The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-06-29


expressing his admiration of the action
a lew days afterHard the brave Stuart
oled for the cause. The battle continued
10y several days, when Grant, finding il
impossible to break our lines, moved to
ward the Panunkey, making feint at
Hanover Junction at North Anna Bridge
where four companies Of the Second held
the bridge successfully. Grant Continued
moving by his left flank till reaching
Cold Harbor. The brigade under the
gallant Keitt, was sen. out L to feel the
enemy, striking him at Beulah Church,
strongly entrenched. Here the brave
heitt received his mortal wound. Find.
ing the enemy in force and entrenched,
.ho LIAM army was rejoined aud sharp.
shootlng and skirmishIng commenced.
AN UNwRITTEH STORY.
one story unwritten in the history OF
the Second South Carolina Regiment !:
a very quiet afternoon at Cold Harbor.
Ihe year 1864, the month and day June
Gth. Two regiments in reserve. the
second and Seventh. The Third, Eighth,
Fifteenth, Twentieth and James's gallant
little battalion on the line. Not q sign
OF intention that the enemy would attack.
we, the regiments in reserve, had scarce
got through our scant Confederate din.
ner, before the roll Of infantry fire
greeted the ear. A second after, a
courier from Gen. Kershaw reported
with orders. Forward the two regiments
IN reserve, (the Second and SEVENTY
with the order TO double.quick and form
IN rear of a portion of the division
works which had just been surprised and
captured by the enemy. With his usual
Scotch instinct The will pardon the ex.
pression) and that ccol grit which series
OF days of close relationship during
the war impressed on the writer, Col.
William Wallace of the Second, the
senior colonel in the command of the
Two regiments in reserve, ordered his
men forward. The second fell into
ranks, being the first to receive orders,
with instructions to the Seventh to fol-
low at once. The Second, at quick time,
reached the place of attack 10 explain
the position of the ground it is necessary
to state that tie division in line Of the
works described Il right angle, 80 as to
reach the necessary point; the reserve
had to lille left OIL reaching the apex of
the angle and double.quick in rear and
near the line of Confederate works. So
rapid was the move of the Second that
the Seventh, las gallant regiment rs
ever fought, had not time to reach and
form with us. 1t was momentous
period, requiring judgment, decision and
dash. The Second formed on an eleva-
ton, about two hundred yards from the
captured works, held by two regiments
Of the enemy, Forty-eigbth aud One
Hundred and Twelfth New York.
Pausing only for moment to get the
regiment to front and into line, the order
from the colonel came: Elk bayonets.
charged" With the familiar Confcdcr.
ate yell, forward dashed the regiment,
without undertaking numbers,) only one
hundred and twenty rifles strong, driving
the enemy pel-mell out of the works
and blishing the line, capturing
the colors of the Forty eighth New
York.
| SINGULAR SPECTACLE.
This is an episode in the past If the
brigade, a matter of few minutes. Be-
tween the capture made by the enemy
and the retaking Of the works occupied
scarce fifteen minutes. A delay of as
many minutes more would have given
the enemy time to reinforce and then the
result to Lees army might have been
doubtful. Before the Second arrived on
the field a singular spectacle was pre-
sented. The enemy were in the works,
flanked right ard left by the Confederate
troops, both standing firm awaiting re-
suits, neither daring to move, both pas.
sive, hoping for reinforcements. In
afterthought this daring act of pluck and
necessity was plaiu-at all hazards to
make the charge was necessary. From
report of the enemy, the intention was to
make an effort to capture portion OF
our line and if successful TO reinforce.
The question was simply time with both
sides. The same was appreciated, and
hence the charge of the ''Forlorn Hope
When The disparity of numbers, one
small Confederate regiment against two
full Union regiments, is considered,
surely the affair has place on record
The action may not be unparalleled but
for dash, gallantry and successful result
will challenge the admiration.
To write : connected story of any bri.
gade requi, leisure AID memory. His
tory must do that. But in the little
moments of life and ofttimes in the night
a recollection of past scenes and com
radcs, who now sleep the sleep of the
brave, makes the pulse mount high and
the pen quicken. The Second was q
participant in all the shifting scenes ol
Cold Harbor, followed by Petersburg,
and then, after time, sent to the Valley
operating under Early, participating in
the victories and defeats of his army
including the brigade fight at Charles,
town, Virginia, while on picket, and the
brigade fight few days previous to the
Cedar Run fight, when the gallant Gen
Connor was disabled for life, also Berry
Vile and numbers of other minor affairs
In January, 1865, the brigade was or
dered to South Carolina to resist the
advance of Sherman, taking part in the
various skirmishes till the evacuation O.
Charleston; then into North Carolina
present at the fight at Averysboro', anC
closing its record at the field of Benton
Vile. At Smithville tho Twentieth Reg
iment consolidated with the Second, III,
Second retaining its name and colors
It's officers we're William Wallace, colo
mel; J. d. Graham, lieutenant colonel
and G. Leapheart, major.
CoNCLUsIo,9.
1t has been the endeavor to condens,
rs much as possible in this article, leav
ing to other and abler pens to go NOR,
into detail, for each company in the com
maad had an interesting and daring
experience. The names of the wounded
and dead are omitted, for it is impossible
to remember many who fell, and to omi
one would be unintentional injustice
Their deeds can only be recited by :
comrade from their immediate company
Also the many gallant personal acts o
the commanders of the Second, Gen
Kershaw, Gen. Kennedy and Col. Wal
lace. Tho dea.h of Iieut Col FranI