Wilmington journal., 1871-01-13
The Truth Of History.

The Truth Of History.
We find the following letter In that sterl-
ing and useful paper, the Banner Of the
South and Planters Journal, which lB so
correct an account of q most Interesting |
and important crisis in the great battle OF
Spottsylvania Court House, that We cheer
fully give it publicity. especially as just
credit is given to troops little used to hav-
ing Justice done them in the newspaper re-
ports of battles since the close OF the war.
AS an eye witness Of this particular Incl
dent of the battle, the writer can testify to
The correctness of the statements Of the
letter.
The left regiment of Lanes Brigade,
which had been thrown forward to connect
with Stewards right, was the 18th North
Carolina. commanded by the lamented
Colonel JOHN d. BARRY, OF this city. When
the Federal forces broke through General
Johns0n's line. they swept down our lines
to the right Owing to dense forest and
the carly morning fog, their movements
we're concealed, and the left companies OF
Colonel BAHRY's Regi iment were involved
the fate of the larger part of Stuarts COM
mGnd. Among those captured IN this sa-
lient, were Captain L. c. Lewis, and Mr..
A. u. Cook, of this city, and Captain
Frank Wooten, Of the Wilmington. Char
lotte and Rutherford Railroad. The rest
of the regiment did fall back to the rife
pits at right angle to the line Of fortlhca
tions, and with the other troops Of Lanes
Brigade, swept the Federal troops from
the salient, and drove them across and
several hundred yards in front Of the
works. The writer rode forward to deliver
the order Withdrawing them from their ad-
vanced position.
In this salient, covering an acre or two,
the dead and wounded were more numer-
Gus, so far as our observation extends, than
at any other place during the entire war,
not even excepting the Mine" at Peters
burg.
This was the turning point of the battle.
If lanes left had been turned, moth
ing would have prevented General Grant
from occupying Spottsylvania Court House,
with the command Of all the roads leading
| to Richmond.
It was while this attack was at it's height
and the crisis imminent, that we saw Gen
eral LEE take charge of one Of the guns of
| Williams North Carolina Battery, and
serve it with telling effect upon the right
wing of the Federal attacking column, the
flank of which was exposed to his unerring
| aim.
| We do not believe that the statement in
regard to the operations of General Cor
| don's command are erroneous. 1t is our
recollection that the Federal troops divided
after breaking our lines. and General Cor
don's forces met and drove back the col
umn which moved to our left. 50 that
| both the writer of the letter and the au-
thor of the "Swinton article" " are correct
in their accounts. We distinctly recollect
having been sent by General LEE, in
company with staff officer Of General
Early's, to ascertain if his lines were intact
| Immediately after the Federal repulse, and
| that General Gordon's troops occupied the
works upon Lanes left, showing that he
had driven the enemy out, and occupied
the line vacated by Johnson's forces. Our
companion did not return to bear the vel
come news to the beloved Commander in
Chief that the line of battle was fully re-
stored, but was brought out upon a litter
to fill soldiers grave,
The achievements and glory of the
Bloody Salient were sufficiently great
to divide among all the troops which bore
, an honorable part in that terrible encoun-
= ter. Justice can be done to Gordon and
g Lane, and still MOI detract from the deeds
of McGowan's South Carolinians, and the
Alabamians under Perrin, of South Caro-
lima, who fell in the charge at the head oil
= his devoted men. 1t was beyond question
q the most terrific engagement of infantry
during the war. We measured q red Odl
tree, Just in rear Of AcGoran's H,1e t,Uentv
four inches in diameter. and ase haze tbt
= = measure still marked on Tie scdbbdrd of oa,
= stcord, CUT DOWN BY THE MINNIE BALLS
- FIRED By THE FEDERAL SOLDIERS. It's
fall killed and injured several members o
the 1st South Carolina Rifles
; -, Dec. 9Th. 1870.
u Gen. 4. Il. Vrigh1, Auyusta, Ga:
- DEAR GENL.-I received, some day
Y since, the 1st and I'd numbers of the Ban
, 1aer of lie South and Planters Journal, TO
'' which please accept my thanks. for I an
J. much indebted for this kindly remem
y brance on your part. 1 believe it will b'
a success, and it has my best wishes, as III
| doubt it has of every Southern man wht
:, has not feen SO discouraged as to feel lik'
"giving up l like the Swinton artici
It very much it is correct view-tha
t about the 10000. 900 against the 4,OOO. O0t
o and though the Yankees carried thei
5 point they have made but little reputation
l. as soldiers or fighting men, save among
s themselves No sensible man who car
l. get at the truth as regards numbers, car