The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-06-13
IN < 0RIkM
A Bright Record, from ~ jof to
Major-Ceneral!

kNtEt Va NlAN par - 49,
xere the works carried. but osing 70 the
weakness of the line. it, extreme length.
and the want OF sufficient force To defend
il. Tor the, acted most hero.cIlly on Tins
irving occasion Only one ~uuwOundei
man AN officer did | see seeking the
rear. and he one whom | had the previous
day ordered under arrest !or tratficsins
with the enemy exchanging tobacco Tor
cotfee). HIM hailed aud enquired
where he wa, gong, when he recalled his
arrest the previous day, from which ]
Immediately released hun aud sent HIM
back to his command
hai a verbal con ereuce With Gen
Lee and aiterwaid, officially reported M
inability to hold lais POINT against any
vigorous attack. IL Consequence OF tins
report, Lieut.-COl. Pcytou, the Arm
Inspector, was sent the day before 70 e1
anime this line, who conceded with nv
views and 80 reported TO zen. Lee. On
an average throughout the space from
man 10 man was al least {. ght feet IN the
hne of trenches. | doubted not that
with a reserve of FIVE hundred men |
could have driven the enemy from any
point which they might capture. and
repeatedly urged that such an arrange
ment be made, knowing well that the
enemy by concentrating a large force OF
any gwen point could press their wa!
through the line, and my only salvation
was in having the means AT han OF drIv
lug them back before large number
| could enter. Our left was the post OF
greatest danger. there should the reserve
have been placed but Gen Lee informed
| me that every available man wa> Oh duty
and | must do TIE best | could.
On Sunday night OF the 2nd We hau
orders to abandon the works. and With
out the knowledge # the Federals ",
| withdrew 10 the north side OF the Apo
mattoX river. following the Hickory road
to Goodies bridge, where we recrosseG
the Appomatt9A, proceeding towards
Amelia {. IT,, which we reached III tn
morning of the fifth. "Wednesday We
remained stationary in line Of battle, con
iruutlug the enemy unui about dark,
when we followed the army. bringing up
| the retr, Icing very much lmpeded on tho
| march by the wagon tram nd lis mos
mi. erau., nj management, which, a !
appleheu ned, would cause Us some dis
a-ter. Tie enemy showed themselves
o Thursday about 5 O'Clock Il. lii. III our
rear aud on our left flank when near
Aunelia Springs, and il a short time be
IL IT, press us vigorously.
then formc,, Cox ; aud Cowand's
3lisad,s in line o. b.ttle with a henyJ
,kiruIi>h line IL trout 10 impede then
progress an g. cover oar rear, sending
Battle. 60 - aud Afchers Brlg2des
forw III Tor auc al tn,c TO form there,
across the roa |, N inc of battle In order
70 allow Coward and Cox t. reuea
safe when the euomy had dep!0y Ell and
prepared 10 attack our right flank be
ing protected by a North Carolina Bril-
gade of cavalry under Gen. Roberts. L.
this manner alternating the Brigades
throughout the day we continued to op
pose the enemy and retreat, endeavor
ing to protect the tagging wagon train,
which was successfully done up to abou;
/ o'clock p. III when we approached
Sailors Creek, and upon the ridge run
ming parallel with that stream we made
the final stand of the day, the wagons
becoming blocked up at the bridge cross
ing this stream. At this point Gen. Lee
ordered me if possible to hold this line
of hills until he could have artillery put
in position on the opposite hills over the
creek parallel with those | occupied.
The enemy pushed on rapidly, attack
ing us with very great ~pertlnacity. We
here repeatedly repulsed Their assaults,
but by turning both of our TANKS they
succeeded in not only dislodging bur
driving US across the creek In coniusior.
About now the artillery from the heights
occupied by Gen. Lee opened upon the
enemy, and the sun being down they did
not eros, the creek. After we broke,
personally | was SO pressed that the
pace between the two wings of the
enemy was not over two hundred yards
when | sought safety in retreat. | gal
loped to the creek tine bridge being IL
their possessionj where the banks were
very preclpitous, and for protection from
their murderous fire concluded to juml
my horse in, riding him through the
water aud effect my escape by abandon.
ing him on the other side, the bullets oI
the enemy whistling around me like hal
all the while. By great good fortune the
opposite banks proving not 50 precipltou.
and my horse seeming To appreciate the
situation, clambercd up the height, start
ing of III a run. thus securing my sa'ety
This same animal, Warren, | still ow.
and treasure for bis past services. Tha
night we took the road for Farmville
@crossin. the Appomattox at High Bridge
posting guards at the south side, thu
collecting all %stragglers and r~eturnin!
them to their commands.
The next morning friday we con
tinued our march down the railroad ant
formed line of battle on the Lynchbur,
road, still endeavoring to preserve tina
''impediment of Caesar s''-the Wagon
train-marching by the left flank through
the woods parallel to the road travele,
by the wagon train, and bout one hun
dred or so yards distant from the road
Upon reaching the road and point tina
turns toward Lynchburg from the Cum
berland road, three of my Brigades
Cooks, Cox's and Cowand's, had crossed
the Cumberland road and were in line o
battle. and at right angles with Battle
and Archer's Brigades, who we're still
parallel with the Cumberland road
Heavy firing was going on at this point
when Gen Mahone Came rushing up anC
reported that the enemy had charged
turning his flank, and driving his mel
from their guns and the works which h,
had erected early in the day for the pro
lection of these cross roads. | ther
ordered my three Brigades, Cooks
Cox's and Cowand's at a d~oublequick OF
the line. with Battle and Archer, charg-
ing the enemy aud driving them well of
from Mahone's works, recapturing the
artillery taken by them and capturing
large number of prisoners and holdina
this position until sent for by Gen. Lee
who complimented the troops of the d.
vision upon the charge made and the
service rendered, ordering me to leave {
skirmish line in my front and that Fled:
Division would occupy my position, | t,
hurry with all possible dispatch to the
road which intersected the Lynchbure
road. as the enemy's cavalry were re-
ported to be approaching by that road
We reached the road. halllng ana