The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-05
BLOODY ANGLE, AGAIN.
REF. m. $. sTRTyGFELLow's &C.
COUNT or THE FIGHT.
Glorious Work Done by "Marss Roberts
BOYS That Famous 18th Of May.
The Gallant Gordon.
RACCooN FORD.
CULPEPER COUNTY. VA.
Feb. 10. 1904
Cror The Timss.)


"a in your paper over the signatures OF
CEREAL James A. Walker and Colonel
Thomas II. Carter. relating to the battle
OF the 18th of May at Srotpylvania Court
house I feel some hesitancy in coming
before the public after such men as tho
two aforementioned. but as feel that
Il is a duty we owe to our cause and
ourselves TO throw all the light we can
upon so important an event, I will
hazard a statement as to what followed
the capture Of Johnston's line. Being
simply an old soldier and entirely I'M
known 10 you and the public, / will take
the liberty OF referring you to General
James A. Walker himself as to my re-
liability. I have not the slightest doubt
that had Colonel Cartor'r guns been in
position. a very different story would
have been told. / have seen the Colonies
boys handle their guns more than once
and know he is making no Idle boast
What i shall say is In substance
what have written in a series Of
sketches under the title OF my Expe-
rience as Sharpshooter. and Other War
Sketches" don't know OF your rules.
but shall reserve the privilege OF using
this material In the way have Just men
toned.
During the operations around Spotsyl-
yania Courthouse General John u. Cor
don had command OF Evans Georgia
brigade and Pegram's Virginia bril-
eade. AS a member OF the Thirteenth
Virginia Ipfantry. 1 was attached to Pc
grams brigade. We were in reserve To
be In reserve at time like that implied
two thinSs-conhdence upon the part OF
our commander. and hard work upon the
In
there disappointment.
The evening Of the 18th closed in dark
and chilly. We were made more un-
comfortable by the fact that orders came
around for mo fires" So, rolling UP in
our oil cloths, We were soon dreaming.
perhaps. that the Cruel war was over"
The gray dawn OF the morning Of the
18th found us standing at attention.
Some time since / read an account OF
the battle of the 18th OF May, written
BY a Northern officer. In this account he
said that they were told that n blow
would be struck which would end the war
Nothing was said by our officers, but
there was a nameless something in the
air which told each man that a crisis
was al hand. orders were given in low
tones The Jim, shadowy outlines of
the different commands as they took
their positions under The somhre shades
Of the pines gave q weird effect to the
scene.
Just as day began to streak the east
We heard rapid firing on our extreme
left. In a short time a courier dashed
UP TO General Gordon with an order
Attention. Left face. forward Double
quick" passed up our lines, and we were
on on run. Troops I'm reserve had TO
have what the horse jockeys call good
bottom" At that time We were in good
order for a run. Not a fat man in our
ranks. A quarter Of a pound OF meat
and a pint OF unsifted meal, with hard
* vas our formula for reducing
flesh. On this occasion we demonstrated
that the old saying. "a lean dog for a
long chase" was a correct tn DRY. How
far we went l am unable TO say but II
was to General Lees extreme left. Just
as we arrived on run we saw our boys.
Hoods Texans. I think, recapturing
works which the enemy had gained tenn
porary possession OF. We had scarcely
time TO draw a long breath before an
other courier dashed up to General Cor
don. when the command came quick
Is About facs forward! double
ouickr Back over oar tracks
We sped. covering the whole
distance at run. The men needed no
urging. for we all felt that there must be
some urgent need. General Gordon ac-
companied by a young man, who was de-
tailed from my old company (A) at divi-
sion headquarters as courier went
ahead.
This young man told me afterwards
that when General Gordon reached Cen
eral Lee he refined his horse back
on his launches. throwing his hand TO
his cap. he saluted General Lee, and
said: What do you want me to do, Cen
eral?" General Gordon was then. he
said. the most superb looking soldier
he ever saw. During our absence. as we
afterwards learned. the enemy had broken
over our lines. capturing the greater
part of General Edward Johnston's d.
vision. It was to retake and re-establish
this line we had been sent for.
When We the reserve. / mean, arrived
General Lee was seated upon Traveller.
engaged in conversation with General
Gordon. Our brigade came up on a run
and went through the manoeuvre or ION
the right by, file into line" by which we
changed front. facing towards Spotsyl-
vania Courthouse. AS the boys came up
the General could read the same ques-
ton in all their eyes which General Cor
don had asked. The General was in
great danger. for we were under lively |
fire as we formed. 1 saw the dust fly |
from General Gordon's coat. just above |
his sword belt Checking his horse. he |
threw his hand 10 his back. He seemed |
satisfied that II was only little darning |
for Mrs Gordon. who was always IN |
reach. and spurred on down the line. i |
passed in few feet OF General Lee; he |
was perfectly calm. No one would ever \
have dreamed that General Grant held |
probably half a mile OF his works. II |
was lust then the circumstance occurred
which has given rise to some controversy. |
] allude TO General Lees being turned |
back. What has caused some confusion
has been the fact that almost the same |
Identical thing happened twice during
that campaign. In the first instance,
General Lee wanted to lead the Texans,
when they turned him back. On this oc-
cssion General Lee took his position on
the right OF our brigade. with the evident
Intention OF leading II into action. Cen
sral Gordon told the General he must so
back and said: These are Virginians,
and they are going 10 do their duty"
appealing to the men at the same time.
All who heard him responded that he
must 20 back. and they would do what he
wanted done.
II took less time 10 form that line than
It has taken me 10 tell It. When rising in
his stirTups. General Gordon gave the
command, Forward Guide right!'
Those two brigades had herculean task
shead OF them. Thirty thousand troops
flushed with victory held formidable
works. The brigades possibly at that
time. for they had already lost heavily
eitce the Campaign opened, not more than
ten thousand strong were about 10 Crap |