The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1873-12-11

how splcndidly Stuart with his cavalry Gas
sisted by part of Anderson's Infantry hell
in check overwhelming numbers until Gen
Lee could get into position.
He then gave an account of the repuls'
of Hancock by Heth's division, under Early
in it's attempt to turn Lees flank, and the
terrible repulse which Kershaw's and Fields
divisions gave the enemy in their repeated
attacks on their lines, even though the odds
against them were fully five to one. He
gave striking incidents illustrating the he.
roism of our men in these fights.
He gave the account of the breaking Of
Rhodes lines on the 10th, and tells of the
gallant style in which they retook them un-
der the eye and in the immediate presence
of Gen. Lee, whom the troops again begged
to 60 to the rear.
He gave the details Of the disaster to
Johnston's division on the memorable 18th
of May, (exonerating that noble old Roman
from all blame, by which we lost three
thousand prisoners and eighteen pieces Of
artillery and told of the splendid courage
by which new line just in the rear was
formed, against which the blue waves dash
ed in vain.
lie gave an incident of the refusal of Har
ris' Mississippi brigade to go into the fight
with General Lee, and brought out the point
that this incident occurred several times in
this campaign, and that General Lee, when
written to after the war about it, only men,
tions one Gin reply to direct question: so
unpretending was ne, that such incidents
were regarded by him as Of minor import
ance.
He claimed that while others did most
noble service, Rhodes and Ramseur were
the real heroes Of that memorable 18th of
May.
He said that in reply to the question fire.
quently asked why General Lee sent the
Government no telegram about the battle
of the 18th, that he did send telegram that
evening.
lie then sketched the further progress of
the campaign by which Lee foiled Grant at
the North Anna, gave him crushing de
feat at Cold Harbor and finally forced him
to lay siege to Petersburg, which be might
have done at the beginning of the campaign
without the loss Of single man.
This narrative is interspersed with touch
ing and valuable historic incidents, which
we regret our want of space will not allow US
to give; but this will all doubtless be pub
lishcd in full, and will give the future his
torian invaluable material.
His summing up was as follows:
lie had not designed to give review, but
only few incidents of the campaign. But
a few more general statements of this great
est campaign of that army would not be out
of place On the 4th of May four radiating
invading columns set out simultaneously for
the conquest of Virginia. The old State,
which had for three years known little else
save the tramp of armed legions, was now to
be closed in by circle of fire from the noun
tains to the seaboard.
Through the southwestern mountain pass
es; through the gates of the lower valley
from the battlescarred wales of the Kappa.
hammock; from the Atlantic seaboard to the
waters of the James came the serried hosts
on field and food, numbering more than
275, 900 men, (included in this number also
reinforcements sent during the campaign
No troops were ever more thoroughly equip
ped, or supplied with more abundant COM
missariat For the heaviest column trans.
ports wero ready to bring supplies and re-
inforcements to any one Of three convenient
deep-water asses-Acquia creek, Port Roy
al and the White House.
The column next in Importance had Its
deep-water base within nine miles OF vital
point in our dcfenses In the cavalry arm
$50 important in a campaign in a country
like ours) they boasted overwhelming
strength. The Confederate forces in |Ir'
cinia, or which could be drawn to Its de-
fense from other points, numbered not more
than - 900 men Yet our great command
er with steadfast heart, committing our cause
to the Lord of battles, calmly made his dis
position to meet the shock Of the invading
hosts In sixty days the great invasion had
dwindled to a siege of Petersburg (mile'
\ L. a. = ,,,o;n column which