Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-02
BOB rooMBs UNDER ARREsT.
The RecollectioDs OF IA staff officer
About the Great Georgian.
From The Charleston Ae,rs and Courier.

From The Charleston Aetrs and Courier.
A gentleman now living in this city
was an officer on the staff OF Gen. D. h.
Jones, Of the Confederate army, during
the late war. He mas vivid recollection
OF many OF the stirring incidents of the
Virginia campaigns, and can talk by the
hour about the great men who led the
Confederate hosts in their struggles tUr
HOeciy, nov nearly % years ago. He was
acquainted with Gen. Robert ToOmbs, Of
Georgia, whose recent death attracted so
much attention. In speaking of Gen.
Ioomos to reporter he said that it was a
mistake TO say that Toombs broke his ar
rest for wilful and fragrant disobedience
OF orders in the 1irst Maryland campaign.
he did not break his arrest, for | am the
ofhcer who made the arrest. Perhaps it
would not be IL interesting to give you an
account of the incidents connected with
this matter:
EARLY in 1852" said the staff officer,
Gen. Toombs commanded a brigade in
u. X. JOnes's division of the army of
Northern Virginia. He went with il to
Yorktown and retired with Gen. john
ston's army thence to Richmond, and was
not engaged al Seven Pines. AT the be-
ginning Ot the seven days fight around
Richmond To0mhs's brigade was on the
IAiChAubbN 9itlb Nl inc 0LiCduOllHy Wllu
MaSruder, guarding the approaches to
that city. At Malvern HUI his brigade
suffered severely IN common with the
rest of the division, in the charge
ordered by MagruQer on McClel-
lam impregnable position near
the Crews House. w hen Gen. Lee
marched to relieve jackson and defeat
Pope at Manassas, Toomb5 was in com
mand Of his brigade, and it was on this
marcn that be was placed in arrest. The
army had reached the Rapahapnock river
about dark and Gen. Lee directed Gen.
Jones to place a regiment on picket at one
OF the fords to warn the colonel that none
Of our troops were in his front, and that
he should hold his position at all hazards.
The following morning the army was halt
ed to cook ratiOns and rest after its long
forced march. T0Ombs applied TO Gen.
Jones for permission TO withdraw his regi-
nent. The application wac refused, and
be WAS told that the division commander
had no authority to grant it, because
IL was posted by the commanding Gen
erals order, but thar the ratiOns must be
cooked and sent to 1T, During the after
noon ToOmbs stated toJOnes that the regi-
meut had been withdrawn, and was I'M
derstOOd TO say that this had been done by
Gen. LOngstrects order, but shortly after
LonG6treet sent to know who had with
iraWn the regiment, and directed that the
officer who had done so should be arrested
and ordered 10 report to the Provost Mar
shal at G0rdOnsvIlie. Jones sent me to
make the inquiry of TOombs, when the
latter stated that he had taken the re-
spOnsiblltV on himself. ItEen performed
the remainder OF my unpleasant duty,
and Gen. TOOmbs turned over his brig
ada to the senior Colonel and went
to Gordonsyile. lie was relieved
from arrest by Gen. Lee a few days later,
and reported to his division commander
on the afternoon Of the Second Manassas.
Gen. Pope had already been defeated. aud
was then seeking safety in retreat.
I0omLs was shown the position Of his
BRIGADE, which had been ably commanded
throughout that bloody day by Col. Ben
ming, and went to it. During the pursuit
Of Pope, EOOmOs was with ms brigade.
and commanded it when the division was
sent to JacksOn's support in his attack on
POpe's rear guard at OK Hill (Or Cnan-
uly.) Csharpsburg TOombs held the
bridge near that village against heavy
odds most CALAMITY.
"ShOrtly after that battle his brigade
was resting on the rOadside he had no
pickets out. though i'm the near presence
Of the enemy. a small body OF cavalry
suddenly turned bend in the road ana
charged. E0Ombs was at the head of his
brigade, and in the skirmish received
painful wound IN the hand. The cavalry
was apparently surprised to find Confed-
crate troops in that position, and immedi-
ately withdrew and suffered no material
loss. The wound was painful. and before
The following campaign opened Gen.
TOOmbs' connection with Gen. Lees army
had been severed