The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-04-15
KERSHAW,S BRIGADE.
Rudely Checking Grants Advance in the
Wilderness.
OranycJ,uy Times and Democrat.

OfungcJug Times and Democrat.
While reading that splendid tribute of
John Estin Cooke to Fitz Lees cavalry,
published in the Philadelphia Times, and
copied in the Orangeburg 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 were driving Fitz Lee. It
was Kershaw's South Carolina brigade
that has never blown its own horn, but
rests in the pleasing consciousness of
having done it's whole duty from Bull
Run down to the famous apple tree. AS
we'll as I can remember, it was about the
4th or 5th Of May, 1864, after Grant had
been driven back at the Wilderness,
orders came to McLaw's division at mid.
night to prepare to march Immediately.
We privates could generally interpret
moves of our leaders after being on the
march awhile; re were..puzzled this time.
The woods had caught fire, everything
was binding in every direction, the smoke
was sufEocating, no other troops were to
be seen moving, and being completely
turned around, We gave up trying to find
out our destination, and marched quietly
on. We had marched eight or nine miles
when day begin to dawn, and brought us
comparatively into an open country.
About sunrise courier came dashing up
from our front and handed Gen. Kershaw
paper. We soon found out what it
meant as an order came down the line 10
close up and we were puton more rapid
march. Barksdale's Mississippi brigade
wasin our front, O'Brien's and Cobb's
Georgia brigades in our rear. these
four brigades formed McLaw's division
We had not gone more than mile, when
orders came to double quick. 1t was
done in splendid style, as thatSpartau.
like band began to appreciate the impor.
tance of the move. Two miles more,
which was made in less than halfan hour,
brought us to the Block road, which was
Grants objective point. Stuart, being
the senior officer on the ground, took
command He sent Barksdale's brigade
on to Spottsylvania Court House and
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 inspiration
enough as the brigade, and especially the
old Second, will testify, to make them
dare and do anything.) Double quick
march was the order. The Second regi.
ment was halted and formed on the edge
of piece 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 bri'
gade formed on the fence in the following
order, from the right of the Second
James Battalion, Third, Seventh, Eighth
and Fifteenth regiments. do not re.
member who commanded the different
regiments as we had lost heavily in the
| Wilderness and had not time to count
our own dead, but do remember the
Second left its own gallant and beloved
Col. Gailliard and about sixty Other
members of the regiment cold in death
Even that battle was no child's play, a:
we had to form our line amid rain o
bullets coming from an advancing army
,pith the shout of victory, for all was los
until Longstreet's corps began its advance
and like tornado turned the tide the
other way and swept Grant from the 6eld
TO take some other road to Richmond.
But let us go back to the Block road
and see what troops it was that saved Lee
from being hemmed in the Wilderness
I[ershaw's brigade just had time to form
on the fence and throw it down as sor
of rude breast work, when the enemy
charged them. They had been driving
F'itz Lee all night, and thought they were
charging dismouuled cavalry, and there
was nothing to do but to drive them OF
from this their last desperate stand, ant
Grant would be between Lee and Rich
rlond. Fatal mistake, though they made
as glorious charge as ever soldiers made
There was no give way in Kershaw'
sturdy veterans. 1t was thought at thu
time that not more than two of the Fed
eral skirmish line escaped, while thei
line of battle reeled and retreated afte
being nearly torn to pieces. This wa
but the prelude of what was yet to come
Less than half an hour after two solit
lines of battle were seen advancing; OF
they came like dark and angry cloud
which needed but single peal Of light
ming to bring down the flood. stuar
mounted his iron gray, drew his swort
aad rode in lope from one end of th'
brigade to the other and back again, as j
to say, Soldiers of South Carolina, I an
here to die with you or hold this place.
When the first line came within seventy
five yards. James battalion opened fir
and in moment the whole length of thu
brigade was in blaze. The enemy came
right on in a rapid charge, to within ter
PAGES, when they halted for momen
while the second line came up to join th'
one in front for final charge. Stuar
never dismounted, but was charging w
and down the line just in rear, waving
his sword. He seemed to have a charmed
life. The enemy now made desperate
effort to overpower our single line
James battalion and the Third regimen
have locked horns with them across tht
fence, hand to hand. Steel clashes steel
| r,i,a L,Ik,l;o,, :. ,,u1lo6 ovor tht