The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-05-12
GEN: MARTIN W. GARY.
.Homely. "reminiscences Of His Army Life.

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An Edge6eld soldier writes to the
Edgefeld Advert;ser of the late General
Martin W. Gary:
g gL never knew Gsry'to sshsd tears ex:
.ceptsa at Me surrender: and then he wept
Ike 4 child. His Brigade (which had
been the advance guard of the Army for
two or three days previous) laid down on
their arms for few hours rest, on the
night of the 9Th, after fighting in dark
ness, doubt and uncertainty till past
midnight, and awoke to find the enemy
almost surrounding US, and at very close
quarters. Gary at once commenced sn
attack. After fighting short while, a
Federal staff officer rode up from our
rear and begged Gen. Gary to desist, as
Lee had agreed to surrender. Gary, in
very emphatic language, ordered him
away or he would have q bullet hole put
through him-that he was not the proper
person from whom be SHOULD receive such
intelligence. Soon5atter, one of General
Gordon's staff officers confirmed the sad
fact. Gen. Gary, with tears in his eyes,
turned to one of his co1riers, and said:
$50 and find Rosser for me-" but before
the courier's return, he, with 8, few. men,
hsaScut bis waysthr6qgh the lines and,
WIS 81 .hissMaYtotJ tJoe aoRnson1 the only
s6fganizef army left US: Faithful to the
last! This little incident is not inappro.
pirate Just now. One or two others may
not come amiss.
In the winter of 81 we were encamped
,on .Occoquan Bay. The weather was
intensely cold, and good many of the
men needed warmer clothing. By the
care and forethought of Capt. Gary, aud
the kindness of the good ladies of Beach
Island, one hundred warm red flannel
shirts were distributed to the men. The
next morning the whole company came
out uniformed in the Red Shirt-the
first organized company l had ever seen
in that uniform. How intimately asso-
ciated with the Red Shirt will his mem.
ory now be-! Gary was always thought
full for the comfort of his men.
On the SOth of August '62 (the first
day of the Second Manassas) the Hamp-
ton Legion-Col. Gary commanding
supported one of the Regiments of Ev-
ans Brigade, and went into the action a.
short distance in their rear. Night COM
ing on, we lost sight of the Regiment
which we supported, but. nevertheless
marched on, thinking they had out
stripped us. We soon found ourselves
face to face with a. Pennsylvania Regi-
ment, only few steps intervening. A
pause, CONSERVATION and uncertainty in
the ranks of both regiments! the dark
ness no doabt magnifying, and multiply,
ing the enemy to each. The ePennsyiva-
mia Colonel orders q surrender; then the
clarion notes Of Gary rang out:F I've
are South, Carolinians, and did not come
here to surrender. Charge 'em, boysP
That voice and those words settled the
fate of that regiment. Major afterwards
General, lone of the most gallant officers
in the armyt Logsn skiiled the Colonel
by pistol shot, and we made prisoners
of such of the scattered troops as we
could find. Our own loss was nearly
nominal. Such was Gary's quickness at
critical times.
At AtSharpsburg, Captain R. W. Tomp-
kins (another most gallant ofhcer) was
killed. The officer commanding the
company after his death requested per-
mission of Col. Gary to have his body
carried to tie rear. We had just been
relieved by fresh troops. He replied:
eyes, take poor Bob back to the woods
and bury him; we can scarcely do more
than care for our dead and wounded
now" We had lost two.thirds of the
men whom we carried into The action.
He felt sadly the loss of his men.
The only battle-where any large num-
ber of troops were engaged-in which he
acted as commander.in.chief, was few
miles below Richmond, forget the name
of the place. Here he fairly defeated
the celebrated Gen: Kautz, capturing ar
tillery, provisions, baggage, and adding
fresh laurels to his brow as an indepen-
dent commander. For this victory he
was much complimented BY the officials
and the, press. / could go on and multi
ply incidents, but consideration for your
space forbids.