Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-05
RIDE WITH A. P. HILL
ON THE NIGHT He ASSUMED CON-
MAND or HIS DIVISION.
battle of Hanover Courthouse-Hiil Meets
His Brigade crs-harch rom
Guiuea's station to Richmond.


From unpublished As. entitled " "Reminiscences
of a Stntf Onicer,7 BY W. Roy Mason, Major c..
:. A. BY permission.l
- As weapproachod Hanover june
ton General Branch strucksa corps OF
McClellan's army, and with characteristic
| impetuosity undertook to whip 1t by him
self.
| This was done without orders. the rest
Of the division being two miles IN advance
and knowing nothing Of the Transaction,
although much puzzled by the sound OF
distant firing. For this hot and nasty
proceeding General Branch barely es-
| capped q court-martial.
| Before any of us could go 10 his assist
ance night closed in and the battle OF
| Hanover Courthouse was at an enc.
General Branch's fine command Of North
| Carolina troops was almost entirely docl-
mated.
About ~ that night General Anderson
! called council of the Drigadiers: Ihey
| met IN a blacksmith-shop on the Telegraph
road. Ii was supposed that the enemy
would attack Us by daybreak. In the
mean time We had telegraphed all the facts
TO Richmond and begged that an expert
enced commander of division might De az
once sent TO us, General Anderson not
wishing TO assume so great responslOliity'
APPOINTED MAJoR-GEsERAL.
While the generals were IN council we
received a dispatch from the War Depart
ment To the effect that A. 7. hlll had
been appointed maior-general and had al,
| ready started on horseback. accompanied
| by his staff. 10 take command Of Us.
As he started late he had determined $50
| we learned) TO stay over night at the mousse
of gentleman living on his road, but ne
| expected 10 be with Us early in the morn
inc. | was summoned into the blacksmith.
shop before the council Of generals and
ordered TO take courier with an extra
horse and proceed az once TO this house e
request General A. L. Hill u come 70 us
without delay, explaining TO him th'
| situation.
was utterly ignorant of the country
the night was a dark one. and the road lay
through a thicket as dense As the SpOtsyi
wanna Wilderness, and was besides deep II
mud and water, that obliterated all tracks
that might servo to guide me. | was tolC
to strike the nearest house, or cabin. anC
force the resident to act Is my guide.
The courier with me-leading the eXtri
horse-We started. and had not gone more
than half mile when 1 saw light shinn!
from cabIn-windOw. Luckily we ioun'
here "A plain countryman, who knew th'
house TO which l wished to be directed.
THE NIGHT RIDE.
| Reaching il in about an hour and half
we were at once surrounded by an arml
of dogs. whose barking waked the mouse
hold and startled 1t INTO believing ltsei
attacked by the enemy.
| As soon as | made known the object O
my mission General Hill. with his brother
and other members of his stan. dressed a
once and joined us on our return.
| shall ever remember that night rld'
with General Hill. He first spoke OF tn
difficult position in which he was placed
of his having no knowledge OF the sur
rounding country except that gained from
"A map in his pocket. OF his being un
acquainted with brigai Tier OF his com
mand. and this, too, with tine expectation
of an attack in force from the enemy a
daybreak, then rapidly approaching.
FRANKSEss OF A YOUTH.
I also remember that in the course OF hi
| conversation he reverted 10 hls cOurtshil
and marriage, reviewing the circumstance
of his former life and its many blessing
with the trankness Of youth.
At the blacksmith-shOp We found tn
generals assembled and the entire fore
under arms awaiting Us. 10 became m
duty to formally introduce General till t
each Of tho gadier-generals now undo
his command; after which council o
war was held and every possible arrange
nent made to meet the expected attack.
After a few hours of necessary rest 10
our soldiers. who had laid on their arm
all night. we resumed again our march 70
ward Richmond.