The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-28
GENERAL S0RREL
AT THE
RATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS

rede John r. Turner before A. r. hill
C.mp Of Confederate Veterans of Peters,
- Va. on the evening of March 3.
100 ubieh has recently been issued in Vir-
o,ris for private distribution, will be read
H,.b interest by many ax-confederates in
Georgia and Florida:
demonstrating for years felt q de-
s,.o 70 verify some of my impressions OF the
So If the wilderness in which, on the
co. ~ Nav. 1864, participated as MEN,
W. of he Petersburg Rifiemen, Company
y Tyslfth Virginia regiment, Mahone's
L,i-sda and particularly wishing to verify
u srocolisctiou as to the striking incident
4 I'm ~ BENJAMIN H. May, the gallant color
8 Sasrer of our regiment, refusing to give up
8 his c9lors TO Col. G. NJ. Sorrel, OF Long
streets staff, few weeks ago wrote 10
q Col nov GEM Sorrel to make some tn-
g o'I'ries NJ him as to his recollection of this
Incident and promptly received from him
ranIv confirming my own impressions In
many PARTICULARS and giving several addi-
t,onsI PARTICULARS His letter was 80 inter-
ri ost;nJ tnat determined at once TO read it
"a ~ The camp but after reflection it occurred
10 me that might get together the recol-
factions Of other participants in the action
and read them all as interesting details OF
frat mart of this celebrated action in which
spicuously
Witb this purpose, l turned over my cor
sraspondence with Gen. Sorrel to several
stnernbers Of our camp who were present in
Fbis action as members OF the Twelfth Vir-
S.yinia regiment and requested each Of them,
Sfter reading 1t, to furnish me his recol-
lection of the incidents referred to, and also
Any other details or incidents OF the en-
4 agement that they could recall. The sew
,NfN k,N Ham NF hny
tbis request was made, together with the
Statements of other participants, will be
Furnished in the order in which they were
fven, and feel satisfied that my corre-
spondenoe with Gen. Sorrel, supplemented
by these statements, will interest you as
fhey have interested me.
NV letter to Gen. Sorrel l mailed to Sa-
sannah Ca and was as follows:
PETERSBURG, VA, Jan. 10, 1892.
Gen. g. H. SOrrel. Savannah, Ga;
DEAR GENERAL-Being ANXIOUS to
know il your recollection and mine &C.
eorded, as to certain movements made at
Me battle Of the Wilderness, May 8, 1864,
D. which we both participated, take the
liberty of addressing you this communica-
Bon, and hope If not trespassing too much
tpOn your time) you will do me the kind-
1es to favor me with reply.
"You will remember Mahone's brigade
81 Anderson's division was Quartered near
Madison Run Station. We broke camp on
the morning, think, of the 4th, and biv-
ouacked near Rapidan Station that night.
i tue early morning OF the 9th We made a
forCed march to the battle field. which we
resc1ed about 10 O'Clock.
"Mshone's brigade was ordered very soon
aterEard to the right in the Wilderness.
liter going some distance through the
tiCket, we encountered the enemy appar~
thtly oivouacking, and little expecting any
4ttaGk from that direction.
They fed pell nell before US, leaving their
&ght camp eQuipsge scattered in every d.
tection, making scarcely any resistance an
they reached the Orange plank road;
When, having natural fertilization,
strengthened hurriedly by them, they
stoutly resisted us. Just at this point you
flashed up to the front of my regiment, the
+ Twelfth Virginia, and approaching our
cClor'bearer Benjamin H. May las gallant
soldier as ever carried a flag or should
eed musket, and who was killed at Spett-
HlVania Court House the 18th of May,
&ked him for bis colors to lead the charge.
&c refused to give up his colors, but said
&Ve will follow you.' With great enthu-
Masm we followed you IN the direction of
nc plank road. The enemy broke and fed
rfore US. 1 remember seeing you then
dhsh with great speed up the road In the di-
nction, suppose, of Gen. Longstreet, to
htorm him that the way was clear. Our
Plor-bearer IN the excitement of the mo-
nent, failed to observe that the other regi-
DENTS Of The brigade had halted at the
Wank road. We became detached aud
PISSED over the road forty Or fifty
Nhrds before haltiug. Our colonel, Col, ID.
81 "eslger, observing that we were IN sd-
Rnce OF the brigade, ordered us 10 fall
Pc on line with the brigade. Ia doing
Tile other regiments, mistaking us for
enemy, fired into US, killing and wound
HR several OF our men, and | always
Hoight the same volley killed Gen. Jen-
rs and wounded Gen Longstreet, this APP
relty putting an end to all operations
1he day, as there seemed to be very little
Whe atterward during the day
III uau the pleasure OF short ConveS Se-
~ with Gen. Longstreet returning from
~ ysourg three years ago, and he told me
while he knew he was wounded By his
mon, he never knew exactly how it oc~
iea: de said everything was working
nuuiuly up to this point, and what
Ilel to be an opportunity for a brilliant
mnstance.
nave so often thought of your bravery
| gaAant bearing as you led US through
| II woods up to the plank road, feel that
ouu Ike to know with certainty whether
ny my recollections are correct as to the
12 o9 took in that charge.
~ "Aalng you long life, much happi-
~, auu great prosperity, am very truly
vohrade. JOHN r. TURNER"
"S letter Gen. Sorrel replied as fol-
NEW YORK, Jan. 10. 1892.
IL LEES BIRTHDAY.
p' - II; Turner, Esq, 4. p HiH Camp,
w. FcierS6urg, Va:
81. DEAR SIR-Your letter of Jan. ID WAS
- aIued to me from Savannah, and am
"a s,au TO hear from you. The events
~ ,, uescfloe are 80 long ago, that ones
"a -, lOly may be pardoned if slightly treaoh-
fhst "a, az 70 details, but may say at once
- yOur recital OF the incident and the
al bo TIit OF Mahones brigade at the battle
~ o " lIuerness conforms accurately ia
~ NV ~ recollection of it, excepting, OF
IN al tue TOO partial and hatterinR view
| hi o 49, Of my own personal service there.
an - ~ give you briefly my own version
or "Ilch really Is nearly your own.
/ asSIias.s S'ueets corps had 70 move at tbs
1 "A vj,'Ho ur In the morning of May O. and
/ fobo az the battle field was Just in time
III n. turo"n across the plank road and
IAe enemy whose attack had begun
~ gnie.InliIIs corps. This of itself was q
al m 1ii lucent performance of the corps-tc
III rcb ,'Ne IN the dense thlcket after hasty
al ts5 ~ the midst Of troops suddenly at
torf A. G ~ retiring from the front in dis
Ifa q, oa'hg done during the enemys at
la -, displayed the steadiness character.
tcA,aokot .it1ohgstreet's famous corps. This