The state chronicle., 1893-05-11

advance at Bentonville, whatever
may have been the general result of
any engagement, the command Of
Gen. D. II. Hill was never found
when the firing ceased at night in
the rear of the position it occupied
when the signal of attack sounded
in the morning. Apparently reck-
less in the exposure of his own per-
son, no officer in our armies was
more anxious about the health
happiness and safety of his soldiers.
His theory was that spades were in.
strumentS of defensive, bayonets of
offensive, warfare, and whether the
emergency demanded the one or
the other it was to be done with
might and main" When his cadets
had asked him whether they should
join South Carolina regiments be.
fore their own State seeded he had
propheciaa't.4at the war would soon
begin and would continue long
enough to give every Southerner an
opportunity to display his manhood.
He rested his hope of success upon
the belief that every son of the
South would rush to the rescue
that our armies would be supplied
by tho labor of our slaves, and that
we would thus be enabled to throw
a force in the field sufficient to meet
every Northern man, who would
tender his services to the Federal
government. Two important ele-
ments were wanting as basis of
his calculations-the Southern low
allst and the foreign substitute.
When General H. D. Hill reported to
Col. ). B. McGruder, then in charge
OF the Peninsula and was assigned
to the command of the defences of
| Yorktown, he realized in measure
at least the magnitude of the COM
ing contest. It has been said that
g man who is himself born to com.
mand is quick to perceive in
Others the qualities that FL
them for leadership. Col. Hill
seemed almost intuitively to des-
cry IN the ranks the coclness. cour-
age, Judgment and power of prompt
decision, which others recognized in
bis favorites after they had led bri-
gades and divisions to victory. On
assuming command at Yorktown he
soon discovered that the cavalry.
which be looked upon as the seYe
and ear OF the army" was inefficient,
because the force was composed of
q number of detached companies
without trained or efficient com
mander. In this emergency an Off
Ger OF the old army, VINO had been
commissioned lieutenant in the
regular army of the Confederate
States, reported for duty. Marking Z
him as a man OF promise, Col. Hill
at once caused en order to be issued
placing "Maj John B. Hood" in com
mand OF all the cavalry, and waite d
for the war department to ratify the
promotion and thus protect him in
practicing pardonsble ruse on the
volunteers. That officer ultimately
succeeded Lieutenant General D.
Il. Hill as the commander of a corps
and wss atill later placed in charge
OF the Army of Tennessee. Tie
Providence that has provided homes
tor his orphan children will IN it's
own good time bring to light al the
facts, ana then John 3. Hood will
stand vinGicated before the world
as one of the best and bravest of all
our leaders. It was this same gift
| that enabled Gen. Hill to select
: from the lieutenants of his regiment
Robert Fullenwider Hoke to be
made Major Of his regiment over ten
competent captains. It was this in
| tuitive perception of persistent
pluck, dash and coolness that
| prompted him to love and honor
George B. Anderson, William R..
Cox, Bryan Grimes and Robert D.
Johnston and led him later to urge
the advancement of Gordon, Col
quit and Doles, of Georgia. On
| the 1lth of June, 1861, (the day
after the fight at BetheD in a letter
to his wife, he said of Stonewall
jackson, then a Colonel in command
of brigade, Il see that Jackson has
had an engagement and taken many
prisoners. I have predicted all
along that Col. Jackson would have
prominent place in the war"
BATTLE OF BETHEL
Judging of it's Importance by the
numbers engaged and the losses on
both sides, the battle of Bethel
scarcely rose above the dignity of
skirmish yet few events in the
early history of the war had more
important influence upon the con-
tests Of the following year. The
splendid bearing of our soldiers
sent a thrill to every Southern
heart, and when the first battle of
Manassas was fought less than a
month later, our soldiers moved
forward in the confidence that
Southern pluck would again prevail
over foe that had shown 80 little
dash and confidence in this en-
counter.
sLvEN PINES.
The future historians who shall
make up for posterity their verdict
upon the controverted point as to
the Battle of Seven Pines will find
nna fact admittad hz all Tia a:a