Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-10-12
IKBODES's BRIGADE.
HsAbQuARFEAs IMBODIH's BRIGADE,
4 "a Octoeer, 1864.


To The RiisOr Of The Whig'
Ia your issus Of the Let instant appears letter.
acssd from the Raleigh Conservative which (ls also
your editorial does the grosses injustice to the brigade
have the honor to command. The reverend author
Of this letter shoWsA cAreessness disregard Of tuh
which il dsgracsful to his sacred calling. He states
,ba, ga htts alter three o'clock, the enemys cavalry
made demonstration on our left, along the Martins
mug pike that at this point brigade of cavalry
called Imo oeeus men, "a, g.; 'thAt these men,
,ibout bsDg pressed. gave Way in confusion and came
,nsbios into the two inc pal streets OF the town"
Lao that the AjiDg brigade Of Inboden's mem com
runiested the panic 10 por ion OF heOauslands com
I'D Who with Ikem." All this pronounce TO
ma An u. qualified iSlsehood Ny brigade was stationed
an ths uvfnng OF the hyht, at Bulkefs Hill, where is
gas attacked al ABOUT hall, past egat A. NJ BY Avers
sivisiop, From that plsce, back TO Winchester, the
b,g.ae though elcseiy pressed by sx hines its num-
orrs sn back tloEly good ord,r fighting every foot
of the way. AZ Sephsnsous DsPOE AcCAus-
, ~. Brigade, which had been engaged with
Nsrr,ts dlvsop, on the right, overcome BY superior
pumbvrs we've driven through my brigade in the ut
most ,nlu ion. So far iTon my men commun'c tting
tns manic TO hoJauisn1s the is Virginia regiment
M NV brigade sa.ln tner saddles cheering and taunt-
no NeUsusand's men they went back, and when
NV had passed vita the 81 Virginia also OF my bril-
gsGs charged and drove back the enemy then comi'g
m an our d,nE a. rear In spite OF every fJrt upon
he prs Of Colonel Ferguson tOne OF the most gallant
ore.ts in the service commanding the brigade it Was
never again rallied aud my brigade was left to itself
10 IN tls exception Of feN liant men fiom Oolosel
rsuson's briSai,) 10 confront Two divisions OF the
smS's cavalry. Tness We tcush ss well as We could
u.II uear Winchester, ss which time my brigade
All =, n formed and N good order. A. this point We
ere cLarg d Dy the enemy and, OF course, driven back
" one VI NY regiments went through town, ana this
.,rarzod D 20 the 10 Al by the enemy, and prompt
H. r.lisd on TIE Ogner eide aud moved back. TIE her
40 reg ments fell bscx 70 me hills on tue lsf OF the
On |, rss H.C-u.and's men who constituted the
,,,ncins mar, Of the crowd that sIamp.ded though
NJ, h reg As Lave stated shove, only one reg
ueltC niue went through town. This regiment Ine
40 Y rRiua mounted lnIdntry armed with ,ong-range
..us. without psiCls or saDTes, had done Us duy
Ill aLd certainly deserves DC censure Tor lis inability
tsa.d Lue So u two divisions CT me en,mys CIV
- lt.r.uu.a ION wherever u has serVsd-in is own
D, ada among the prps o; the Valley, and IN Brock
,rps l,ys!ol OF infantry, (n whose EanAs served
n, .eot N me New AaIke. Richmond o3mpIgus)-
..eona 20 thai Of none II the army, AID s has been
-pgaledy eonp.ineGtsd Il may tay IN every tgo) BY
,suersl aoyGeu ald by G;nerai Breckenridge.
am torrT that the necessity OF answering tits false
a sc.usllps art Gle, ocmpels NE to animadVer up3n
lsnd's b gade. Col Ferguson dla everything
snst iii could do, snd lam far from blaming
rave men or Dtlng overwhelmed by perior num-
.ers TLere no cavalry IN elmer army that has nol
,e,s.tedy met vita the same misfortune.
h youf editorial Ar. Editor, you say that "the whole
ss OF disasters Il sIuUu,sG 20 the inisIory in nun
osls II cur cavalry and 'he 10; N 1enoy OF some Big
80 N Gen LJmsxs d Vizion" You also attribute Iae
= ast-y - Fsoers Hi 10 Us. A. Fishers Hill, the
CIV hung done Is ali Dy our DIVISION OF cavalry.
I. - io,ce Wss il is IrGe, soon Driven pa oy the
Sr,vb,lnus force Il the e,emy, who made their S.
I'd cpat as,sck upon our lett hAnk, but my B1gAds
n.ds sand l. CO. up wish tue infantry ana steoa
- a., ,uian.ry raw Away. IL the infantry bad be
"a - we'll a. the csvAHy, We WIud have whipped
&c eEemJ. ,..
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
Gro. d. SMITH,
Colonel Commanding.