Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-31

instinctivelv % defend and hold the How
Iett-House fort1cati0ns 20 the death, II
necessary until endorsements came.
All kept guard that night because the
force WAS too weak and scattered FOR any
10 sleep.
Word was sent back - General Corse
that his "disobcdlent boys" were In the
Howlett-Hcuse entertainments He WdS
slow to believe II, and only when he cane
I'm person with his cOmmtn1 d Xt morn
ing could he realize what q clever swoop
had been made by a handful OF bold,
dashing fellows Of rebel procliVties.
General Corse didn't reprimand the boys
at all for fragrant violation OF orders
Perhaps he forgot 10 DO 40.
BY the WAY, there We're not many better
men or Drawer officers I'm the Army cf
Northern Virginia than NJ u. Corse, cf
Alexandria, and his soldiers admired AMI
loved him with Il sort Of hiial Affection
They had several nick-names for him.
IMPORTANT ADVANTAGE.
Now that achievement has never been
properly noticed IN print, I'm my judgment,
so far az the men and officers engaged Ia
It We're concerned because II secured with
out much bloodshed a most important adj
vantage 70 Leos army on the james. II
established the Confederate line at How
Ietts House were elaborate earthwork 4
for infantry, artillery, and heavy siege
guns were erected for the defence Of Rich
mond. 1t was one Of the strongest posi-
tons on the river 70 guard against naval
approaches, and II was afterwards con-
structed into fort (IOwett-House bat
terry, with heavy guns to keep the enc
my's iron-clads at baY.
| cannot recall all Of the officers OF tho
Fifteenth Regiment thaL took part in this
adventure, but l do remember Major
IIammett Clarke. Captains Allen NJ.
Lyon, NJ. w. Lakewood. j. VI. Gum. c..
H. Charters j. G. Covers. John Nanner-
son; Lieutenants \. l.. Phillips, j. X Fus-
sell. A. l.. Lumsdef, h. NJ. Dunnayant,
W. l.. Smith. Peter Bowles, y. b. Bum
pass, =. II. Hall. John Dansle. Parsley
and others, all OF whom were from Rich
mond and is vicinity.
SECURED THE KEY.
The next day the Confederate troops
extended the line 10 the AppOmattoN
river, but not without sharp fighting
and some severe losses Of men AMI officers.
The lodgment at HowletCs, however as
heretofore described. hal secured tia
key to the situation. and this enabled
the Confederates 70 force back Butler into
his ENHANCEMENT all along the line.
where he was kept closely shut up until
the lines were finally evacuated In 1860.
Failure on the part Of the Fifteenth
Regiment - drive back the enemy az
Howletts and hold that position, as 1t
did, on the evening OF the 18th Of June,
might have worked disastrous conse-
quences to the Confederates the next
day. for the position was strong ono
and we'll fortified. IL was hanked BY the
river, with precipltous banks. and could
be guarded by Federal gun-boats' 80
that It would have been well nigh I'M
pregnable If properly defended by brave
and adequate forces. Butler could have
placed these there In few hours NC
Cabes history and the orders is-
sued by General Lee at the time WIZ
throw interesting light on this important
transaction.
BEAUREGARD'S RESPONSIBILITY.
McCabe's History OF Lee and His Cam
paigns. page Jos, says: General Leo ma
ordered General Beauregard not 90 eyac-
uate his line until Anderson's Corps, then
moving from Richmond. should relieve
him" but as the demand Tor troops az
Petersburg was 50 urgent, and there was
no prospect that Anderson would get up
in time. General Beauresard assumed
the responsibility OF Withdrawing his
command into Petersburg. Butler then
taking advantage OF this Withdrawal, oc-
cupied the Confederate works.
General Lee did not wish 70 bring on
an engagement at this point, and sent
word TO Pickett to halt. These srdsrs
were transmitted 10 the troops but wer,
OF no avail. Picketts men dashed on In
spite OF the efforts OF their officers to stop
them, and in a fierce. impetuous charge
drove Butler back into his own works.
and re-established Beauregards line.
These achievements drew out two COM
pllmentary orders from General Lee. of
the nth OF June, 1864. that 90 very far
to explain this transaction, and these
orders reflect tmperishable honor on the
dash and gallantry Of Picketts Division.
(See McCabe's History, pages SOS and 500 }
A HOWLETT-HoUSE SURVIVOR.