Savannah morning news., 1886-01-02
BOB rooMBs UNDER ARREST.
The RscOIlectious of staff Officer
About the Great Georgian.
From TIE Charleston Ne,rs and Coprier.

From, The Charleston Ne5rs apd Courier
A gentleman now living in this city
was an officer on the staff OF Gen. d. X.
Jones, of the Confederate army, during
the late war. He has 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 for
liberty, now nearly p years ago. He was
acquainted with Gen. Robert ToOmbs, of
Georgia, whose recent death attracted so
nuch attention. In speaking of Gen.
| Ioomos 10 reporter he said that it was a
mistake TO say tlat Toombs broke his ar
rest Tor wilful and fla@rant disObedience
OF orders IN tue 1rst Maryland campaign.
He did not break his arrest, for | am the
| ohleer who made the arrest. Perhaps it
would not be uuinteresting TO give you an
account of the incidents connected with
this matter:
Early in 1862" said the staff officer,
I "Gen. TOOmOs commanded a brigade in
d. Il. Jones's division of the army of
Northern Virginia. He went with it to
yorktown and retired with Gen. john
ston's army thence to Richmond, and was
not engaged at Seven Pines. At the be-
ginning of the seven days fight around
Richmond Toombs's brigade was on the
| Richmond side OF the ChicanOminy with
1 MaEruder, guarding the approaches to
thai citg Al Malvern Hjll his brigade
suffered severely in common with the
rest Of the division, in the charge
ordered by Magruder on McClel-
lan's impregnable position near
the Crews House. When Gen. Lee
marched to relieve jackson and defeat
/ Pope at Manassas, ToOmbs was in COM
mand Of his brigade. and it was on this
march that ne was placed in arrest. The
army had reached the Bapahapnock river
about dark and Gen. Lee directed Gen.
/ Jones to place regiment on picket at one
OF the fOrds to warn the colonel that none
Of our troops were in his front, and that
ne 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. TOOmbs applied to Gen.
Jones for permission TO withdraw his regi-
ment, The application was refused, and
he was told that the division commander
mad no authority to grant 1t, because
1t was posted by the commanding Gen
erals order, but that the ratiOns must be
cooked and sent to it. During the after
noon ToOmbs stated to Jones that the regi-
ment had been withdrawn, and was uu-
derstood to say that This had been done by
/ Gen. Longstreots order, bus shortly after
L0ngstreet sent to know VINO had with
drawn the regiment, and directed that the
/ OInc6r VINO nad done so should be arrested
and ordered 70 report to the Provost Mar
shal at GordOnsville. Jones sent me to
make the inquiry OF ToomDs, when the
latter stated that he had taken the re-
spOnsibilitv on himself. | theu performed
toe remainder of my unpleasant duty,
and Gen. TOOmbs turned over mis- brig
ade to the senior Colonel and went
to GOrdonsville. lie was relieved
from arrest by Gen. Lee few days later,
and reported to his division commander
on the afternoon Of the Second Manassas.
Gen. Pope had already been defeated, and
was then seeking safety III retreat.
/ fO0mLs 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, TOombs was with MS brigade.
and commanded it when the division was
sent to Jackson's support n bis attack on
PODe's rear guard at OK Hill or Chan
tlly.) AT Sharpsburg TOombs held the
bridge near that village against heavy
odds most gallantly.
''ShoTtly after that battle his brigade
was resting on the roadside be had no
pIckets out, thou zn i'm the near presence
OF the enemy. a small body OF cavalry
suddenly turned a bend in the road ana
charged. IoOmbs was at the head Of his
brigade, and in the skirmish received a
painful wound N the maud. The cavalry
was apparently surprised to ind COnfed-
crate troops IA tGGt position, and immedl-
ately Withdrew and suffered no material
loss. The wound was painful. and before
the 10 loving campaign opened Gen.
I0Ombs' connection with Gen. Lees army
had been severed"