The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-10-01

any source, OF reliable character, viii be
OF great value to the future historian
who shall write that story for the coming
generations
l was then serving IN Gen. William
Wallace's South Carolina brigade, form
erly Cen Evans, and attached to Gen.
Gordon's corps on Gen. Lees extreme
LETT, near Hatchev's Run and SOuthside
railroad. ~ rzs
| cannot forget the night Of the cad
and Oath of March, 1855. About rundown
of the 23d courier arrived 1T our field
hospital with an order that about mid
night we should move with the brigade
to Petersburg, about six miles distant.
The night was brilliant with moonlight.
We knew nothing Of the nature Of the
enterprise before us, but that it was one
involving serious work we inferred from
the preparations and the midnight march.
by IL O'Clock the command was moving.
just before leaving called to see young
Norwood, who was dying of fever in one
OF the tents-a son of the distinguished
physician, Dr. Norwood of South Caro-
lima, and nephew of Mrs Speer, VEN
cradle lady now of Atlanta. He passed
away, I believe, that night, and doubtless
at the very hour when his friends and
comrades were storming Fort Steadman.
On the march, a short distance from
Petersburg, we passed Gen. Lees head
quarters. 1t was about three in the
morning, the house was lighted up, and
a large number of horses readily saddled
standing around the enclosure. This was
another indication of the hazardous en-
terprise before us. The cocks were crow
ing loudly for day, as the brigade filed
through the silent streets Of the sleeping
city; without a mGment's halt, the men
were hurled upou the enemy in or around
Fort Steadman.
The surgeons scarcely had time to get
things ready in the field hospital before
the wounded began to pour in upon US.
1t was costly nights struggle to South
Carolina; we lost there some of the best
men Of the old brigade that had seen so
much service in Virginia, Maryland, and
Mississippi. By the afternoon of the
oath the hospitals of the city were full Of
such OF our wounded as could be borne
from the field. The 18th South Carolina,
my own regiment, came back leaving
both its Colonel Of. w. McMaster) Of
Columbia and its Northumberland (Culp
OF Chester) wounded, and in the hands of
the enemy. The gallant Benbow of the
23d was badly wounded and left in the
enemy's hands, There were other prom
lnent officers of the brigade who fell or
suffered that nj ght, whose names 1 can
not recall now. Those of them who were
only wounded could not see then that a
mercitul God had laid them aside to be
hidden from the more fearful suferings
of the retreat and the scenes a Appoma-
tox. They were kindly called for. -; be-
lleve, In every instance, by generous enc
my.
never met Col. McMaster again till
after the close of the war. The meu who
had returned tom the midnight assault
could give no account Of him, except that
as usual he had fought gallantly and was
seen to fall, and was either dead or was
prisoner. After returning to our old
quarters, near Hatcher's Run. on the
right, as the terrible days and weeks roll
ed away, hearing nothing from him, we
began to mourn him as doubtless among
the dead, whom the enemy had buried
upon that i'll fated field. His devoted
wife has, I dare say, in her possession,
at this moment several letters by which
some Of us endeavored to cheer Ter with
the hope that her brave husband lived and
was kindly attended by generous enemy.
l have not met Lieut.-Col. Culp from
that day to this. 1 do not know that he
lives; but no better soldier ever drew a
sword in his country's defence.
After the failure Of the night of the
Oath OF March, as Gen. Gordon remarks,
all was virtually lost; it was only mat
ter of time. and very brief time at that,
to exhaust the agony of the unequal
struggle. But there was one piece Of
history, connected with that disastrous
affair that Gen. Gordon does not mention,
which many Of us heard soon after, and
which, if true, goes far to temper the re-
grets, under the disaster, of all who be-
lieve in the special, overruling providence
Of an allw .se and almighty God.
Gen. Pickett's division, then the strong
est In the army, was stationed some if
teen miles from Petersburg, and between
that city and Richmond. In the order
from Gen. Lee before referred to, and
which Gen. Pickett had received in full
time for Gordon's exigency, he was in
structed to amuse the enemy by a feint
along his skirmlsh line, whilst with the
strength of his division he was to fly, as
it were, in trains awaiting him, to the
the help Of the gallant Gordon. The
flint was made, the enemy aroused
and deceived, while Pickett, with his
main force was hurying, as fast as steam
could propel them, toward Fort Stead
man and Petersburg. A few more min
utes and Gordon's mastery stroke would
become great victory, Grants right
flank completely turned, and his line of
communication broken. Minutes grew
into hours as the heroic Gordon and his
brave men strained their ears to
hear the roar of Pickett's ap.
preaching trains, or the rattle of
his invincible rifles upon the rear
of the fast recovering enemy. "Why
does Pickett delaya" rau spontaneously
along the watching and waiting lines.
Alas! consummate bravery and intre-
pidity could avail nothing against the
DEGREES Of heaven! The rapidly moving
train bearing Picket ahd his brave men.