The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-05
GENERAL LEES STORY.

Told on tho Battlefield. and Recalled by
General X. ID. Johnston. ofAlsbama.
No one who participated in the glorious
Virginia will ever forget the memorable
campaign Of the spring OF 1864. The
United States had gathered. during the
winter Of 1863 and 1854. vast army Of
disciplined soldiers. had placed at its
head a successful general. and, with I'M
limited supplies and resources at his COM
mand. had turned the head Of its columns
toward the Confederate capital, with the
cry. "On to Richmondi' Between this
splendndly appointed srmy and the CAPT
tai OF the Confederacy stood only the
Army OF Northern Virginia. with General
Robert Il. Lee at its head. That army
was lacking In almost everything except
courage and confidence in its great leader
The struggle began with the battle Of
the Wilderness and continued almost
daily until the two armies. drenched in
blood. glared at each other from the rife
pits In front Of Petersburg Each day
witnessed heroic deeds on the part OF
the soldiers of both armies, and when
the shades of night came we counted
with sad hearts the missing ones who
had made their last sacrifice in behalf of
blood
The stirring scenes and incidents that
each dav occurred moved our hearts and
left deep impressions upon our memories.
None made more profound impression
upon me than an incident that took place
on the morning of May IL, 1864 the day
before the great battle OF Spottsyivania.
The enemy had concentrated In heavy
columns In front of that part OF our lines
occupied by the division OF General
Rhodes. protected by the woods, with
only a few hundred yards of open
ground between the woods and the breast
works OF Rhodes division. They made a
sudden and imDetuous assault upon the
lines and drove out Dole's brigade, and
part Of Daniels. and planted their colors
on our breastworks.
Johnstons brigade was at the time in
reserve. supporting Longstreets corps
He was hastily summoned TO the point
OF attack. and under the eye Of our be-
loved commander made the charge which
drove the enemy out OF the breastworks
captured the flags which they had planted
upon our works. and restored the lines
That charge was led by two soldiers OF
the brigade-one now a prominent Ala.
bamian. and the other North Carolinian,
who afterwards passed to rest on the
battlefield. 1t was a sharp struggle be-
tween them which would first reach the
enemy's flag upon the breastworks and
tear 1t down. The Alabamians foot
slipped as he reached forth 10 take the
flag, and the North Carolina soldier
seized II. After the fight was over he
carried 1t back to General Lee. and asked
his permission to send II to the Governor
Of North Carolina. to be preserved in
memory Of that day. General Lee wrote
A letter to the Governor of North Caro-
lima, commencing the brave deed. and
sent the flag as requested. -
1t was on this occasion. the second time
during the campaign. that the soldiers
had to take hold Of General Lees horse
and force him from the field Of battle.
While the fight lasted we could not pre-
vail On him to retire from the field. When
quiet had again been restored a number
of the general officers assembled at the
little house. General Ewell's headquarters,
lust in the rear of the line of battle.
There were Generals Ewell. Rhodes, Ram
seur. Doles. Pendeton and the writer.
While we were sitting on the porch dis
cussing the events of the morning Gen
eral Lee came out OF the house and took
his seat among us. Turning to General
Rhodes. he said: General. what shall we
do with General Does for allowing those
people to break over his lines?" General
Rhodes replied; I'VE shall have to let
Doles off this time. as he has suffered
quite severely for II already"
Just at this moment a courier rode up
with n dispatch for General Lee. 1t was
one Of Stewards scouts. The opinion at
that time was prevalent among all the
general officers at the front that United
States troops were sliding around our
right and did not intend to fight us in the
position we then held. All supposed the
dispatch that General Lee had just re-
ceived from General Stewart was some
thing relating TO the movements Of Cen
eral Grants army. 1t was General Ram
seur who first broke the silence, remark