The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1865-08-03
J.. THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST 8, 1865

vious engagements added to the handful
of men who had escaped. the command
was nevertheless an efficient one: 1t was
not until the last day which signalized
victory for the second time upon those
blood-stained Plains, that our command
participated. Being upon the extreme
right ofthe extended line of battle, twas
our privilege to witness the marshalling of
hosts on either side in this, perhaps, the
grandcst battle Of the war. Those of you
who were present cannot forget that, as
we entered the field and beheld the al
ready contcnding battalions, twas thrill
ing to note the ardor and animation of
the troops then engaged. 1t was mo-
ment to exalt the courage of the weakest,
and though some of our number moved
swiftly to the gates of Death, no eye
quailed nor cheek blanched, for the op--
posing army was reccdihg before the fu-.
'ry and vigor of attack. In the flush of
such moment, we commenced to act our
part >of the great drama. And within
three hundred yards of the self-same spot
where the Company received its first fire
from muskctry in the previous battle on
that ground. lay our dead and wounded
of this fight. And here was the second
oblation for our countrys altar upon
ground made historic already, and the
Company again contributed its richest
blood to the sacrifice.
Our foe defeated and completely rou-
ted, the master spirit of the war, that vet
Gran chief and noble leader Gen. Lee,
faced his army towards Maryland and the
campaign which closed at Sharpsburg,
was inaugurated. The Division with
which we marched passed directly on to
Hagerstown. and from thence back to
South Mountain or Booncsboro, where it
assisted in holding the narrow mountain
gorge until tie thundcrs of Jackson's ar
tilcry announced the capture and posses
sion of Harper's Ferry. Then it was
that our distinguished General conccn-
trated upon the banks of the romantic.
Antietam, in front Of the obscure village
OF Sharpsburg, and fought with his dcple-
ted ranks the entire army of Mcclellan,
holding tho cncmy in check until in lis.
own good time he retired to the South
bank of the Potomac. In all this COM
paign the Sharp Shooters were assigned
IA IA honorable position and lost mono Of
the laurols previously Won. The march
of Winchcstcr,. THENCE to Culpeper and
afterwards to Fredericksburg, are not en-
tircly devoid of interest. Although con-
stantly imposition and ready to discharge
rny duty which might be required, our.
command did not participate in the Bat;
tie. of Fredericksburg beyond skirmish-
ing. After this victory was gained, the
troops went into winter. quarters almost
upon the very ground which had been
witness of the battle. Tn February, 1868,
our Corps marched 70 Suffolk and bore
its.name conspicuously in the trials of
that siege. The following SUMMER Jcn-
kins' Brigade was detached from the.
main army and assigned to the local de-
fence of Richmond. 1t was well, after
the arduous campaigns through which it
had passed, that this brief respite was af-
f6rded, for when, in the September fol-
lowing, the order camc 20 rejoin the old
corps on its way To the West, there was
y vivacity of spirits and arejofcing scarce
ly understood save BY the initiated. The
army undor Gen. Bragg had met with re-
vcnsc after reverse, and i.aomcd likely to
be overwhelmed. The timely arrival of
Longstreet's corps on the iclds-of Chica-
mauga materially assisted if not rendered
certain the splendid victory gained over
the Federal General. Arriving too late
to engage i'll this battle, it was yet our
privilege to press with The victorious army
to the very walls of Chattanooga. A
month laterean expedition was planned
into the valley beyond Lookout Noun
tain aud JonlSins' Brigade formed the
vanguard. Marching after nightfall, it
was past, midnight when the encmy's
camp appeared to us. The Brigade form
ed Immediately in front, while the Sharp
Shooters were posted on the left flank.
The Regiment formed partly in old field
and the rest in the woods. Onr company
divided between the two, with its centre
at the point of the woods. When the fir