Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-04-26
MISCELLANEOUS.
In Memoriam Maj. Jas. Breathed.

From serial sketch in the Hagerstown
Nail, we clip the following
The campaign of 1864 opened with Grants
advance across the Rapidau from his winter
encampmentin Culpepper, aud the sanguinary
battles of the Wilderness. The federal troops
crossed ut Ely's aud Germauia tords, and Gen
Lee pushing up from the direction Of Orange
Court House soon encountered them in the
deusely wooded country which sweeps from
the Rapidan in southerly direction toward
Richmond. The series ofengagements which
we're there delivered were not much distin-
guisbed for artillery righting. The nature of
the country did not permit it. There were
few roads and fewer open fields along the
bloody route of battle, in which an artlleriest
could move his guns with facility, or deliver
fire with any thing like accurate effect. Mus.
kets swere the weapons relied on, and they
were used at the closest range. Hence these
battles were very sanguinary and excelled in
ferceness any preceding them. Breathed
carried his guns with the cavalry and on the
faux of the extended Confederate line, fght>
ing with his usual valor, either as cav
aIrymau when his guns were uuengaged, or
when opportunity presented rushing his whole
eight pieces up into the face of the enemy
anu 6uOWGEluS SuGll, SuOG uuu CduISl6T upOu
them.
A fair opportunity for his rdre and distin,
guished courage, however, did not present
itself until Grant he'd hammered away thous.
auds of his best troops on General Lees front
in an unsuccessful effort TO break through,
and took up his celebrated flank and fighting
march upon the Confederate Capitol. On the
Tth of May the march of the Federals COM
toward Richmond. aud their first objective
point was Sputtsylvania Court House, an ell
eyated and commanding point on the main
and direct road leading from the town of Fred
ericksburg, on the Rappahannock to the Cap
itol Ga the afternoon of the eighth, Fitz
Lees division of Cavalry encountered the head
of the Federal Column of infantry at or near
Todd's tavern about four miles from the Court
House, and dismounting his men, and fight,
ing with carbines, fell slowly and stubbornly
back. The fighting was dreadiully severe
many of the flower of Virginia's youth went
down before the terrific voltevs of the federal
infantry, and they laid where they fell, un-
buried and blackening in the sun. 1t was
of the last importance that Fitz. Lee should
delay the advancing column and cover the po-
sition at the Court House as long as possible.
About II o'clock on the night of the eighth
after a most fatiguing days operation, the
writer was dispatched from the direction of
Orange Court House, by Gen. Stuart, with a
verbal message to Lee informing him of the
march of the first division of Longstreet's
Corps under its senior officer Anderson, to
his relief, and urging him to hold out to the
last and at any sacrifice. 1t was full three
o'clock in the morning before Lees bivouac
was reached and the message so full of cheer
aud comfort to the jaded commander delivered
a short talk and shorter rest ushered in the
first streaks of the coming morning, and with
their coming, the federals reinforced by a
fresh corps of infantry, threw themselves up
ON the devoted band of dismounted troopers
who stood between them and the heights of
Spottsylvania.
The fight became very hot. Lee held his
forces we'll in hand, and close up and know
ing the importance of every moments delay,
tested the courage of his men to the last ex-
tremity.
This was Breathed's time in which he new
er failed to show how finished and intrepid a
soldier nature had made him. Fitz. Lee
called upon him to check the head of fresh
column of infantry that could be discovered
marching through the tangled wilderness to
pounce upon his already overmatched line.
How he responded can best be told in the
language of Fitz. Lee himself In COM
munication to the author of the "Lost Cause, /"
page 595, after saying Breathed "was the
most reckless brave man he ever knew" con-
tinues "Msj. Jas. Breathed by my order