The National tribune., 1882-05-27
HOW GENERAL SANDERS DIED.

HOW GENERAL SANDERS DIED.
The publication of the sketch of General
William p. Sanders's military career IN THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE of May and the re-
publication in the Louisville Commercial of
the same date has called out several letters
from friends who knew and loved him. One
from DR.. J. L. Hatchitt, of Frankfort, one
of the surgeons who attended General San
ders after he had received his death wound,
alludes in feeling manner to the occur
renee:
DIT was the saddest death l ever witnessed
In the army. In his delirium before dying
he continually thanked God that he was not
shot in the back Such was the confidence
the army had in him that Genera! Burnside
requested that his death should not be made
known, and the surgeons were accordingly
urged to keep up the impression that Sanders
was living some time after he was dead"
Major r. Z. Lawder, of Missouri, himself
brave and efficient soldier, ther lieu
tenant in the Second Ohio cavalry, was aid
de-camp to General Sanders and contributes
the following details of the wOunding and
subsequent death of the General He says:
ave were, as you have stated, dismounted
and formed in line of battle with instruc
tions to hold our position in front of the un-
finished works at Knoxville until withdrawn.
About D. m. there was a furious assault
made by Longstreet's infantry upon our left
flank, commanded by that brave an intrepid
soldier, Colonel C. d. Pennebaker, of the
Twenty-seventh Kentucky mounted in
fantry. General Sanders had up to this
time occupied his proper position in rear of
his line, where slight depression in the
ground afforded cover from. the elemY's
sbarpshooters, some of whom were in the
house now occupied by Mr.. Anderson, not
more than 400 yards in front of our line.
On hearing the rapid firing going on in Col.
Prnnbsker's front General Sanders imme-
q a1ely walked up to the top of the little
rise in the ground where Pennebaker was
posed and saw the assault upon that fine
brigade and the gallant repulse. The balls
from the rifles of the sharpshooters We're
whizzing through the air close to our heads,
and vas well pleased when he turned de-
libeTately latter having satisfied himself that
his presence in the front was no longer re-
quired) to walk down to his headquarters.
Just as he was turning ! heard the thud that
tells in unmistakable language that some
one has been struck. Then l saw General
Sanders stagger; caught him in my arms
3 and eased him to the ground. He told me
to leave him there, that he was no further
use, and 90 on; but that was an order could
not obey. Two other officers, one Adjutant-
General Smith, of Michigan regiment, and
another whose name 1 have forgotten, came
to my assistance, ard together we CARED him
to place of temporary security, and / i'm
mediately started in search of an ambulance
On the way towards the city / met Cen
eral Burnside and told him of the wound
received by his friend, for General Sanders
had always been more the confidential friend
of General Burnside than the ordinary staff
officer. The General was greatly shocked,
and sent an orderly at once for an ambulance
when / returned TO the side of the wounded
and dying man. In another hour we had
him comfortably provided for at the Lamar
House, while the surgeons, among whom
was DR.. Hatchitt, IN old personal friend of
his from Kentucky, were doing all that
surgical skill could suggest to save the life
so dear to us all. 1t was soon known that
the wound was mortal The ball had en-
tered his SIDE tearing through the spleen,
believe, and the surgeons shook their heads
when we asked if there was any hope
"I was young man, then, and full of mar
tial ardor. The most attractive object in all
the world to me was a brave, handsome
well-dressed officer, mounted on 4 good
horse, going into battle. ] have seen many
such men since then, but never one who
equalled General Sanders He was in the
prime of life, tall, and perfectly prop0rtiOned,
exceedingly graceful, and courteous to all.
He rode his superb steed as if he was part of
himself, guiding and controlling him as if
by his will. He was brave as Julius Cesar
in battle, but modest in reference to his own
part in fight, giving credit to every one
else, reserVing none for himself He was
my prince, and | would have followed
wherever he chose to lead. This was the
feeling throughout his division, although he
had only recently assumed command of it.
seed chief of cavalry, and every soldier
new that his practiced eye detected, and
lis care Supplied, their wants.
ne hour came very soon when the eyes
eere closed and the manly form was to be
laHd in Inc earth. Any one who was present
% Thar solemn funeral never forgot it, 1t
was midnight when small procession of
aiic,rS bore the body of their friend to its
taai resting place A mufiled drum was our
only music, and a time was chosen when the
soldiers were at their quarters. Silently the
procession wended its way through the
streets to an old churchyard, where, in a
corner, a grave had been dug We lowered
the coffin, filled up the grave, and, that a