The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-22

TTt
Early in November, 1853, aaer Gen.
Lee bad successfully driyeD Meade ecfcss
the Rapidan bach to CeatreyilIe, and tho
for the purpose of going into winter
quafters, Hays brigade vas selt TO picket
she north bank at RappahspAock station.
Here they were re-enfosceG by the Lou
isiana Guard battery end q portion of
Gen. Hoko's North Carolina brigade.
After being on duty a day, a forward
movement was made by the enemy in
that direetion, and French's entire corps.
under Sedgewick, bore down upon them.
The onslaught was terrific--fhe enemy
being ten to one-but the gallant brigade
held them in check until night, when
their. lines were broken and they were
cut OFF from their own pontoon bridge.
The Rappahantock was st that point not
fordable, aud the night Was Intensely
cold, SO that their capture was inevitable.
Nevertheless, they resisted to the last.
The Louisiana Guard battery. dis.
charged their pieces when the enemy
were upon them, and two of their men
were bayoneted st .hc guns. Many of
the officers threw away their swords to
avoid surrendering them, and Lieut..
Charlie Pierce, of the Seventh Louisiana,
broke his sword on his knee ard handed
the hilt TO the officer--.he effect of which
can easily be imagined. The weapon was
O highly -prized one, being a trophy of
the battle: of Winchester. Gen. Harry
y. Hays ran the gantlet Of the pontoon
bridge under an enfilading fire of the
enemy. Col. Monaghan swan his horse
across tho river. Col. Terry and few
others successfully SWAN across, but
t<s.,<f - ~
Leon Rertin, the color-bearer of the Sew
staff and concealed it in his bosom. In
fact, everything possible wan done by tho
gallant fellows to render their capture 81
baTfensofi trophies as possible, while in
point eof casualties it was dearly
bought victory fur the enemy.
The entire force captured numbered
about 400 men, consisting of the Fifth,
Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Lou
isiana Guard Battery, and about 200 of
Hoke's North Oaroiiaa brigade.
The capture was witnessed from the
south bank by Gems. Lee and Early, who
accepted it as sacrifice that had to be
mades and under Its cover successfully
retired the remainder of the army across
the Rapidan.
But the writer's miEsion is to record
the daring and chivalric deeds Of mcm-
beT of the command that surrendered.
The captured prisoBers were marched to
) Gen. Sedgewick's headquarters, and when
assembled around the camp fire ct night.
surrounded by. Federal pickets, Leon Der.
tiaj by the advice of Col. ID. B. Penn. the
only field officer captured, threw the Gag
into the flames, as the effectual means Of
preventing it from falling into the eue-
my's hands.
The following morning the prisoners
were taken to the Old Cap 81 .prison,
where they were confined three days,
when the officers were sent to JohnBon'a
Island and the privates to Point Look
out.
Ao soon as the ecaptured officers reached
thsiE future prisons, the bucyancy Of
their natures asserted itself, and during
the winter months every species of amuse-
ment possible was indulged In to drive
away the ennui and render prison life
bearable.
A minstrel company was formed, Of
which Charlie 81. Pierce was among the
leading performers, and thei. entertain-
ments were witnessed and appreciated by
many outaide as we'll as inside the prison,
and by mono moro eagerly shan the Off
GERS of the gaFriaon, who invariably as
eembled to witness them.
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