The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-13
How John c. haskell Lost His Arm.
Abbeville Medium.


to elect member of the National
Democratic Executive Committee to
fill the vacancy occasioned by the death
of the late lamented Capt. F. W. Daw-
son. Hon. John G. Haskell was unan-
imously chosen for the honorable and
important position. No better selec-
ton could have been made. He is in
the full vigor of his Intellectual powers,
has fine executive talent and is a de-
voted party man.
Col. Haskell is native of this coun-
ty and Abbeville is proud of her SON.
Whatever station he has filled and
whatever duty he has been called upon
to perform he has always reflected
credit upon the place Of his nativity
and gained houor for himself. DuE;a1g
tie war he commanded battalion of
artillery and uponrnearly every men,
orable battle field of Virginia the roar
OF MS vell-directed cannon emphasized
his love of South Carolina and his de-
votion to the cause of constitutional
government. He was with Longstreet
and we fought under A. P. Hill. Once
when we were hard pressed the "war
horse" came to our relief. We still
have in our memory vivid picture of
John G. Haskell as he came upon the
field. He rode a fine horse whose arch
ing neck and dilated nostrils showed
that be was at home amid the noise of
battle: Col. Haskelps slouch hat, en-
circled by handsome golden cord, and
and the cape of his military cloak
brought out in bold relief his soldierly
figure. The earth trembled beneath
his hurrying guns as they wheeled
into position and unlimbered. In a
moment his blazing Napoleons had
thrown the advancing hosts Of the
enemy into confusion and turned the
tide of victory.
Col. Haskell has but one arm. He
lost the other at the battle of. Gains
Mill on June 9th. 1862
How it was lost may interest our
readers. Gen. Lee had crossed the
Chickahominy and was advancing on
Mcclellan. The battle Of Mechanics
vile had been fought on the 26th.
Jackson was coming on the field hav-
ing made connection with Lees forces.
Haskell was serving on the staff Of
Gen. D. r. Jones, but being indisposed
remained at headquarters for some
time after Gen. Jones had gone towards
the river to observe the enemy. This
did not suit him and although scarcely
in condition for any exertion at all he
mounted his horse and rode forward.
He found Gen. Jones and Gen. Magru-
der on high ground on the south side
of the. Chickahominy. Beyond the
river in plain view the enemy were
hurrying forward in dense columns to
overwhelm our forces. From recent
heavy rains the river was out of its
banks. There was no bridge to cross,
but it was necessary to convey infor-
nation as to the movements of the
enemy to Gen. Lee. Cci. Haskell road
a remarkably fine horse once the prop
erty of Gen. Turner Asnby and he un-
dertook to deliver the message. He
quickly made his way to the river and
soon the noble horse and its gallant
rider were breasting the rushing water.
A line of the enemy.s cavalry pickets
caught sight of the daring rider and
opened fire upon him and continued
to do so until he reached the North
side of the river and disappeared ia a
body of timber. The message was de-
livered and Col. Haskell remained with
Longstreet until late in the evening he
was directed by Longstteet to order r.
H. Anderson's Brigade forward. He
did so and going to the front he found
many men scattered and broken. he
collected about two hundred of these
and forming on the right of Writings
Division with stand of colors in his
hand advanced with them to within
about fifty yards of the eneny's breast
works. Here his little finger was shot
and broken and his horse was shot and
brought down to his knees. He pulled
his horse up and spurred him and the
animal carried him and the flag right
in among the enemy and fell dead
Col. Haskell's foot under him.
For some time it was impossible for
Col. Haskell, to free himself. AS he
fell Yankee Captain dashed at him
and attempted to take the stand of
colors from Haskel's left hand but
Haskell had sword swung to his
right wrist by a sword knot and grasp
ing it he struck at the Yankee who by
this time had drawn his pistol and
fired striking the star from the collar Of
coat. The Yankee kept grasp
ing for the colors with one hand and
firing his pistol with the other until
freed himself from the horse
Just then the Yankee turned and Has
kell struck him full on the top Of the
head bringing him to his knees and as
he turned with the pistol still in his
hand Haskell ran his sword through
him, killing him almost instantly.
Haskell then went to the left and
came again to the men he had collect
ed and found them in front of the
twenty-four gun battery which was
c,paaninr the Dlotea,1 ir their front