Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-12-08
GEN. LEE TO THE REAR.
A "REMINISCENCES OF THE BATTLE OF sPoTTsYL-
vANIA COURT HOUSE.

AT the recent reunion and banquet Of the
army Of Northern Virginia held during the
State Fair in Richmond, Col Jas. H. Skinner,
10 response TO the toast in honor Of " Our in-
fantry," gave an account of memorable in
cideut in the Battle Of Spottsylvana Court
House. which We are so sure will be interest
inc TO our readers that we have sought the
privilege Of laying il before them in the fol-
lowing extract:
Our Infantry not only encountered with
cheerfulness all the trial aud hardships Of the
camp and the march, hut in the fierce enconn-
ters Of battle displayed proud seli-reance,
to which the annals Of other wars and other
a.mies can scarce furnish a parallel. Let one
notable Instance, out Of many, suffice for IL
lustration. II was on the memorable morning
of the 18th Of Nay, GA, in the battle Of Spot,syl-
vania Court House. In tie early dawn our
army had suffered fearful disaster. An assault
by Hancock's CORPS had broken our lines
and swallowed up almost division, ln-
cluling the larger part of the famous Stone
wall Brigade. Early's division was forthwith
summoned to retrieve if possible our less, and
to re-establish our lines at tie gap through
which the enemy were pouring. IL was an
appalling crisis 10 our affairs, which called for
the presence and direction Of our noble Com
mander-ln- Chief He placed himself in front
OF the division, as though intending to lead
the charge in person Traces Of anxiety could
be real or at least fhncied, on even his uni-
foruly cain and mperiurbable brow. Our
own tried and trusted Chief of division was
that day commanding a corpsr but the mantle
of an Early conld not have fallen on worthier
shoulders than those of the heroic John B.
Gordon. The line diviuing Gen. Lees pur-
pose. insisted that he should abandon II, each
heart felt that in lis life the fortunes
of the cOufc. racy were. under God,
bound up This brave division, though II
would have goried TO distinguish itself
under the immediate leadership Of It's Com
mander-in- Chief. were unwilling 10 the unne
ce,sary hazard Of bis valuable life They knew
th; I'll dby Gordonasthey frequently lad done
under Early they could and would accom-
plish all that lay in the power Of men, and
therefore from the ranks the cry arose, " Gen.
Lee 20 the rear = This is the incident TO
which Gen. Lee himself reluctantly referred,
! ana locates lI TIE bdANttH DI'AAF
Court House lie yielded to the demand OF
his men. who had no doubt by this time in
spireI him with the fullest confidence, and hy
the band of General Gordon his horse was led
through an opening made in Capt James
Bumgar1ner's company, the color company OF
the 50 Virginia infantry, the regiment which
your speaker had the honor to command.-
Gen. Gordon Immediately thereafter gave To
the division the order 20 charge, and with
wild yell it sprlng forward Hundreds Of
brave men fell in its onward rushing progress (;
but lIaucock's corps driven before them like
autumn leaves belure fierce winters blast,
! they were forced far beyond our trenches, our
line was substantially re-established. and the
! lay saved to the army of Northern Virginia
We read how in the terrible charge at Lodi
the veteran grepadiers of France, though
flushed with many recent victories, ia'tcrcd
until their Little Corporal" as they afer-
wards loved TO call him, and several Of their
brave generals rushed to the lead, but the in
hntry Of the army Of Northern Virginia, in
this more deadly and destructive charge, un-
selfshly denied themselves the privilege oi
being led by one who inspired them with an
enthusiasm not inletior TO that which the
presence of Napoleon could awaken in the
zenith Of his fame.