The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-25
LATEST ARMY NEWS.
Kershaw's Brigade in The Battle of
The Wilderness.

1uC w 1lSlCI 1SSn'
An officer of Kershaw.s S brigade, who
was wounded in the recent battle near the
Rapidan, has furnished us WITH the fol-
lowing details of the fight; and beng the
only definite Intelligence yet received,
Fthey will be read With interest:
As is already known, the battle COM
menced on Thursday the 9th inst, about
> o'clock in theEafternoon. \ glance at
the map will reveal plank road running
from Orange G. II. to Fredcricksburge.
Between these two towns, on the river,
are Germannia and Ely Fords, where
were stationed our pickets ard a strong
cavalry reserve, under General Rosser
and others. These being driven back 10y
the Federal advance, the enemy crossed
in force, and forming a line, still cor.
tinued to press our cavalry with their
largely superior numbers some six or
seven miles, until our infantry supports,
under A. p. Hill, checked further move
ments The latter then took up the
gauge Of battle, and fought the enemy
until dark, when the engagement ceased
with every advantag to US.
Friday mornipgfound our forces arrayed
as follows: Ewell on the left, resting on
the river, and 4. ?. Hill in the centre.
Gen. Longstreet mean. while was hurry
ing towards tie scene of conflict from
Gordonsville, and after marching two
days, had halted to rest on Thursday
evening, about eight miles from the field.
AT l o'clock, at night, orders we're re-
ceived by the sleeping troops to resume
their journey without delay, and with
cheerful alacrity they fell into ranks and
proceeded about six miles, when the
arrival of frosl. orders and the approach
of daylight compelled them to double
quick the remaining two miles which
intcrposed between them and the battle
ground. Thsy proved not to be a mo,
mcut too latcs,' on reaching the field
they found the engagements already in
progress, the Federals pressing our lines
with dangerous rehemcnce, ard ueth's
division driven from their iiaproviscd for
tifcations to point within two hundred
yards of their wagons. Generals Lee,
Longstrectgand Kershaw were riding to
gether, aud instantly divining the condi-
zion Of affairs, formed the corps under.
fire, which moved b. the right flank into
line of battle, and commenced work.
Scores Of men fell during this process.
but the troops, with their habitual cool
1sss, never faltcrcd step, andcOntinucd
to push on to their post Of duty. 1t
was now about I o'clock and the battle
raged1 furiously. Order had been re-
stored; the confidence of the troops was
at its height, and almost at the first
volley it was discovered that the enemy
were 7paking IN the presence of the
fresh veterans; who had never yetknown
defeat. Dashing forward with wild i'm
pctuosity, the entrenchments were re-
covered and the enemy along the entire
front of Lougstreet's corps as far as could
be seen by our informant, were driven
back in confusion, leaving the ground
clothed with their dead and wounded,
and covered with the debris of battle.
These entrcnchments consisted of rails,
longs and earth piled hastily together,
about knee high, and extended at inter-
walls alog our front, aftording protection
only to the privates, who fought il
rccumbent position. This will account
for the unusual loss Of officers, who sell
dom deign to lie down; and possibly for
the many wounds in the extremities.
Kershaw's brigade held a positionon the
right of the plank road, one regiment
only being on the other side in support
of battle of artillery The brigad was
under the command of Colonel Henegan,
General Kershaw acting as Major General
of the division. Bryan's and wotford's
brigades were on the right of that of
General Kershaw. The ground was
generally level, but covered with woods
and underground, which prevented the
use of artillery, so that probably not
more than two hundred rounds were fired
during the day. The enemy used scar
cely any. After driving the Fcdcrals
from the entertainments, the fighting on
this part of the line was mostly at long
range, the YankeesspreserviGgsa respect:
ful distance, until dispositions had been
made in other portions of the field for a
simultaneous dash forward, which should
at once decide the issue Of the battle
Meanwhile, aespcratoefght was in pro-
gress on the left, the sound of which told
us that We had at that point likewise
driven the FederalS from their position.
Col. Nance and Lieut.. Col. Gaillard
7Fere both shot behind the entrCnchments,
about 8 o'clock in the morning, and both
struck in the head. The former died
almost instantly, and the latter fingered
until he was carried 200 yards to the
rear, where he died on his litter. Both
were behaving with splendid gallantry,
and were shot in the act of cheering on
their men. Col Gaillard had Just