The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-03-01

ihe Federal line. To this noint Co.
Johnson explained, Gen. McGowau'
command. consisting of his own ON,
Gracle's 'rigades, was to be BROUGHT an,
lneh hurled up"n the haas of the nov
qulet and apparently unsuspectin,
enemy. We were not molested hnt 0hot hott
good view of the Federal troona
"as way 'hen sent back to bring up our bri
EE EE"ue ana unite 1t Will Gracie's, wher
'oi' were 10 attack together.
! rode back into the wa:ks and 500,
brought out "''' Sooi
| MGowAN's BRIGADE.
the First Regiment leading | rememhe,
from the fact that its Colonel the naI
iant McCreary, walked by the side of m,
morse, conversing most hopecuIlv nj ~,
expected engagement. This vas his iss
Ionseisa.loh Io n with me-possibly the la.
ne ever mad on earth. In the woods !,
lroht OF the works, and about two hun.
dIed, possibly three hundred, yards from,
Gnere we passed out, and on the White
YAK Road, We found what seemed 10 he
brigade OF Confederate troops, resting
on the right of the road and Just ou, Of
H.. was informed that this was ,ba
brigade formerly known as Gracie's but
which was this day commanded as
nave heard, by Col. Munford, of Ala.
Dama. l was told that Gen. McGowan
was TO command these two brigadas, this
one and his own, and that thew
were to constitute the attackin:,
party. IL may have been part of the
plan that Hunton's Brigade,!of Bushrod
Johnson's Division, should move ont and
JON US as soon as our attack should
drive the enemy from their left and
Teeacn, or about reach, those in Gen.
i1unton's front. But Of this | sneak
only from conjecture.
Capt. Davie, in sketch published in
September last in the U1eekiy Ncw,
speaks OF his regiment, the Fifty.nin,h
Aianama, believe, seeing, as they stood
o. or lay III line this morning, the enemy's
lines moving in their front, in open, or
comparatively open, ground. That regi.
ment must, therefore, although part of
Gracie's Brigade, have been on the left
OF the place where we found some of that
brigade, as just stated. / know | could
not see any of the enemy from the SPOT
where we halted; indeed there were
pretty close woods in the immediate
front of McGowan's Brigade.
Just as We prepared to move the col.
umn to the point whence our attack was
intended to be made cheer was raised
IN the woods in our front, a rapid fire
succeeded, and it was plain that the enc.
my were antic'patins us, by making. as
IL since appears, reconnaissance in force
OF our position. Gen. johnson at once
suggested that Gen. MCGOWAN should
not attempt to get farther upon their
flank, but should counter. charge the ap.
proacning enemy with his two brigades.
Immediately the column was fronted
AMI
THE LINE ADVANCED.
Before many seconds We struck the
enemy and charged them, cheering as
was our custom, and pouring rapid
volley into their ranks. The assailants.
thus vigorously assailed, were smitten
with dismay, and gave back rapidly,
while we pressed on and drove them clear
into open ground.
l recall ludicrous incident that oc.
Cured as we advanced through these
woods. I heard loud, angry words near
me, Interrupted BY what sounded likc
entreaty and protestation, and, turning
my horse to the spot, discovered one Of
our men ordering a Federal soldier to
deliver up his money or other valuables,
adding that he had no time to wait, but
must keep on with the line. l called to
know what all this was about. Then the
Federal soldier cried out in French, be-
seeching protection.
l then addressed him in his own Ism
guage, as it was evident that he under
stood no other, and told him that, since
THE BURNING OF COLUMBIA
and Sheridan's destruction of the mills
in the Valley, thought it no wrong for
our people to retaliate at least, to the
| extent of possessing ourselves of any
money or watches they might find on the
persons Of Federal prisoners, but tha,
the soldier would mol injure him beyond
this. | presume I spoke neither ele
gantly nor dramatically, for 1 had never
been e master g: ;i.a: language, and !
was now quite out of practice; but the
little man understood me quite well and
was oveToyed at my words. He rushed
to me, caught my sLirrup, shook my foot
as if it were the hand of long-lo
friend, called mo his saviour, and pro.
tested his gratitude and devotion as only
q Frenchman can. Then he declared he
had nothing that he cared to keep from
his captor, and proceeded to turn his
pockets wrong side out. He was the
poorest man ever II saw. Not only had
he 40 knapsack, no arms, no accoutre'
ments, no blanket, no oilcloth, no can
teen, but his pockets were
AS EMPTY AS PRINCE NAPoLEAN's
He had absolutely nothing-no handker'
| chief, no knife, not even a rag or 0
string. The Confederate eyed him ia
disdainful silence and passed on with
the line. Then came my trouble. The
fellow adhered to me, saying that he
must stay with me, as l would not suffer
him to be killed. 1 ordered him to the
rear. He said he did not know where
that was. l told him he had only to
pursue the course we had come for dis.
| lance Of a few yards when he would find
men to take charge of him. He pro
tested they would kill him, but he wished
to 90 with me. I told him he might be
killed. He said he did not care-hs was
sure to be murdered if he once left me
Then I asked how he came here. dc
answered that he had arrived in New
York but few days ago; that before he
knew where he was going he was pu,
upon a railroad train, and that about
tile next thing be found himself, nolen;
yoiens. 20 soldier in Grants army.
finally succeeded in driving him to tht
rear aud rejoined the line.
Our ,troops :. pH.ecsssseed ttheir ahyantage
Ayers's Division, of the Fifth Fedora
army corps, (Warren'sl was soon driver