Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-03-15

M0Creary, Wdlkeu ny tHe Siue VI LILY hoioe
conversing most hopefully OF the expected
ton with me-possibly the last he ever ha'
on earth In the woods in front of tn
works, and about two hundred, possibl.
three hundred, yards from where we passet
out, and on the White Oak Road, we toun(
what seemed to be brigade of Confederat
troops, resting on the right of the road an(
lust out of it, I was informed that this wa
the brigade formerly known as Oracle s
but which was this day commanded, as
have heard, by Col. Munford, of Alabama
was told that Gen. MCGOWAN was to com
mand these two brigades, this one and nj
own, and that they were to constitute TN
attacking party. It may have been part o
the plan that Hunton's Brigade, of Bushrot
Johnson's Division, should move out an(
iOin us as soon as our attack should drlV'
the enemy from theirleft and reach, or abou
reach, those in Gen. Hunton'S front. But o
this speak only from conjecture.
Capt. Davie, in sketch published II
September last in the Weekly Neacs, speak
of his regiment, the Fifty-ninth Alabama
1 believe, seeing, as they stood or lay IL
line this morning, the enemy's lines NOV
ing in their front, in open, or comparatlvel!
open ground. That regiment must, there
fore, although part of Gracie's Brigade, have
been on the left of the place where we fount
some of that brigade, as just stated. know
1 could not see any of the enemy from tht
spot where we halted indeed there Were
pretty close woods in the immediate front
McGOwan's Brigade.
f.: Just as we prepared to move the column
to the point whence our attack was intended
to be made a cheer was raised in the woods
in our front, rapid fire succeeded, and i
was plain that the enemy were anticipating
us, by making, as iG since appears, recon
noisance in force of our position. Gen
johnson at once suggested that Gen. Nc
Gowan should not attempt to get farther up
on their flank, but should counter-chargf
the approaching enemy with his two bri
gades. Immediately the column was front
ed and
THE LINE ADVANCED.
Before many seconds we struck the enemy
and charged them, cheering as was our Gus
tom, and pouring a rapid Volley into theil
ranks. The assailants, thus vigorously as
sailed, were smitten with dismay, and gave
back rapidly, while we pressed on ano
drove them clear into open ground.
recall ludicrous incident that occurred
as we advanced through these woods.
heard loud, angry words near me, inter
rupted by what sounded like entreaty ano
protestation, and turning my horse to the
spot, discovered one Of our men ordering
Federal soldier to deliver up his money OF
other valuables, adding that he had no time
I called to know what all this was about
Then the Federal soldier cried out in
French, beseeching protection.
then addressed him in his own language
as it was evident that he understood nc
othar and told him that since
THE BURNING OF COLUMBIA
and Sheridan's destruction of the mills in
the Valley, though it no wrong for Ou1
people to retaliate at least, to the extent OF
possessing ourselves of any money or watch
es they might find on the persons of Fede:
raj prisoners, but that the soldier would
not iniure him beyond this. I presume
I spoke neither elegantly nor dramatically
for had never been master of that Ian
guage, and was now quite out of practice
but the little man understood me quite
we'll and was overjoyed at my words. He
rushed to me, caught my stirrup, shook my
foot as if it were the hand of long-lost
friend, called me his saviour, and protested
his gratitude and devotion as only a French
man can. Then he declared he had moth
ing that he cared to keep from his captor,
and proceeded to turn his pockets wrong
side out. He was the poorest man ever l
saw. Not only had he no knapsack, no
arms, no accoutrements, no blanket, no OIL
cloth, no canteen, but his pockets were
AS EMPTY AS PRINCE NAPOLEAN's HEAD.
He had absolutely nothing-no handker'
chief, no knife, nor even rag or strlng:
The Confederate eyed him in dlSdalntul
silence and passed on with the line. Then
came my trouble. The fellow adhered to
1>n%h ho Sfa M
I would not suffer him to be killed. l or
dered him to the rear. He said he did not
know where that was. I told him he had
only to pursue the course we had come to1
a distance of few yards when he would
find men to take charge of him. He pro:
tested they would kill him, but he wished
to 20 with me. l told him he might be
killed. He said he did not care-he was
sure to be murdered if he once left me-
Then I asked how he came here. He an
swered that he had arrived in New York
but few days ago; that before he knew
where he was going he was put upon a
railroad train, and that about the next thing
he found himself aole,as volens, a soldier in
Grants army. I finally succeeded in driv'
ing him to the rear and rejoined the line:
Our troops pressed their advantage. Ay'
res Division, of the Fifth Federal army
-, |
long upon it's supports. CraWford's Dlvis
ion, of the same corps, was then encountered
and almost as rapidly beaten as the other
1t will be remembered that this battle con-
tributed largely to
THE RUIN OF GEN. WARREN,
that very efficient and most gallant soldier
who recently died, asgenerally thought, OF
broken heart, on account OF the troubles
brought on by his dismissal from his com
mand the next day by Gen. Sheridan. lilS
people have not been able to see how, with
out some fault of his, SO large a body of his
troops should have been defeated by, oul
own small force. It was notscreditable tC
the enemy, certainly, but the suddenness
and impetuosity of the attack constituted
most important factor of our battle. Inev
er saw faster or more furious fighting. Oul
men seemed inspired with the spirit O
Charlottesville. Line after line fairly mel
ted before them and dissolved into heter
UgUnuUuS
not see when one division was finished ant
another met, nor could distinguish on
brigade from another, but no line stayed
long to face us.
them somewhat on our right and their left
so that when line stood to fire upon u
about the whole length Of the First Soutl
Carolina could move forward unimpeded t.
any extent, and by half-wheel get
A SWEEPING ENFILADE FIRE
along them. The enemy were not quite il
panic, for sometimes body of them Woul'
stand until fearfully handled l remembe
that following up the line through scat
tered growth of small pines, | found tn
dead and wounded of the Seventh Marylan'
Regiment lying so thick on the ground tina
had to take good deal Of care to preven
my horse from trampling some Of them.
Judge Advocate Sanders, of the Unite
States army, in his argument before tn