Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-06-29
ueroism of Lee.

:. r A correspondent of.the Richmond Sentinel
eiyes the fplloeing arimaled sketch Of the
great battle of the 18th, in which Gen. Lee
threw himself at the head of his troops, and
proposed to lead the immortal charge OF Cor.
don and Pegram:
The 18th of May, 1864, will be ever mem
orable and ever remembered, as the day OF
one of the most bloody and obstinate strug-
giles which have ever marked the annals'oi
war, or added fresh horrors to this most cruel
contest =,
D,F5re daylight we were moved up to'tle
support of Hayes and Statford's hrigades in
the works and scarcely had the grey; tinge OF
morning began to dispel the darkness OF a
damp and dlizzly night, when, after the three
cheers which We knew to be the precursor OF
a charge, and q brief scattering FIRE On our
RIGHT. we were astonished and mortified 70
see the troops that direction pouring out
ofthe works in the woods, showing that the
enemy had there broken passage, The en-
emy poured their concentrated masses through
the gap, aud moving on the flank With great
celerlty, were swiftly driving all before them
in panic and confusion.
Instantly Pegram's and Gordon's brigades
we're formed a few hundred yards TO the rear
|. of. and at right !angels4to, tine line of works.
| All saw thata crisis was upon us. If we
failed the consequences would be disastrous
in the extreme.
In this exigency, Gen. Lee rode forward in
front of our line, his position at the time be-
ing opposite to the cnlors of the 49th resi-
ment, of Pegram's brigade, and only few
yards from where your correspondent stood.
Not:a word did he say, but he simply took
OF his hat, and as he sat on his charger L
never saw man look so noble, or a specta-
Gle so impressive.
At this interesting 4someut, our gallant
Gordon, spurring his foaming charger to the
front. seixing the rrins Of Gen, Lees horse,
and turning him around, said, !" General,
these are Virginians! These men have never
failed They never will Willyou boys 2"
Loud cries of "No!'' " no p Gen: Lee to
the resrr, $50 back !''." Go back p "Gen.
eral Leeao the rear.p' hnrst from aloss the
llnes and as one' led the Generals horse to
to the rear, Gen. Gordon gavethe command,
Z" Forward, charged" And with o shout and
yell tke brigade dashed on, through bog and
swamp; and lbriers and undergro.th to the
breastworks.
The enemy, struck with dismsy, start to
fee, but we arc upon them Ike storm, ard
their first line of bst.le withers before our
lmpetuous onset and the cool Workmanship
of our men. .ssHurrah! the7korks are ours !"
But-we stop not. Some sf tine enemy, more
obstinate than the rest show fight with bay
'onets, but it is soon over; and dashing over
the Grst line we pursue to the second. Here
we encounter another line Of battle, but our
onset is not stayed. They stand their ground
until our scattered and ssill advancing line
gets Tisain ten steps, and then, without nav
inc fred, turn 10 run. Few, however, escape,
and ordering those who rensr % surrender
and 90 to the rear, portioi: 81 tic hrisGde---
the Slst and 39ti TirEi,iia regimcr,.-iasE
on and form our line mure thaR ul,c Aasdgcd
yards in advance Of our outside ertscnca
ments. :
The fight there is hot, but We wish TO give
the rest Of our men time to form in the work.
behind US, erc falling back. So We lie down.
and for two hraF. rsRel every attempt TO
move u.s. although exposed to both front and
flank fire. Seeing u ssroug line moving on
our right lark, and ennr :nen having esiab-
Iisled themselves in The works, : c fell back
To the outside lines and there remained until
aigat, repulsing every attempt tp charge US
out.