Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-10-26
Gen. Gary.

From G letter TO the Caroiiaias, dated Oct. Sth,
we take the following complimentary, yet. per-
fectly truthful, notice of our gallant and daiin-
guished towsman, Gen. NJ. W,.aAnr. aep. g.,
with bis brigade Of cavalry,s has been for the
last six months on the North eide Of the Jamea,
below Richmond, dsfcpdingrtts approaches to
that city-the approache, froh ahc Peninsula.
On three different occasions Istsly, and in three
hoa7y fights, len. q .tnY and is men have rem
dersd brilliant and iu,portanS assistance In the
great work of keeping the Yankees on! Of Rich
mond on the 2sth Sept, on the 7th Oct; and
again On the 18th Oct. The letter, from which
We take this extract, give, an account of the
battle Of the 9Th. On that duy, the divisions Of
Koke and Field, in conjunction with tho Cuyalry
brissdSs OF 2ena. GART and Lag, were ordered
to advanco against tho eptmy ON the Darbytown
aud Charles City Roads. To Gen. GARY, Gem
handing his own and LAWS brigade, was assign
ed the important duty Of turning the OnemJ's
right aank; whilC the infantry was to. move
against their fropt:. Unfortunately for the COM
plote SUCCESS Of the movement, number of the
Richmond local troops had deserted the night
before, and warned the enemy of the purpose Of
the Confederatcs. Tho Yankees wcro consequent
ly found prepared, With cavalry so disposed as
to cover their exposed flank. Discovering the
unexpected srrangemsnt Of the enemy With that
uuickness end sbrewapess for which he is re-
markable, and changing his plans to- meet the
occasion, with ready aud consummatc skill, Gen.
GARY aanscs portion of tho Cavalry, swept
,ovor the bast in an irreeislLle charge, and, des
pito their precadtion, did sppri,e the enemy by
coming suddenly up 10 tho rear, md driving
them in peil.mell flight f-cm thoir strong posi-
ton, capturing nine p,ecea Of artillery, ton c.is
sons, hundred hursrs, two atandsof colors, and
ovor hundred prisoners: The Gtject Ct thu.
attempt on our part, was the rscspture Of Fort
Harrison, . salient Of the Cha fins Bluff foriiG.
cations, which h2d been taken by tho FaEkccs
on tue 2sth September The iufas:ry on this
occasion was not guccee.ul, and we did not re-.
tako Fort Harrison, but rs fat as GAR.s and
LAWS brigades were concerned, the Afair was
com plete and brilliant tripmpb.
To Gen. Gary is duc, mainly. the success Of
the movement. An enemy that no oe1peotcd.t to
surprise, he found rally aware OF bis approach
End prepared to neas him; and yea, nothing
daunicl or di>rcr certed, he mtds bifsSirposiiicn
vi.h such skill thu. ho tout unawa-es tho party
senfto preyeu. lurprlse, and ..t0n tho day
agsins. all sd4s. To the hot.r nj tils General,
be said, that .gpes into battle maunted, ro-
m sins mGunt ted, and exposes bis men to nu dan-
ger tet he docs not fully sbsTe, Where the halls
fly tbickcst and tho danger Is grestoA, re i ever
to be found, Inspiring by word and conduct, and
directing t.only the movements bat the fire of
his troops 40 ulnount os danger or excitement
dep1ivcs him Of his cooincaa and presence OF.
mind while bis animated bearing, kindling. eyc,
aud .in sing voce..ro worth fresh regiment on
he foa Of battle, and rarely fsi to bring victory
,He.isa bravo soldisr, apd tho r@r has assigned
hin, to hs true srhort sf action. Enough not
having enjoyed tbs benefits of q military cduca-
ton, no has. BY cns5us;as,c study since the com-
mcneement OF the wsr, Smade himself master
Of the art Of aud put hin,self fully abreast Of
ths best eaaoated ssuldiers ofthe con:sieracy If
hisifc is sparsd he is destined to rice to still
higher rank, .and.to win yet prouder laurels than
those that now grace HE youthful broT.