Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-23


ground nor did he know that my
command was in front of his on the
turnpike, and this fact caused him to
fall into an error to which shall al
Jude before concluding these remarks.
But at present I wish to follow the
account of Gen. Imbeden. ] do not
know what position his battery took
after it's withdrawal from the Robin
son house, for [ did not see it again
during the fight, but he certainly
mistook some other command for
mine when he describes the following
incident:
'aTo reach my horse, after Jackson
had given me permission to rej0in
my battery, l had to pass the infantry
of Hampton's legion, who were ly-
ing down in supporting distance of
our artillery, then Ia full play. Col.
Wade Hampton's legion at this time
as / remember, consisted of regi-
ment of infantry, battalion of cav
airy, and four gun battery of horse
artillery While uatying my horse
shell exploded in the midst of
Hampton's infantry, killing several
and stampeding fifteen or twenty
nearest the spot. L tried to rally
then, but one huge fellow, musket
in hand, with bayonet fixed, had
started on a run. / threw myself in
front of hin with drawn sword, and
threatened o cut him down, where
upon he made lunge at me, etc.
The general Yields now his pen
quite as well as he once did his sword,
but my reasons for thinking that this
dramatic episode occurred with other
troops than mine are these: He
places the scene of the incident near
the Henry house. Now, my men
never laid down near the Henry
house; they were not at or near the
house at all until their charge upon
it ordered by Gen. Beauregard. They
supported no artillery during the
fight except Imboden's at the ROBIN
son house, and no confederate battery
was near the Henry house when we
moved on it. AS we did so we passed
the 18th Virginia lying down, not far
from the house, and IN the final
charge, made on the only two guns
of Ricketts, battery not disabled, and
their infantry supports, this regiment
joined the legion CALAMITY. In this
charge the guns were taken. Capt.
Rickett was wounded, was taken in a
blanket by four of the men of com
pany A, Hampton legion, was carried
to the Lewis house, to which [ had
been taken, and was attended by Dr.
Darby, of my command, Let me say
mere, in passing, that his wife soon
| Joined him there, remained with him
amid all the dreadful scenes incident
to a field hospital, and by her devo-
ton to him, in my opinion, saved his
| life. No soldier on either side IN that
battle displayed higher courage than
she did in Drawing the hardships and
the sufferings to which she was un~
avoidably subjected.
Gen. Imboden makes a mistake as
to the constitution Of the legion, for
there were but six infantry companies
in it, and they were the Only troops of
the command present on the 21st of
July. [ think, too, but express my
opinion with great Difference, that he
has mistaken the constitution of his
own battery on that occasion. My
recollection is that it was composed of
four guns, but he, ia speaking of it in
his article for The Century says:
'Mine, six in number, were all smooth
bore six FOUNDERS, brass" On page
500, series /, vol. H., ''War of the
Rebellion" is report of Thomas G..
Rhett, A. A. g., gives a list Of the
troops of the Army of the Shenan<
doah engaged at Manassas, and in this
the BATTERIES in action" are given as
follows: "Col. Pendelton's, four
pieces; Capt. Imboden's, four pieces;
Capt. Alburtis', four pieces" etc. If
he hadIonly four guns instead of six
he is, of course, entitled to greater
praise for the brilliant service he rem
dered.
AS I have stated, my command
reached the Robinson house early In
the morning, and we soon moved up
to the turnpike. At what hour Gen.
Jackson came upon the plateau [ do
not know. When I first saw his bril-
gade, soon after P. M, and on my
withdrawal from the turnpike, 1t was
in line Of battle along the edge of the
forest, its right resting on fence
which ran at right angles to It's line,
and its left extending beyond but
some distance in the rear of tho Henry
house. Jackson's right was almost
directly behind the ri ht Of the legion
when it was on the turnpike, but
several hundred yards in the rear,
there being a ravine, and for some
portion of the distance piece of
woods between the two commands.
The road from Study ford crossed
the turnpike at the Stone house and
led thence near the Henry house.
Soon after we had taken position in
the morning, in rear of Imboden's
battesy, demonstration was made by
the enemy toward the Robinson house.
The legion was Immediately moved
toward the turnpike to meet this
threatened attack. The position tax
eu was very strong one, as d ditch
and fence ran along the north side of
the road, afording very good protecs
ton to the men. Here we were at
tackled by quite heavy force, which
was repulsed with loss. After this