Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-02-03
FEBRUARY 3, 1872.

ture Of the slaughter in this strug-
gle, we need only say that along
Generals Ewell's line alone lay l.I25
Federal dead.
Saturday, May Z, and the follow
ing day, Lee retreated toward Spott-
sylvania, to take 4 new position,
General Ewell IN the rear. The en-
gagement was renewed SUNDAY near
Todd's tavern and the lighting vas
very heavy. It resulted in checking
the enemiey's advance, and in the
Donfederates occupying SpottsyI-
vania Court House before the Fede-
rails could arrive. General Ewell
held the town aud the heights on
the north side, and kept the enemy
at bay. Tuesday, May 10, the bat
tie again commenced = General
4 Ewell's corps being strongly posted
in the center-and fighting contin-
ue1 for three DAYS, ending in the
discontinue Of one OF his divisions.
Various engagements took place du-
ring the next few days, and General
| Ewell proceeded, the 18th, TO make
a reconnaissance in force on the enc
my's right flank. AbOut5 P. NJ, a
sharp engagement occurred, not far
from the Fredericksburg and Spott-
| sylvania road, and about s miles
from the former place. The fight
ing lasted until 9 O'Clock. when the
! Confederates retired TO their former
/ position. During the acting, Gene
raj EwelPs horse was shot under
| him, and he received a severe fall
lie was unable 10 stay in the saddle
the next day and was obliged 10 re-
| linquish his command to General
Early. After his recovery in july,
4 he assumed ceE ts 81 the Depar
ment OF Henrico, and, finally, OF tIie
immediate defenses of Richmond
/ When that city was evacuated and
a great portion of il burnt, General
Ewell was accused OF setting fire to
it-a charge which he fully disprov-
ed. He was the last man in the
world to have done such q deed.
On the retreat with Lees army he
was captured, April 6, at Burkes-
vile. and sent as a prisoner of war
to Fort Warren. He was released
in August, and came at once to Ten
nessee. Thus, with the downfall of
! the COnfederacy, ended the military
career of this great commander
| Thence forward his talents and en-
| ergies were devoted to the arts of
/ peace. Eminently a representative
man, he kept aloof, like Lee, from
the agitatiOns by which the country
was cOnvulsed long after the close
| of tho war. No man of the South
accepted the situation in better
faith or adhered more rigidly to the
pledges given in his parole.
Personal "REMINISCENCES.
We learn from Colonel Thomas
| Claibprne, who was one OF General
EwelPs comrades in the war with
Mexico, as well as in the late civil
conflict, some interesting incidents
in General Ewell's life. lie made
! General EwelPs acquaintance at the
battle of CerrO GOrdo, at which the
| Generals brother, Lieutenant Ewell
was the first TO leap into the enc
my's works, and was killed. Colo
mel Claiborne subsequently, aided
General Ewell in conveying his
brothers remains away for trans
portatiOn to Vera Cruz. General
EWell was then a Lieutenant in the
United States Mounted Rifles. All
his men were devoted to him, and
showed for him the greatest affec-
ton. He shared everything with
his fellow soldiers and was the last
man to help or to serve himself.
Though often compelled from ne
cessity TO 90 in rags and patches he
| thought it no dishonor. He was a
rigid disciplinarian and took great
pride In making his command as ef-
fective as possible. In this respect
he had no superior.
While in the United States army
he was kept upon the frontiers for
IS years without having a furlOugh
during the whole time.
Shortly after the war broke out
General Ewell, then a Captain and
Lieutenant L. n. Moore were in the
same command at Tucson, in New
Mexico. Captain Ewell resigned
and left the post under the charge OF
| Lieutenant Moore, and subsequent-
ly Joined the Confederate army. a
movement having been made upon
Lieutenant Moore's command by q
body OF Texans. he safely led them
around the Mogollan Mountains.
Having gotten his men beyond the
reach of the Texans and while rid
ing at the head of the column, he
pulled out his pistol and shot him.
self through the head, falling dead
from his horse. II was supposed
that the forced evacuation OF the
post and the separation from Gen
eral Ewell, to when he was greatly
attached, prompted the deed of self
destruction.
Major Benz. EweIl, a brother OF
| Generel Ewell, served as Adjutant
General on Gen. Johnston's staff
during a part of the late war.
When he captured Winchester,
General Ewell took 1900 prisoners
and 26 guns. At Gettysburg he
took 5000 prisoners and 5 or 8 guns,
and 5000 prisoners at the battle o.
the Wilderness. In September,
1864, while in command of Rich
mond, he checked the enemy's ad-
vances, and saved the city with less
than 1000 men.