The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-07-11
SAVED HIS LIFE.
Gen. James H. Lane Makes a Public
Statement About How MIR. p. "A. Par
ker, of Union County, Saved His
Life Near Spottsylvania c.

Life Near Spottsylvania c.
H., Va, May 12th, 1864
Gen. Jas. Fl. Lane, who commanded
Lanes Brigade" during the late war,
and who is well known to many of our
North Carolina veterans, has written
the statement below for the benefit of
Mr.. Parker and has furnished copies
for several papers. It will interest
many of our readers:
Mr., Peter a. Parker, Lanes CreeE,
N. c.:
Ny DEAR SIR:-At your request it
gives me pleasure to make the follow
ing statement as to how I was cut off
from my command, how escaped cap.
ture and.how my life was saved on the
18th of May, 1864.
On the morning of the 18th of May,
after we had so gloriously repulsed the
Federals who had broken Johnson's
front, we were ordered to occupy that
part of the line between the salient and
the brick kiln, little to the left of
Spottsylvania Court House. Here we
were subjected to heavy enfilade ar
tillery fire, and my brother and aide,
Lieutenant Oscar Lane, was mortally
wounded while standing and talking
to Captain Hale and myself.
That afternoon, in obedience to Or
ders from Gen. Lee and under his eye, we
crossed the works and entered the oak
woods, from which we drove the
enemy's skirmishers and attacked
Burnside's corps in flank as it
advanced to assault the salient.
The general and staff and all
the regimental field officers were on
foot. I was with that part of the line
which swept over the Federal battery
and six guns and passed in rear of the
pine thicket, where there was some
hand to hand fighting. AS we were
not properly supported (see my official
report.) and as the two parallel lines
of the enemy from Johnson's front
were in skirmishing- distance of us, l
ordered my brigade to move back in
line, through the oak woods, to the
Fredericksburg road, and then by the
flank to the Court House, where 1
would meet them. 1t was my inten-
ton to go in person, through the pine
thicket cross our works near the sail
ent, and be at the Court House when
the brigade arrived. I did not know
then that there were so many of the
enemy still in the thicket. When I
was about half way through encoun-
tered small body of Federals going
to their rear. They approached me in
threatening manner, but by little
GOODNESS and strategy, talking about
my line coming up and the like, I sue
ceeded in making my escape. not
only took the back track, but made
tracks from that squad of Yankees,
with visions of Johnson's Island and
pea soup before me. When I was
physically forced to ''slow up" and
was walking back, cap in hand, I found
myself face to face with two Yankees
going to the front AS one of those
fellows leveled his gun to fire on me,
I heard some one cry out: What are
you about9" Then followed quickly
the sharp crack of an unerring rifle,
and as that Yankee fell dead, almost
at my feet, I dashed by the other
one. When I passed the boyish look
ing Confederate, who had thus saved
my life, remarked; ''This is no place
for us, and the sooner we get out the
better" That was the last I saw of
the young rebel in that memorable
thicket.
Inext heard some one say in most
defiant tones: II dare you to fire. " On
looking to my left, saw Lieutenant
o. A. Wiggins standing with his back
against a large pine and daring two
burly Yankees to fire on him. Lieut.
Virgins and were both unarmed-
did not even have our swords-and
had to force my legs into service again.
I ran into the open field, but the skirm-
ishers of those two approaching parallel
lines opened fire upon me, and soon
forced me back to cover. While slowly
moving along in the edge of the thicket,
I was startled by a noise behind me.
On looking back I exclaimed:
"Hello, Dave! How did you get
away9 saw you moment ago daring
two Yankees to fire on you"
81 don't know, General; all can tell
you is, am here, /" was his reply.
It seems that my running attracted
the attention of those two Fed
erals, and when they looked back,
Virgins slipped around the tree
and ran. I cautioned nv boV-lienten-