Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-02-10

} charge with about Ave thousand
men, and was able to muster only
! about eighteen hundred when Lee
, started to recross the Potomac.
; One company of North Carolina
troops Pettigrew's brigade was
J eighty-fOur strong in this charge.
J and lost every man, officers and
privates, not by capture, but in kill.
ed. The above WAS the aggregate
loss of Heth's division, which would
have been still greater had they all
] entered the works on Cemetery Hill.
All had reached the lane, and the
Tennessee brigade was the only one
in Heth's division that carried their
standards into the Notifications on
the hill. | am far from being ufl-
mindful Of the heroism and devo-
tion of other troops in that memora.
bic charge, but in justice to those in
Heth's division who fell In the
works on Cemetery Hill, in the lane
and open field, in the advance or
retreat, in justice to those who yet
survive, / cannot be Indifferent
when Gettysburg Is painted with
out Heth's division prominent in
the grand charge. Justice is justice
and fact Is fact. r4 .HI rgrr
RETREAT OF THE ARMY.
Lee had now made his third and
last assault and was not successful.
He remained in position antlcipa-
ting an assault by the federak, and
as this was not ATTEMPTED he began
on the night OF the 4th TO withdraw
his shattered army across the Poto-
mac The retreat occurred as has
been repeatedly described. Heth's
division Notwithstanding the great
loss it sustained in the battles OF the
| first and third days was entrusted
with the safe protection of Lees
rear. We presented sad contrast
in appearance and in spirit when
this retreat was undertaken to what
we had when we were south of the
Rappahannock. Though not sub
dued we were not victorious. We had
suffered a terrible punishment, yet
we reluctantly fell back, aud 4 be-
lieve most of our officers opposed
this retrograde, even still confident
that by acting on the offensive we
could render a crushing defeat to
the federals. However, Lee had
decided to withdraw, and slowly we
worked our way over roads and
lanes, in mountain and valley.
NEARING THE POTOMAC.
We daily anticipated an attack
from Meade in pursuit, but none OF
his army put in an appearance, that
is to fight, until we reached Falling
Waters, near the Potomac. On
that day Heth's division stopped
on the road leading to the PotO-
mac, distant about two and half
miles. We always kept up line
of battle, and on this occasion halt
ed and formed on the left, the west
side of the road. In part of our
front was an old breatwork that had
been abandoned long ago. Our
men had stacked their arms, some
lying on the ground asleep, Others
were collected in groups, all feeling
a sense OF security as no enemy had
ventured in sight since we had left
Hagertown. I4i l,- H.,
A DARING ATTACK. ....
On small eminenee on the front
of our line Gen. Heth and PettigreW
and several other officers, including
myself, were looking back over the
route we had travelled, when we no.
tIced a small body of cavalry emerge
from strip of woods, distant about
two hundred and fifty yards. After
reaching the open space they halted
and the officer in command rode to
the front as If to address the men,
We observed them closely and our
group concluded they were confed-
crates. We saw them unfurl u.
s. flag, but we thought IL was
capture that our friends were 10
carry to us and make some ado over
it. Presently they started towards
US at tolerable rapid pace, and
when they got within 90 yards Of as
they advnced at a gallop with drawn
sabres, shouting, s'surrender! surren-
derv' Gen. Heth exclaimed "It's
the enemy's cavalry ~ When OPP
posite they rushed over our little
group, using their sabres and firing
their pistols (mortally wounding
Gen. Pettigrew) and dashed among
the infantry, 1900 strong, shouting
at the top OF their voices; "Surren-
der! surrender % ..
At first confusion was great, our
officers calling upon their men to
form and use the bayonet, at the
same time dodging the sabre cuts
and using their pistols with great
effect. Lieut.. Baber killed two and
Capt. Norris three men. As soon
as onr men took in the situation
and after they had reached their
guns these daring fellows were
quickly dispatched. In the height
Of confusion their officer galloped
into our midst and in less time than
it takes 10 relate the circumstance
he was riddled with bullets. He
was a gallant looking fellow, riding
q magnificent dark-cOlOred horse,
but he and his men were TO man
either killed or wounded in this
quick and rash undertaking. There
was not more than one hundred and
twenty-five OF them, bat will ven-
lure to say they came nearer stam-
peding or capturing a division than
they ever did before. Their horses
were nearly all killed or so badly
crippled as 10 make them useless.
Only two or three were brought off
The field, though they were all cap
Iured.
WHO WE'RE THE CAvALItYMEN.
/ talked with one of the survivors
)f the regiment to which this squad
ron belonged and he told me their
)fficer WAS promoted only the day
before for gallant and meritorious
service. My recollection Is that II
was part of the Sixth Michigan
cavalry. There was large body of
.avalry a few miles behind this
'quadron, and we remained at Fall
ng Waters about one hour skirm-
shing with these. We finally fell
pack through the woods In line OF
Iatile to the river, crossing ii with
he loss of some stragglers and parts
If cOmpanits that were detached
md lost their way in the woods.
The Tennessee brigade Of Heth's
livisIOn, composed Of the First,
seventh and Fourteenth Tennessee
'Pgiments, the Thirteenth Alabama
egiInent and Fifth Alabama bat
aliop, began the great battle OF Get
ysburg and fought the last battle
md skirmish in that memorable
'etreat from Pennsylvania and the
asst the Army of Virginia fought
north of the Potomac.
Centerville, Tenn, 1882.