Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-12-18
Mliseellaurons 8eadiua.
THRILLING INCIDENT OF TIE WAR.
Fran General BcnmcgarTS History

THRILLING INCIDENT OF TIE WAR.
Fran General Bea"rcgarrs History.l
1t was during the attempt to regain the
use of the Weldon road by the Federals on
the 2lst of August, 1854, that General Ha-
good, of South Carolina, distinguished HIM
self in personal encounter with Federal
officer.
Owing to inaccurate reports of his scouts
General n. p. Hill, who commanded the
Confederate forces against Warren's eXpe-
dition, mistOOk the exact position OF the
enemy's line on the left, and, through Cen
eral Malone, who labored under the same
error, Hagood's brigade was ordered to
press the rear flank Of the Federals. lie
was to be supported by five brigades of
Mahone's division, supposed to be already
in front. The brigade drove the slirmish-
ers from their rifle pits, but found itself in
presence of Il strongly intrenched line,
crowded with men and artillery, extending
right and left as far as could be seen. The
five brigades of Malone were not there.
General Hagood saw at once what peril
GUS strait he was in, and stopping himself
shouted again and again to the command to
halt but the crash and rattle Of twelve or
fifteen pieces of artillery and probably tWen-
ty-tive hundred rifles, which had now open
ed on them at close range, drowned his voice,
and the fury of the battle was upon his men.
Moving forward with the steady tramp OF
the double-quick, and dressing upon their
cOlOrs, these devoted men, intent only on
carrying the position before them, neither
broke their alignment until it was broken
by the irregular impact upon the enemy'S
works, nor stopped to fire their guns till
their rush to obtain the parapet was re-
pelled
When General Hagood saw his men thus
rushing upon certain destruction, and his
efforts to stop them unavaiing, he felt that
if they were to perish he should share their
fate; and with Molony and Martin and
Orderly Stoney, he followed the advanc'
inc line. In fifty yards Lieutenant Martin
fell shot in the knee; few steps farther
on and Captain MOlony fell, shot through
the head, and Hagood and Stoney alone
reached the Works-the latter shot in the
shoulder but not disabled. The 25th and
21st regiments being on the left from the
oblique direction of the advance, first struck
the works; and while they staggered to gel
in the other three regiments swept on
When they reached the ditch there was
from seventy-five to one hundred yards in
terval between the two divisions into which
the brigade had broken. General Hagooo
was with Major Wilds, commanding the
Dist, who was cheering on his men to re-
neWed assault Success now being their only
hope of safety, when looking to the right
he saw Il mounted Federal officer among
the men on the left Of the portion of the
brigade to the right with a regimental color
in his hands, and confusion and parley.
ing Immediately upon him that betokened
approaching surrender. The fight was still
raging at Hag0od's right and left; there was
no cessation on the part of his men except
in the square Just around this officer, and
none whatever that was perceptible on the
part of the enemy. They had pushed out
from the right and left line behind the
Carolinians to cut off their retreat, and this
officer Captain DAILY Of General Clusters
statf) had galloped out Of a sally-port, seiZeG
color from the hands of its bearer, and
demanded Il surrender. Some officers tnd
men surrendered, but were not carried in
Others refused, but just around him ceased
fighting. General IagOod called to the mer
to shoot him and fall back in retreat. They
either did not hear him, or, beWldered by
the surrender of part Of their number, failed
to obey. 1t was a critical moment, and de-
manded instant and decided action. In 8
few minutes the disposition to surrender
would have spread and the whole brigade
have been lost. Making his way across the
intervening space, exposed to Il regular flre
bv file from the cnemy's line scarce thirty
yards off, and calling to his men to fall back
which they did not do, General Hagood ap
preached the officer and demanded the col
Ors, and that he should go back within his
own lines, telling him he was free to do So
He commenced arguing the hOpelessness OF
further struggle, and pointed out the line
in HagoOd's rear HagOOd cut him short
and demanded Il categorical reply-yes OF
no. DAILY was a man Of fine presence, with
long, flowing beard, and sat with loosened
rein upon Il noble looking bay that stood
with head and tail erect, and flashing eye
and diStendcd nOstrils, quivering in every
limb with excitement, but not moving IN
his tracks. In reply to this abrupt demand
the rider raised his head proudly, and de:
cisively answered, No! Upon the word
General Hagood shot him through the body
and as he reeled from the saddle upon one
side sprang into it from the other, Orderly
Stoney seizing the flag from his falling
hands. There WAS no thought of surrender
now; the yell from the brigade following
the act and ringing out above the noise OF
battle told their commander that they were
once more in hand, and would 90 now
wherever ordered. Shouting to them to
face about, lIagood led them at a run against
the line in his rear, Stoney holding alott
| in front the recapturel flag. The line melt
ed before the charge; but the fire was ter
rife, after breaking through it, till the shell
| ter of the valley of the branch was reached.
| Upon its margin a fragment from schrap-
mel shell tore open the lolns OF the horse
! HagOOd rod.