The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-03-25
A DESPERATE BATTLE.
What kershaw's Old Brigade Did to Save
Richmond at Block Road.

of John Estin Cooke to Fitz Lees Cav
airy, published in the Philadelphia
Times, and copied in the ORANGECURG
TIMES AND DEMOCRAT Of February
18th, was carried back to one of the
proudeSt days of the war. Perhaps
there are many people while reading
that piece who wondered what troops
of Lees grand old infantry stood in the
path Of the overwhelming numbers
that was driving FitZ Lee. 1t Was
Kershaw's South Carolina Brigade, q
Brigade that has never blown it's own
horn, but rest in the pleasing conCiouS-
ness OF having done its whole duty
from Bull Run down to the famous
apple tree. AS well as l can remember
it was about the 4th or 5th Uf May,
1864, after Grant had been driven back
at the Wilderness, orders came to Nc
Laws Division at midnight to prepare
to march Immediately. We privates
could generally interpret moves OF our
leaders after being on the march
awhile, but we were puzzled this time.
The woods had caught fire, everything
was binding in every direction, the
smoke was suffocating, there was no
other troops to be seen moving, and
being completely turned around, we
gave up trying,to find out our destina-
tion, and marched quietly on. We had
marched eight or nine miles when day
began to dawn, and brought us COM
paratively into an open country. About
sunrise a courier came dashing up from
our front, handed Gen. Kershaw pa
per. We soon found out what it meant
as an order soon came down the line to
close up and we were put on more rapid
march. BarkSdale Mississippi Brigade
was in our front, O'Brion and Cobb's
Georgia Brigades in our rear. (These
four Brigades formed N1cLaW's Divis-
ion.) We had not gone more than a
mile, when orders came to double quick.
It was-done in splendid style, as that
Spartan like band began to appreciate
the importance of the move. Two
miles more, which was made in less
than half an hour brought us to the
Block Road, which was Grants Objec-
tive point. Stuart being the senior
officer on the ground took command.
lie sent Barsdale's Brigade on to
Spottsylvania Court House, requested
Kershaw to form his Brigade as quick
as possible on line of fence, which was
about two hundred yards off to our
left. Kershaw's clear ringing voice
was soon heard, (that voice was inspi-
ration enough as the Brigade, and es-
pecially the old Second will testify to
make them dare and do anything,)
double quick march was the order.
The Second regiment was halted and
formed on the edge Of peice of woods
with an open field in front, and about
thirty yards in rear and left of where
the rail fence came to an abrupt end
which was the extreme left Of the
Brigade. The rest Of the Brigade
formed on the fence in the following
order, from the right of the Second,
James Battalion, Third, Seventh, Eighth,
and Fifteenth regiments. I do not
remember who commanded the differ
ent regiments as we had lost heavily in
the Wilderness and had not time to
count our own dead, but do remem-
Der the Second left its own gallant and
beloved Col, Gtlliard and about sixty
other members of the regiment cold in
death. Even that battle was no child's
play, as we had to form our line amid
a rain of bullets coming from an ad-
vancing army with the shout of victo-
ry, for all was lost until LOngstreet's
Corps began its advance, and like
tornado turned the tide the other way
and swept Grant from the field, to take
some other road to Richmond But let
us 20 back to the Block Road and see
what troopsit was that saved Lee from
being hemned in the Wilderness. Ker-
shaw's Brigade just had time to form
on the fence and throw it down rs 4
sort Of rude breast work, when the
enemy charged them. They had been
driving Fitz Lee all night, and thought
they were charging dismounted caval-
ry, and there was nothing to do but to
drive them on from this their last des-
perate stand, and Grant would be be-
tween Lee and Richmond. Fatal mis-
take, though they made as glorious a
charge as ever soldiers made, but there
was no give way in Kershaw's sturdy
veterans. 1t was thought at the time
that not more than two of their skirm-
ish line escaped, while their line of
battle realed and retreated after being
nearly torn to pieces. This was but
the prelude of what was yet to come.
Less than half an hour two solid lines
Of battle was seen advancing; on they
came like dark and angry cloud, which
needed but a single peal Of lightning to
bring down the flood. Stuart mounted
his iron grey, drew hs sword and rode
in a lope from one end of the Brigade
to the other and back again, as if to
say soldiers of South Carolina, 1 am
here to die with you or hold this place.
When the first line came within seven
ty-five yards, James Battalion opened
fire and in moment the whole length
of the Brigade was in blaze. The
enemy came right on in rapid charge,
to within ten PAGES, when they halted
for a moment, the second line came up
to join the one in front for a final
charge. Stuart never dismounted. but
was charging up and down the line
just in rear of us waving his sword.
He seemed to have had a charmed life.
The enemy now made desperate
effort to oyerpower our single line.
James Battalion and the Third regiment
| have locked hnrnS with them ACROSS the