The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-04-05
A Thrilling Incident.

q a contributor to the Atlanta Intetts-
gencer concludes his "Reminiscences of the
War, No. 2, with the following incident
of the battle of Gettysburg:
When Gen. Longstreet advanced upon
the Federal left its first line was carried,
but the enemy being heavily reinforced,
rallied, and in turn drove our portien Of
the line (Anderson's Brigade from the
position, as well as other brigades on our
right and left. Again we charged and
were driven back. This was a critical
moment for US; nearly all Of our general
officers were killed or wounded. Our
heavy line had crumbled to mere hand
full, and the flower of Longstreet's corps
lay weltering in blood. We were slowly
rctreating, leaving many of the dead and
wounded in the hands of the exulting foe.
The hosts Of the enemy came on like the
mighty tides of the ocean, and the loud
peals of victory were already rising from
their naughty lips. The blue hills in their
rear were bristling with their bayonets
and pouring torrents of reinforcements
down their winding slope.
Now, when we should have been rein
forced with 10000 troops, Gen. Lee had
not man to send us. Officers broke
their swords on the rocks, and many OF
the men wept. Our dead and wounded
comrades lay around us by thousands,
and it seemed as if there was no hand to
save the shattered remnant from destruc-
tion. But aid did not come-a mana
solitary man throw himself before the
juggernaut of Federal power, and alone
and unaided, sought to stay its ownward
progress I remember, as if were but
yesterday, the zouave cap and iron grey
beard of the stranger. None knew him,
but all idolized him for his bravery. He
moved through the awful storm with a
steady step and his uplifted sword seemed
to say to the advancing foe, "thus far
shalt thou go and no farther" He said
nothing, but his god-liks example made a
hero of every man who saw him. Sol
diers looked in the face of their comrade
and the question came simultaneously to
their blackened lips: "who is he 2" "who
is he?" echoed right and left, far up and
down the line. The enemy came on like
tornado, and the proud hero stood en-
veloped in the smoke of their muskets,
like lion at bay Men forgot to reload
their pieces or conceal themselves behind
the rocks but stood stupifed with Won
der. "Who is he?" men groaned-s who
is he?" officers repeated, until the cry
became strangely wild and fearful
" General Lee!" some one shouted, and
the word ran along the line like an cleo
trio fash. "Geueral Lee, forever!" ral
above the battles roar, and as one man
our gallant soldiers rushed like q thunder
bolt upon the astonished foe. "Follow
General Lee !" cried our wounded COM
rades, as they lay upon the trampled
earth and tossed up their bloody caps
No body of men on the broad green earth
could have withstood the terrible impctu-
osity of this onset. The Federal troops,
though they fought desperately, were
compelled to give back, and at last to re-
treat in confusion to their heights, leaving
their dead and wounded in our hands.
But where was the stranger? Alas
"Thc paths of glory lead but to the
grave" The war is over now, and the
brave men whom we met that day as
deadly enemies, we now meet as friends.
We would not detract one ray from the
crown of military glory that adorns each
of their heroes. but would do justice to
our lamentcd dead; and if, by this imper-
feet sketch, I can add one flower to the
chaplct of q fallen heroes fame, shall
feel myself amply rewarded. And that
hero-a who is he!" The answer comes
up from the graves of Gettysburg-Gen
Paul J. Semmes.
SPOKEN LIKE A HERo.--A literary gen.
tleman, who is engaged in writing book
on some events in the war, in which Mos
by was concerned, has recently had some
correspondence with that noted person
age, and short time ago inquired of him
if it would be safe for "a Black Republi
can-one dyed in the wooP-so he de-
scribed himselt-to make at the present