The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-28

IOlAoW. pkON6bueQ 70 IOlADW Oub NuCao III
recIions, with full authority to control the
movement. There were three brigades IN
addition, perhaps, to other troops, that
succeeded in getting into good form and
ready to move. These we're Mahone's,
Woffords, and I believe the other was
Anderson's. The movement soon began, at
q given signal, our right swinging swiftly
around, driving everything before it. The
lines In front Of US made some sharp resist
ance, but they we're quickly overcome, ana
our troops-Mahone's brigade notably dis
tinguished in the affeir-rushed forward
through the dense underground, carrying
everything before them. It was then that
the incident occurred OF which you speak,
about poor Ben May. He was doing all
that man could do with his coloTs, but
seemed to be somewhat embarrassed by the
bushes, and thought perhaps might help
him to get them forward, mounted as L
was. AS you say, he positively refused to
let them leave his own hands, and L was
filed with admiration of his splendid cour-
age. l think 1t was on the 18th that poor
May WIS shot, and received from q men,
Der of the Twelfth Virginia an affectionate
message that he sent me. l have always
remembered him as one Of the nravest of
confederate soldiers. The Twelfth Virginia
did splendid service that day, and the regi-
ment and myself became great friends Till
the end of the war, whenever in marches or
eABSW uBT6 4 LkSb IL, was always uOuOIC0
with its friendly greetings. As our troops
reached the plank road, you will recollect
that a volley was given to the enemy who
were trying to rally on the opposite side.
BY this volley Gen. Wadsworth and his
horse while trying to rally his mem were
both killed and his soldiers could make no
stand against US. Our rapid movement
through the woods had disordered our line,
as you correctly describe it. Leaving
them for a moment, while recovering good
order, fastened to Gen. Longstreet with
view to bringing up supports tn follow up
our splendid success. l met the general
near by, Jenkins brigade Immediately beS
hind him. lie had heard the sound of our
rifles, and, with the quick instinct of the
general that he was, was following US up
with a strong aud powerful support to pur-
sue his victory. had scarcely taken more
than few steps with him when a sudden
aud unexpected fire, at first scattering,
then heavier, broke out from our men. The
general WAS shot down by my side, and at
the same time Gen. Jenkins, and one or two
staff officers and several oouriers. | have
never known accurately who started this
fire: there is vet some confusion about it,
but it was fatal, and had the effect, by dis
abllng the general, OF putting stop to the
heavy blow he was about inhicting on the
disordered enemy. Later In the day, you
will remember, we made another attack
rather more direct, with strong force, on
the enemy who had got behind some In
trenchments; but we there sustained a re-
pulse, and that about closed the principal
features OF the battle of the Wilderness on
May b.
THE Importance of our flank attack.
which have described here SO briefly, was
not underestimated by the enemy in his
subsequent reports. The official report OF
the battle by Gen. Grant, or his immediate
subordinate, describes the tremendous at
tack of these three brigades, which turned
his own left flank and nearly brought
about a widespread disaster TO the federal
army. l cannot but think it would have
SO ended, had not Gen. Longstrset, in the
flush of his success, and with ardent, fresh
troops in hand been struck down in the
very act of delivering this blow.
Il am sketching this of to you hastily
and entirely from memory, and while there
may be some omissions, or inaccuracies as
to DETAIL l think the account Is not far
wrong. With best wishes, l am yours very
sc. M. SoRREL"
In a subsequent letter, under date OF Jan.
"a, 1892, asserting TO my reading our cor-
respondence, Gen. Sorrel says:
''Please give my heartfelt regards, re-
membranes and all good wishes to che brave
veterans you are associated with. They
were my comrades too. and l shall never
forget them or the tremendous DAYS mat
brought US together"
To Comrade George 8. Bernard, menu
Der of my company, first turned over this
correspondence with Gen. Sorrel, and re-
quested his recollections OF the battle. Here
| Is his reply:
II have read with much pleasure your
correspondence with Gen. Sorrel, and am
| glad you propose to read It TO the camp.
1t furnishes an interesting page of the I'M
ar zOkN kn IN 00f
regiment ard brigade with most impor-
tant move in the battle OF the Wilderness.
| and shows how, when this move seemed
about to prove a success, it was arrested by
an unfortunate accident.
II did not witness the incident of the flag.
Ben Mays refusal to let the colors go from
| his hands was highly characteristic OF the
man., A splendid fellow he was, as brave
as lion and as gentle as a woman, resem-
! bling In this particular his distinguished
uncle, Capt. RoDert b. Pegram, Of naval
| fame.
"The general appearance of the woods,
with its scrubby oaks and other trees, in
| which we encountered the enemy, the
| marshy fiat and gentle slope on either side
at the point we first struck them, the enc
my at the TOD of the slope on the north side,
| an occasional blue coat and a federal nag
indlstinctly visible for IN instant through
| the foliage of the thick underground, say,
| less than lou yards ahead OF US, our men 10
line of battle just at the foot Of the slope
on the north side moving rapidly upward,
some mounted officers riding along with the
line encouraging the troops, one OF these
officers conspicuously leading, the men load
ing and firing as they moved forward. all
yelling and cheering as they saw the enemy
hastily retiring. the woods echoing with the
rapid discharge of musketry and the rebel
| yelp vigorously sounded from more than
q thousand confederate throats, the men in
the finest spirits as they pressed on-al OF
this always comes wildly back TO me at the
mention Of the Wilderness.
II have always thought that the mounted
officer saw and particularly noticed, his
gallant bearing attracting my attention,
was Col. Sorrel, apd still 80 believe.
noticed this officer just as the line was as
oepding the slope north Of the marshy fat.
He was, l think, less than fifty yards to the
left of our company
1.-THE move through the woods in pur-
suit of the retreating federals was highly
exciting, the men seeming to have lost all
sense of danger, although hostile bullets
were doing some deadly work. The rapid
charge soon brought our regiment to the
southern edge of the Orange plank road,
| arrived at which We we're so close upon the
enemy that two-I think three-of us fired
simultaneously at one retreating federal
on the north side OF the plank road and not