The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-15

Tao Young Color-BeaseR OF Virginia Reg
iFasnt Who YVES Ikll,sd viii the Coiors
In Bis Rosom-A ChiId's Apron Which
Rloatca Over the Battlefield.
Atemeeting oftheSopthoua Historical
Society recently held In louisville, Ken.
tucky, Maj. E. n. Mcdonald submitted
the following raper, which Is full of inter
eat TO all who love thrilling waf Incl.
dents: sS 1
In the Spring OF 1868, while the army
Of Northern Virginia was encamped on
tho Rapidan River, preparing for that
memorable campaign which included the
battle of Gettysburg, there came to ii
from Hampshire County, Va, beardless
boy scarcely eighteen years of age, the
home was within the enemy's lines. and
he he'd walked more than one hundred
miles to offer his aeryices to assist in re.
pelling G foe which was then preying
upon tho fairest portions of his native
State. He made application to join Com
panye "D,p Eleventh Virginia Cavalry,
which was made up principally from his
County, and. therefore contained many
OF his acquaintahces, and seemed much
surprised when told that the Confederate
government did not furnish its cavalry
with boraes and equipments. Some
members of the company present, who
noted his earnestness aud the disappoint-
ment caused by FL g announcement from
the officer, said: "Enroll him, Captain.
and we will see that he has q horse and
equipments the next fight we get into"
In faith Of this promise he was enrolled
James M. Watkins, Company Sd" Elev-
enth Virginia Cavalry, Jones's Brigade.
Shortly atterward the campaign opened
with the fight at Brandy Station, in which
twenty thousand cavalry were engaged
from daylight to snndown, and before the
battle was. over Watkins was mounted
aud fully equipped and took his place
with his company. It was not long
after this engagement that General Lea
advanced the whole army and crossed into
Maryland, Watkins's command covering
the rear. During the battle of Gettysburg,
onthe Sd and 4th of July, we were engag.
ed several Zines with the enemy's cavalry
on our right, upon which occasions he waa
always found In the front, and while on
the march was ever bright aud 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 WilliamBp0rt, 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 efparch. Ta dinlodge them required
sthbborn fight, lasting late into the
night In which Gen. Jones's brigade was
engaged, and hs himsef, becoming repa-
rated from his men in the darkness, was
supposed 70 have been captured or
killed. BITS t4 80. Jste
Finally the Federals were repulsed, and
the wagon train proceeded on its way to
Williameport. In the morning Watkins's
coT,qand was ordered to Mach on the
Left aank of the train, to prevent re-
newai Of the attacks npop It, and an ap-
preaching Hagerstown those in the rear
of the column heard loud and repeated
cheering from the men in front. After
having been in ON enemy's county 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 q storm.
Many were the conjectures as to their
cause some said it was fresh troops from
the other i6fde, of the Potomac; cthers
that 10 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
.he command had reached stone mill
about three miles Southeast of Hagers-
town, they found the cause-only o little
girl about fourteen years of age, perhaps
the miiier's daughter, standing in the
door wearing an apron in which the col
ora were go blended as 70 represent the
Confederate flag.
4 trivial thing IL NAV saam tn thnaa yhc
we're not there. but to those war-worn
men it wes the first expression of sym
pathy for them and their cause that had
been ppe1,y given them aimee they had
crosset the Pbtomacs 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 armys almost in eight os g reyeagssss.s
foe. When Company D was passing the
the little girl for having done SO much 10
revive the dropping apirits of the troops
aud asked her IL che would not give him
piene OF the apron as O souvenir of the
incident. eyes, certainly che replied /;
"You Iaay have il ALL" And in her en-
thuai9sm she tore it on, not waiting TO
unpin it, and handed ii to the officer,
who said 1t thould be the flag of his com
pany 40 long es it was upon Maryland
soil. 'L6S mo bo the coior:Dearer, Cap
tain" said young Watkins, xhe ives by
hie eide "L premise &c protect;it with
my life." Aud fastening &c to q staff ka
resumed his plaee 2ts the tl I'd Of the eCili-
pany, which wasin tha from ieq6adron OF
the regiment, Later in tho ,97ening, III,
obedience to an ordsr brought Sy q c5a-
!, rier. che Eleventh Cavalry moved at q
gallop in the direction OF Nilliambroft,
whence tho roll of rnusketry and report
Of cannon had haan heard for soma 'ffhia.
and. .reioining the lbrigGde, was engaged
in desperate struggle to prevent Che
Federal cavalry from Destroying the
wagons of the whole army, which, the
siv0I; TviuS uuIvIuuuIU, w1TU nsiJeN anu
parked at this point, their principal de-
fense against the whole cssairy force of
the enemy being the teamstaraand strag-
glera that Gen. Imboden, had organized.
The Eleventh Cavalry charged the bat
terry Ia front Of them, this gallant boy,
with his apron flag, riding side by side
with thoss who led the charge. The bat
terry was taken aEd retaken aud then
taken again befons TIE Eedefals withdrew
from tho fieio, followed Ia the direction
ofBoonsboro until darkness covered their
retreat. In those Desperate surSeg MANY
xvsY,t 1n..,ss u ~ fttEN ss{ -t9t, "a "a u