The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-12
THE BLOODY ANGLE.
COL, CARTER ON GEN. WALKERS
ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE.
Artillery of the Army Of Northern Virginia
Never Taken by . Front Attack
IL Supported.

Editor or The Times:
have read with interest in your Sun
days paper. General James A. Walkers
account of the capture OF General Edward
Jehnston's division. in the salient, near
Spotsylvania Courthouse. May H. 1854
and also the editorial on the subject In
your issue OF February 18th.
General Walkers record for splendid
courage, as well as his whole career as
a soldier, is we'll establish I'd and known
in the Army of Northern Virginia, ana Is
n guarantee Of the correctness OF his
account Of the battle as he said 1t.
While, howeve. the damp ammunition
of the infantry may have prevented a
successful resistance against the a'tach
Of Hancock. the chief cause OF the cap
ture OF the dvisio. was the absence OF
the artillery from the line, the removal
OF which had been ordered and carried
out the afternoon OF May 11th
This reason General Johnston always
asserted with emphasis ana teellhg, ne
Justly and Indignantly denied to the end
Of his life the statement In some current
accounts. and in ono history, that he vas
surprised on this occasion.
The salient projected far in advance OF
the general direction Of the line of battle.
General Walkers description Of the woods
and ground around and works forming
IL is excellent.
Speaking in a general way, the whole
projection, called the salient, may be
likened to an irregularly shaped horse
shoe with heels turned out, mile or
more around and a half mile across the
heels II was a wretchedly defective line,
In a military sense, It's adoption having
been brought about as described by Cen
eral Walker II was only kept because
Il n NJ
that our troops, ehtrenched, could never
be driven out.
So defective was II that in the battle
OF he 10th In order to confront that onset
I had to transfer the guns and caissons
from the inside and right Of the toe or
the horseshoe to the corresponding posi-
tions outside OF the works with our backs
to the enemy at that point, fortunately
not there In sight. But the breastworks
were good OF the kind, and much OF the
ground In front was sufficiently open 10
see for short distance the enemy's lines.
when charging. and had the artillery been
in place the line could not have been car
ried
One of my battalions of artillery In
command of Major r. c. VI. Page, occu-
pied the toe and the right OF the salient.
IL was withdrawn the afternoon or May
18th by order of General Long, chiet OF
artillery, second corps (Eweh 81 VINO
was doubtless acting under orders, ana
who said the cavalry had reported the
renewal of the flank movement towards
Richmond by the enemy.
The object of the withdrawal OF the
artillery was to prevent the disclosure OF
our expected movement that night
General Johnston protested at the time
against the withdrawal of the artillery,
saying he had been along his front ana
had seen no indication OF a movement Oh
the enemy.
told him we greatly preferred to re-
main. the breastworks were butt, we
would be in place and. supported by IN
fantry, absolutely impregnable against
successful assault, but must, OF course
obey orders. The battalion was taken to
the rear. and went into byouac.
The right was dark, murky and drip
ping. About l o'clock sounds of troops
marching counter marching. hating ana
chopping bushes In front Of the salient
were reported 10 General johnston lie AZ
once dlspatched a courier TO General
EwelI. reporting these facts. ard asking
tho return of the artillery. This courier
lost much time I'm finding General EweWs
nd General Longs headquarters. Failing
10 return in time. General Johnston sent
of another courier with more urgent
calls for the artillery.
| was sleeping close by General Longs
Headquarters. and one Of the courier5
finally reached him. The order was qulc~-
~ sent me to be In position by dayoreak
Striking a light. | inGorsed on tie order
that il was then twenty minutes to day
break. and the men all asleep, but the ar
tillery would be in pla e as soon as pos
siblc.
An too quickly it dashed out In the
mud and darkness. the battery If
brother. Captain William Page Cater in
the lead. by turn. that morning. Most Of
This battalion reached the salient Toint
lust in time TO be captured, before beiag