The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-02-26
ANTrEThar.
The Late Gen. j. 1s. HSsa'a Description OF
than hattie.

sIsas BattIe. 7,,' =
.-Fsom advance sheeta. Of Gen. Hood's
forthcoming buck, "Advance aud Re-
treat which Con. Beauregatd Is ahout
to.pnbllsh at New Orleans for the benefit
of.the dead soldiers children, we e1tFact
this description of the battle of Autie-
tasns inwhich Gen. Hood, although un.
der arrest on account of dispute be-
tween hip.self and Gen. Evans (Hho will
be remembered az being in command at
Balls Bluff when Bakerfell), was ordered
by Gen. Lee to take an important com i.
niand: ii'a t3it f,F s5gl
leOnthe 18th of sspiomber intelligence
was received of McClellan's advance from
the direction of Federal City toward
South Mouniain, and on the morning OF
the 14th 1 marched with Longstreet's
corps to Eoonsboro' Gap, q narrow wind
ing pass through which runs the
turnpike frpfH Hagerstown to Federal
City. waS- still under arrest, with OF.
dors to move in rear of my two brigsdes.
Ihe division reached the foot of South
Mountain about $3.50 p. M, from which
point could be seen the shells of the enc.
my. ais they passed over the rugged peaks
IN front, and burst upon the slope in our
proximity. could hear the men, as
they ailed up the ascent, cry out along
the line, "'Give us Hood [" but did not
comprehend the meaning of this appeal
till / arrived with the rear of the column
at the base Of the ridge, where I found
Gen. Lee standing by the fence. yery
near the pike, in company with his chief
OF staff, Col. Chiffon. The latter accosted
me, bearing q message from the, GeceraI,
that he desired TO speak to me. / dis.
mounted, and soon stood in his presence,
when he said: General. here am,
just upon the eve of entering into battle,
and with one of my best officers under
arrest. Ifyou will merely say that you
and restore you to the command of your
division." / replied: OF am unable 10
90 SO, since cannot admit or see the
justness OF. Gen. Evans demand for the
Grnbnlahces 'mymen have captured. Had
been ordered to turn them over for the
general use of the army, would cheer
fully have acquiesced. He again urged
me to make some declaration expressive
of regret. l answered that 1 could &c.
consistentiy do SO. Then in voice be-
traying the feeling which warmed the
heart Of this noble aud great warrior, he
saidv fell; ! will suspend your arrest
Till thesinapending battle is decided.
quickly remounted, galloped to the
Va A.y SoiehiuJ auu, Will u KIM
welcome from my troops, reported for
duty to Gen. Longstreet, who BY this
time had reached tho summit of the
mountain. He Immediately instructed
me to file to the left, in the wake of
Evans brigade, and to take position with
my right near. the pike. The advance IF
McClellan's long lines could be seen
moving up the slope in our front, evil
IDENTITY with the purpose to disledge our
forces posted on the sharp ridge overlook
ing the valley below. Before long Major
FAIRFAX, of Longstreets staff, came to me
In haste, with orders to move to the right
OF the pike, as oul troops on that part of
the teld had been driven back. He &C.
CO aranied me to the pike, and here
turned hie horse to leave. when natue
rally asked him if he would not guide
me, He replied: ".No, ! can only. 60
to-ttie' right" meantime Major FrobeIs
batteries had come forward into position
on top Of the ridge; they opened fire and
perfoTmed excellent service in checking
tile epehiy. The wood and indergrowth
were dense, and nothing but a pig-path
seemed to lead in the direction in which
/ was ordered. Nevertheless, conducted
my, troops obliqnely by the right flank,
and while / advanced I'could hear the
shouts ofs.the Fedefals as they swept
down the mountain upon our side l
then borestill more obliquely to the right,
Witn view TO ges as far as possiblel to-
ward the left flank of the enemy before
we came in contact. We marched on
tlIrotish tho wood as rapidly'as the OBJ.
stacles an our passage would admit. Each
step forward brought Eearer, r,and nearer
to us the heavy Federal lines, as they ad-
vanced, cheering over their SUCCESS and !
the possession of our dead and wounded.
Finally, | gave instructions to Gen. Law
and Col. Woford, directing the two bri-
gndcs to order their, men TO fix bayonets,
and when the enemy came to within
seventy five or hundred yards, ordered
the men to front and charge. They
obeyed promptly, with genuine Confed-
crate yell, and. the Federals were driven
back pell mel, Overland beyond the noun
tain, at much quicker pace than they
had descended. Night closed ii with not
only our dead aud wounded, together
with those of ont adversarysin our pos.
session, but with the mountain, on the
right within OUR lines. 3f{, h.
After the correctiono of my alignment
rode, at about 10 p. M, back to the Gep,
where ffchhd Ger. y, y LI, LI EIili and other
officers on the gallery of tavern, near
the pike, evidently discussing the out.
lock. 2AslL 4ppToachhd ! / inquired in aIi
ordinary tone of voice as TO the condition
of affairs on our left, and to my surpriee
was met with mysterious sPahe-- Pshel y
a ayoice added In nn audible whisper, aThe
enemy is just there in the iyJrn field; bic
has forced US back I thefeupofi sue.
Fsssss 5ss<Ts that .ss ranair without delay "a
Gen.sIIee's headquarters, and report the
situation. Accordingly, We rode down
to the foot Of. the mountain, where we
found Gen. Lee in council with Gen,
Loagstreet. After-a long debate, ie was
decided 70 retire and fall back toward
SharpabaER.
The morning of the 18th our forces
were again in motion ii the direction oil
the Antietaui. The cavalry. aud my tvs
brigadss, in adiitionto Major ,Frobel's
iSs:r iSs Termed e. saa ar.a a hold
onr opponents in check, while The army
,-sarchsd quietly 20 It's destination. My
troops, q. this period. were soreIy In need
ofshoes, clothing and food. Weshad no
meat issued TO us for several days, and
little or no creRd the men had been
forced to anbsist principally on green
c;lrsiJ and green apples. sgerthelesa
they wcfeSih high spirits and defiant, as
wecontended with the advanced guard OF
Mcclellan the 18th and forenoon of the