The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-15
A CONFEDERATE ROMANCE.
The Young Color-Bearer Of a Virginia Reg
iment Who was Killed with the Colors
In His Bosom-A Chi1d's Apron Which
Floated Over the Battlefield.


At meeting of oftheSouthern Historical.
Society recently held in Louisville, Ken,
lucky, Maj. E. h. Mcdonald submitted
the following paper, which is full Of inter-
est to all who love thrilling war Incl
dents:
In the Spring of 1868, while the army
of Northern Virginia was encamped on
the Rapidan River, preparing for that b,
memorable campaign which included the
battle of Gettysburg, there came to it
from Hampshire County, Va, beardless
boy scarcely eighteen years of age, the
eldest son of widowed mother. His
home was within the enemy's lines, and
he had walked more than one hundred
miles to offer his services to assist in re-
pelling a foe which was then preying
upon the fairest portions of his native
State. He made application tojoin Com
pany 3D." Eleventh, Virginia Cavalry,
which was made up principally from his
County, and therefore contained many
of his acquaintances, and seemed much
surprised when told that the Confederate
government did not furnish its cavalry
with horses and equipments. Some
members of the company present, who
noted his earnestness and the disappoint-
ment caused by this announcement from
the officer, said: Enroll him, Captain,
and we will see that he has horse and
equipments the next fight we get into"
In faith of this promise he was enrolled
James NJ. Watkins, Company Cd" Elev-
enth Virginia Cavalry, Jones's Brigade.
Shortly afterward the campaign opened
with the fight at Brandy Station, in which
twenty thousand cavalry were engaged
from daylight to sundown, and before the
battle was over Watkins was mounted
and fully equipped and took his place
with his company. 1t was not long
after this engagement that General Lee
advanced the whole army and crossed into
Maryland, Watkins's command covering
the rear. During the battle of Gettysburg,
on the Sd and 4th of July, we were engag-
ed several times with the enemy's cavalry
on our right, upon which occasions he was
always found in the front, and while on
the march was ever bright and cheerful.
On the evening of the 4th, Gen. Lee,
in preparation for his retreat, began to
send his wagons to the rear in the direc-
ton of Williamsport, when it was found
that the enemy's cavalry had gone around
our left and taken possession of pass in
South Mountain through which lay our
line ofmarch. To dislodge them required
q stubborn fight; lasting late into the
night, in which Gen. Jones's brigade was
engaged, and he himsef, becoming sepa-
rated from his men in the darkness, was
supposed to have been captured or
killed.
Finally the Federals were repulsed, and
the wagon train proceeded on its way to
Williamsport. In the morning Watkins's
command was ordered to march on the
left flank of the train, to prevent q re-
newal of the attacks upon it, and an ap-
preaching Ragerstown those in the rear
of the column heard loud and repeated
cheering from the men in front. After
having been in an enemy's country fight
ing night and day, in rain and mud,
those cheers came to those who
heard them in the distance as the
first rays of sunshine after storm.
Many we're the conjectures as to their
cause some said it was fresh troops from
the other side of the Potomac; Others
that it was the ammunition wagons, for
the supply was known to be short; while
others surmised that it was Gen. Jones
reappearing after his supposed death or
capture. Whatever the cause was, its
effect was wonderful upon the morale of
those men, and cheers went up all along
the line from those who did not know the
cause in answer to those who did. When
The command had reached stone mill
about three miles Southeast of Hagers-
town, they found the cause-only little
girl about fourteen years of age, perhaps
the miller's daughter, standing in the
door wearing an apron in which the col
ors were 80 blended as to represent the
Confederate flag.
A trivial thing it may seem to those who
were not there, but to those war-worn
men it was the first expression OF SYM
pathy for them and their cause that had
been openly given them since they had
crossed the Potomac, and their cheers
went up in recognition of the courage of
the little girl and her parents, who thus
dared to give their sympathy to retreat
ing army, almost in sight of revengeful
foe. When Company D was passing the
house the Captain rode up and thanked
the little girl for having done so much to
revive the dropping spirits Of the troops
and asked her if she would not give him
a piece of the apron as souvenir of the
incident. eyes, certainly" she replied;
"You may have it ALL" And in her en-.
thusiasm she tore it of, not waiting to
unpin it, and handed it to the officer,
who said it should be The flag Of his COM
pany as long as it wss upon Maryland
soil. "Let me be the color.bearer, Cap
taiu," said young Watkins, who was by
his side: II promise to protect it with
my life." And fastening it to STAFF he
resumed his place at the head Of the COM
pany, which was in the front squadron of
the regiment. Later in the evening" in
obedience to an order brought by cou-
rier, the Eleventh Cavalry moved at a
pallop in the direction of Williamsport,
whence the roll of musketry and report
of cannon had been heard for some time,
and, reioining the brigade, was engaged
in a desperate struggle to prevent the
Federal cavalry from destroying the
wagons of the whole army, which, the
river being unfordable. were halted and
parked at this point, their principal de-
tense against the whole cavalry force of
the enemy being the teamsters and strag-
rlers that Gen. Imboden, had organized.
The Eleventh Cavalry charged the bat
tery in front of them, this gallant boy,
with his apron flag, riding side by side
with those who led the charge. The bat
terry was taken and setaken and then
taken again before the Federals withdrew
from the field, followed in the direction
ofBoonsboro until darkness covered their
retreat. In those desperate surges many
went down on both sides, and it was not
until after it was over that men thought
of their comrades and inquiries were
made for the missing. The Captain of
Company D, looking over the battlefield