Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-06
A PETERSBURG BOY.
BRAVERY At THE WILpERNEss-A
LEAF or uNWRIrTEN HISTORY.



Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispssch.l
prrxRssuno, Va, March SIN the mat
Ter Of the unwritten history OF the late
war the A. p. Hill Camp OF Confederate
Veterans Of this city Is making some very
valuable and interesting contributions:
At least once month some paper Is reao
before the camp treating OF some impor'
tant or heroic event OF the war py one
Who participated in 1t, or prepared ron
notes Of the occurrence IS written imme-
A,.taiv Afterwards by those WOO were
cognizant of the facts. Thus Is the truth
of history outside Of the general omciai
H;Il Csmn has done great deal IN this re-
srect and will do q great deal more. The
naneys already on file in the archives OF
{he camp treat of stirring scenes ana
events in way of the battles fougnt py the
glorious and uncomfortable Army OF North
arm Virginia. and they are valuable be-
cause they are truthful
HISTORICAL INCIDENTS.
The last paper Of this series was read be-
fore tho camp on Thursday night by MI.
John X. Turner, OF Company Il. IweiItn
Recollections of Participant in the
Rattle OF the Wilderness The Part Taken
Nv Mabone's Brigade" The incidents par
ticularly related in this paper are the
wounding of General Longstreet, the kill
ing of General jenkins. and several SOL
diers of the Twelfth Regiment by the fre
of a portion of the brigade under the mis-
taken impressions that they were
a party of the enemy. This unfortunate
circumstances is believed to have saved
the Federal army from complete route and
disaster. Another striking incident OF
this battle was the conspicuous bravery or
the coior-bearer Of the Twelfth regiment.
DIR. Benjamin II. May, of this city. who
was subsequently, killed at the battle OF
q. NJ. Sorrel. of General Longstreets
staff. Mr.. Turner's recollections of these
scenes are related in graphic style. and
they are fully corroborated by letters
written by Colonel Il. III. Field. command
ing the Twelfth, Mr.. George 5. Bernard,
Mr. Putnam Stith, -Adjutant Hugh X.
Smith, and Others OF the regiment, and,
brave conduct. by Colonel Sorrel. MIR:
Turner says that ON the morning OF
the 9Th of May. 1854, after forced march,
Mahone's Brigade was ordered to the night
IN the Wilderness. After going some dis
lance through the thicket they encount-
cred the enemy, apparently biyouaclng
and little expecting any attack from that
direction. The enemy fed pell-mell,
leaving their light camp equipage scat
tered in every direction, making scarcely
any resistance until they reached the
Orange Plank Road. where. having a
natural fortifcation strengthened hur-
riedly by them, they stoutly resisted.
I'VE WILL FOLLOW You'll"
Just at this point Colonel Sorrel dashed
up 10 the front Of the Twelfth Virginia
Regiment, and, approaching the color
bearer, DR.. Benjamin, d. May Gas gallant
soldier as ever carried flag or shoudered
q musket, and who was killed May 18th at
Spotsylvania Courthouse. asked him for
his colors to lead the charge. May lndig-
pantly refused, though wearied by his
march and fatigusd by the rush through
the thick growth of woods, but said.
I'VE will follow you'll" and, with great
enthusiasm. the regiment charged and
routed the enemy, gaining an important
victory and clearing the way for further
advantageous operations-and Colonel
Sorrel dashed rapidly away to inform Cen |
eral Long5treet of the fact. The color |
bearer. DR.. MAY, in the excitement OF the |
moment, failed TO observe that the !
other regiment OF the brigade had
halted at the Plank road. HIS regiment
became detached and passed over the road
forty OF fifty yards before hating. Colo |
mel Weislger, observing that the regiment |
was in advance of the brigade, ordered it |
to fall back on a line with the brigade; In |
doing this they were mistaken for Federal |
troops and fired upon by the other regi- |
ment, killing and wounding several. 1t |
was this volley. MIR. Turner thinks, as do
others, that killed General jenkins and |
wounded General LonGstreet, and that |
put stop TO all further operations for the |
day.
Colonel Sorrels recollections of these |
events accurately agree with those of Mr..
Turner, as expressed in the letter written
by him and read to the camp. The Colonel
says that soon after Longstreets Corps
had checked the enemy on the Plank road, |
and after General Lee had been forcibly |
stopped by the entreaties of officers and |
soldiers from leading the Texas Brigade
into action he was requested by General |
Iongstreet TO collect some troops over on |
the right, get them in good line and In |
touch with each other, and make strong |
movement forward swinging by the right. !
If such were promptly done the General
felt that splendid success would follow. |
Colonel Sorrel followed out these direc- |
tons with full authority to control the |
movement. He got these brigades, and |
perhaps other troops. in good order-Ma- |
homes, Wofford's. and Anderson's. The |
forward movement began at given signal,
and everything was driven before 1T. Ma
homes Brigade was notably distinguished
in this affair.
HIS SPLENDID COURAGE.
1t was then that the incident about poor
Ben. MAY occurred. He was doing all that
man could do with his colors. but seemed
to be somewhat embarrassed by the
bushes, aud IL" says Colonel Sorrel,
mounted as / was. thought perhaps l
might help him to get. them forward. He
own hands and was filed with admira-
ton of his splendid courage. After May
was shot on the 18th received an affec-
tionate message from him. ! have always
remembered him as one of the bravest of
Confederate soldiers. The Twelfth Vir-
GINA Regiment did splendid service that
day and the regiment and myself are
movement through the woods had disor-
dered our line. Leaving them for mo-
meIt. while recovering good order, has
tened to General Longstreet with view
TO bringing up supports to follow up our
splendid success. met the General near
by-Jenkins's brigade Immediately behind
him.
SHOT DOWN.
/ had scarcely taken more than few
steps with him when q sudden and unex-
pected fre-at first scattering, then
heaver-broke out from our men. The
General was shot down by my side and at
the same time General Jenkins, one or two
stan officers, and several couriers. This
put q stop 10 the heavy blow we were
about to innict, which, think, would
have ended in great disaster to the Federal
army"
MIR. Turner read interesting extracts
about this battle from the diary of Mr..
George s. Bernard. written the day after
the Wilderness fight. in which among
other things it is stated that the fatal d.
ley was fired by regiments Of Mshone's
Brigade.
MRS. BLANKENsHIP GONE.
Mrs. Lucy Blankcnship. aged SO years,
died at Der residence, on west High street,
yesterday after very brief illness. She
passed away as quietly and peaceful as an
infant. She was the oldest member OF
HIgh-S,reet Methodist Episcopal church.
with which she had been connected for
over three score years. Hers was beauti-
full Christian life throughout.
REVENUE COLLECTIONS.
The total internal revenue collections in
this district during the month of February
were as follows: Lists, $45 co.; beer.
$685. brandy. $2.626 cigars and cigar
cites, $45.4l1.47; snuff, $51.SO; tobacco,
Si04, 702. "a; special taxes, 81 ,020. 42-total.
o1 a =. \,