The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-26
ODYANGLEAGAIN.
Lieutenant w. s. Archer Tells OF What lie
Saw.
Anectionately.
YOUR EDITOR

saw.
Editor OF The Times:
As served throughout the war in the
brigade which held the Bloody Angle
at spotsylvania, and It has most u1-
Justly been held responsible FOR the d.s-
aster there, would like 10 add one state
ment 10 what has already been said.
which l think has an important bearing
on the result
I do not remember accurately the points
Of the compass. but Will assume that
the general direction OF the main line x
works was up 10 the salient from south
70 north At the salient the line curved
sharply to the right and rear. running.
I think, almost east. Now the picket
line did not conform 10 the direction o,
the main line. ON the contrary, Il con-
tlnued its northerly course for more than
a thousand yards beyond the angle and
then turned TO the right and rear. Draw
ing a line due west from the angle yol
would strike the sNrmish line az about
300 yards. a line drawn from the same
noint in a northwesterly direction would
not reach the skirmish line under l'9
yards.
northwest. IL is necessary 10 bear al
This In mind to understand what followed
The "Bloody Angle" was held hy I.r
Sscona brigade. Colonel Wltcher, Of Gone
oral Edward Johnson's division. me-
Eortv-Second Virginia regiment, ~ ms
bripode held the skirmish line during the
dav and night Of the nth Of May At
davbreak on the morning OF ne l-tn me
Forty-eighth regiment 70 which vas
attached, was taken out or me salient
marched TO the front ana depioye4 10
relieve the Forty-second- 49,,
II was lust at this time. and whllst
hotb regiments were extended IN skirmsh
order that the cheering OF the cnarsi"s
columns Of the enemy was heard ana
although they were evidently close 20 Ds
none could be seen On account OK ueus'
fog which enVeloped everything. Neatlf
tho whole Of the two regiments "ri'
forced from their direct line OF retreat
and compelled 10 make dctouI OF
stand the chance Of running INTO tN9
enemy. whose columns OF attack 70 our
Ief, when first started were several hun
dred wards nearer the angle than va
we're. Many men kept an easterly course
70 avoid the fire from our own men, VINO
whilst they could see nothing, could hear
the cheering and were simply firing INTO
tba fog. and retoined their commands
later I'm the day. Many others myset
among the number. after making De
tour reached the lines where they "cts
held by the Third brigade, General
stewart ONLY a very small number re-
entered the angle, where all OF US should
have been. on crossing the works
started 10 the line towards the salient.
but before reaching Il the enemy cou.1
be seen directly in front and about
seveuty Yards of the line had halted,
and one good voiley would have sent ne
whole helter-skelter 70 the rear ft
il was not to be. And ! can testify from
personal observation as 20 the truth OK
General Walkers statement
The fire Of Stewards men In llne or hl'-
tie did not have the force OF h0tf-
contested slxirmish. TIE penetrating mist
which had been falling all light hal w,t
the powder in the tubes, and the guns
could rot be fired. A sergeant OF my iesl-
ment. who was with ne, directed ms A.
tention to the angle. About forty yards
away the enemy could be seen pouring
over the works, and the artillery sAlob-
ing into the salient. saw tho single gLn
mentioned by Colonel Carter. unlimherel
and fred. and the battle lost. with many
prisoners, for, although tho battle 'as,
around this angle all day and until l1
o'clock at night, We never drove them OK
and they never gained an inch more.
This grievous loss was the result OF
combination or unfortunate VliNAi'0lHil'~'
which sometimes happen whereVef war
is wage1. These were-First, tho fallIhf
mist. which rendered so many muske.s
Second. all the space il
the salient occupied by the artillery ara
all that occupied by the Forty-eighih
IT giment was vacant. with neither mus
ket nor cannon IN It 10 fire shot, ahd
the enemy simply walked over tbs works
without bindrance. The Forty-eishih. u
is true. was a small regiment. for On mo
9Th OF May more than one half me men
present with the colors had fallen ia
the gloomy depths OF the wilderness
There were enough left, however, 10 haye
held the salient II they had been IN IL
Y it'll dry powder.
W. s. ARCHER,
Lieutenant Forty-eighth Virginia Reg
ment.