and the coior.bearer
therein depicted and the person. The cir
cumstances are these: Thomas Georgia Brigade (cOm-
posed of the l4th S5th 45th and 49h Georgia regmen
about entering action on the eventul ninth of Au
gust the Regiments being on the march by the flank,
and the l4th Georgia the extreme left all moving at
double quick of the woods the left of the battle
field in order to form line of battle in the open field
where the enemy had appeared in great force and
threatening the annihihtOn of the small force of Con-
tederaes then in position in and to the left of the
field. Just as the l4th Georgia (which | remarked
before being the extreme left were last in the
lumn) emerged from the woods and the head Of the
Regiment in the act of crossing the road which
along the edge Of the woods its further advance was
suddenly checked by stream of ugitives from broken
the Brigade and also caused great confusion in its
ranks and all the partially victorious Yankees
just At this moment made their appearance the open
field in hot pursuit Il was critical and trying juno
ture aud for few everything seemed lost but
suddenly the attention of the confused arrested
by voice from the direction of the foe Methnks its
pathetic iutOnarons still ring in my Don't give
way, lith for the honor Of old Georgia stand n
Every eye was instantly turned towards the speaker and
there, some sixty seventy yards of on little hilOck
the regmena battle flag in one hand and his pistol in
the other every feature literally blazing with the proud
enthusiasm of the moment stood Colonel Folsom then
LieutenanColoneD the young, but tried commander of
the regiment The retrograde movement instantly ceas
ed and when Col f., waving his banner aloft right in
the face of the advancing foe again called out" Fol-
low me- my Georgia boys don't desert your Colonel"
the effect was perfectly electric Needless now of the
eaden hail which fell in every direction around them
reckless OF the numbers and Of the advantage of posi-
ton possessed by the foe and knowing naught else but
the fact that their Colonel in the advance with their
flag with almost certain death staring him in the face,
these gallant fellows, with one souinspirng shout.
started forward the run each man striving to be first
that wild YELL and seeing the supposed routed and dis
organized rebels, again turning and advancing them
Immediately stopped their advance The l4th kept up
constantly running fire they advanced many of the
firing over Col Fshead and it very soon began to
tellon the enemy. Slowly they commenced yielding The
l4th aided now by many membersof the broken brigade
constantly pressing them. At this moment Col f. was
observed 10 fall knee q should have stated be-
fore that he bad but recently been in bad health and
then quite leebe) shudder instantly pervaded the
regiment and it universally supposed that he was
severely wounded but in second he was up again aud
going. He had hardly advanced, however, more than
twenty PAGES, when, in passing over some rough and
broken ground, he again fel-this time disabling him
self to such as preclude further lOcomotou
Without assistance. Upon the regiment coming up, be
informed them of his condition, but peremptorily re-
fused be carried back and insisted on seeing the az
fair lie Immediately caught up By Sergt John
G. Dupree, Of Company uow color.bearer Of the re-
gimentl and -, aud, supported between them, By
their strong arms he vctoriousy carried through
the fight Being by others outside the regiment in
this position and With his clothing covered with dirt it
very reasonable suppose that a. distance they
mstOok him for wounded man; aud indeed, his faint
and exhausted condition, while being borne forward il
the arms of his men, was we'll calculated to impress
sny beholder With the idea that he was wounded
man but protected and upheld by an al-wise and ali
powerful Hand he miraculousy escaped without
wound although the flag he bore yet retains the perora-
tons of many bullets aimed his lifs and indeed it is
something remarkable that although he has led his regi-
into action in eleven battles and has been under
FIRE many times besides and has exposed himself repeat
edy in a manner bordering rashness he has never
Yet been struck by bullet Truly has the Lord been
with him 1t was in this action that the l4th Georgia
after having materially aided in driving back the enemy
from the large open field above described and having
gained strong position in the road between the corn
field and wheat field occupied by the Yankees met aud
repused with heavy slaughter, dashng charge Of the
enemy5 cavalry, which penetrated to within forty yards
OF our front Other regiments may have fired at them,
but was long range for there troops nearer
than three hundred yards the time and when Colonel
Folsom gave the order to fire" each bad picked
his man. and when murderous yoey given horse
and rider seemed melt fby magic, into the bowels
OF the earth see that Mr. Pollard in his history of the
battle OF Cedar Run contained 10 the work entitled,
The Second Battle of Manassas speaks of this cavalry
charge and its repuse but does not mention the regi
ment which did the york. l hope that, in his second
edition, he will place the l4th Alright on the record of
history.
The truthfuness Of any of the incidents mentioned in
the foregoing narrative viii readily be maintained and
vouched for By any of the field line officers of the
l4th and should any be disposed to inquire why these
facts we're not made public before answer, because the
regiment Happened to ocaupy an isolated position
throughout the whole fight aud although many saw it
in action and are eonTersant with all the leading Incl
dents related above yet but few know positively the
name of the regiment; and, again, Col +. was too
modest soldier to oblrude the fee,s Of himself his
regiment upon the public, The present inquiry, and
speculation on the unknown heroes, however, has
prompted me to take upon myself, member of the
- = q .af.