Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-05
GENERAL JOHN Il. COOKE.
How IIe Won His Promotion - bfi-
gadIer Mt sharpsburg.

General Longstrcet. In his article IN the
June TspfaFu on the "Invasion OF Misty
lard.' has this 10 say OF modest gefltle-
man, now a resident Of Richmond:
.'Tne Federals fought with wonderful
bravery, and the COnfederstes ciung 10 their
around with heroic courage as hour alter
hour they wefe mown down like grass. Tue
fresh troops OF Mcclellan literally tore into
shreds The already ragged army OF Lee, but
the Confederates never gave back.
al remember at one time they were
surging up against us with fearful numbers
/ was occupying the left over by Hood:
whose ammunition gave out. lie retted
TO get afresh supply. Soon after the fede-
rails moved up against rs In great masses.
"We were under the crest Of bill occu-
pyng a position that ought to have been
held by from four TO six brgades. the
only troops there were Cookies regiment
OF North Carolina infantry withou, car
tridgc: As I rode along the line with my
staff | saw two pieces Of the Washington
artillery (Miller's battery, but there were
not enough men 10 man them. The gum
ners had been either killed or wounded
This was fearful situation for the Con'Ni-
crate centre. put nv stali-ofiicers to the
Guns while held their horses. IL was easy to
see that IL the Federals broke through our
line there the Confederate army would be cut
in iwoand probably destroyed, for We were
already badly whipped, and were only hold
ing our ground by sheer force OF desper i
tion. Cooke sent me word thai his ammn'
milton was out. | replied that he must holn
his position as long "a he had man len.
He responded that hc would show his color~
rs long a. there was q man alive to hold
them up. We loaded up our little guns
with canister and sent q rattle on hail into
the Federals as they came up over the cres,
Of the hill.
"There was more business 20 the square
incb inrhat little battery than In any ever
saw, and il shot harder and faster and with
a sort OF human eDergy rs II seemed TO
raliZe that Il was 10 hold the thousands OF
Federals at bay or the battle was lost. 10
VAIN was the reception we gave them that
they lodged back behind the crest Of the
hill. We sought 10 make them believe
we had many batteries before them
instead Of Orlv two little guns. As
the Federals would come up they world
see the enlors oi the North Carolina
regiment waving placIdiy and then would
receive shower OF canister. We made 1t
liNoly while il lasted. In the mean time
General Chiffon, General Lees chief OF
staff. made bis way 10 me and asked.
'WbcTe are the troops you are holding
your line withf' j pointed 10 my two
pieces and TO Cookies regiment and replied :
There they are; but that regiment hasn't
cgrtIidge.'
"Chlltou's eyes popped as though ihev
would come out OF his head. he stuck
arur. TO his horse and away nc went 10 Cen
eral Lee. suppose be made some remark
able rerorf although did not see General
Lee agsin until night. After title shot
came across the Federal front. plowing The
ground in parallel line. Another and an
other. each nearer and nearer their line.
Thi, was from battery on d. il. HIPS
lnC.
This enfladc fire. 30 distressing to So
di,rs, soon beat back the attacking coll
umn.'
Very soon after the fight General Ire
had Colonel Cooke made brigldier-gene'
rui