The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-10-04
The Hero OF Big Bethel.


The Hero OF Big Bethel.
Among the hardest fighters Of all
the hard-fghsing Confederate generals
of the civil war was Gen. D. H. Hill.
But he had the gentle heart of chiv-
alric soldier, as shown by an anecdote
told to the writer by Major I. W.
Ratchford, very distinguished Off
Ger, who was Gen. Hills Adjutant
General.
Just after the battle Of Cold Har-
bor Gen. Hills brigade commanders,
Gems. Rhodes, Garland, Anderson and
Colquitt, came to headquarters to re-
port and get instructions. They met
Gen. Hill about 3 'clock in the morn
ing, entered vacant house and were
soon busy with the plans for the next
day. !,
While they were talking wounded
Federal officer was brought in who
had been shot in the knee and cap
tured. He limped up, supported on
one side by Federal prisoner and on
the other by one Of his Confederate
captors. Gen. Hill arose and turned
around to speak to him. As the Gen
eral turned, the captured officer let go
his supports and exclaimed: Chill,
old fellow, how are you ?"
"Why II. B., is this you?'' asked
Gen. Hill, and the two, whose troops
had been ''blazing away" at each 9th
er all the day before, actually en-
braced each other. Major Ratchford
says: "My surprise at seeing these
two foes rejoicing over each other
had not passed away when Gen. An
derson came forward and was as de-
monstrative over the Federal officer
as though that officer had been his
father. Gen. Garland, too, on being
introduced was evidently affected, and
shook hands with heartiness that
showed some tie between them, per-
sonal strangers though they were.
The Federal officer was Col. II. B.
Clitz, Of the 12th United States regu:
lars. Gen. Hill and Col. Clitz had
been cadets at West Point at the
same time, and had served togetherin
the Mexican war, and were warm per,
sonal friends. Col. Clitz had been an
instructor at West Point when An
derson was cadet there, and Ander.
oreon had heen one of his fayorite pu.
pills. Clitz had also been guardian
! for Garlands wife, and as Mrs. Gar
| land had died only short time before
this, Gen. Garland was naturally
touched by suddenly meeting for the
first time.his dead wife's friend.
After few minutes spent in pleas
ant social inquiries Gen. Hill asked
Col. Clitz about his wound and pro,
posed to send him to the field hospita
to have it dressed.
Clitz, hlet Others who need it worst
have attention first.
So he staid with Gen. Hill thai
night, the two sleeping on the same
overcoat-the best bed obtainable
Next morning Gen. Hill gave hi
friend an ambulance and said
"Clitz, must send you to Rich
mond-about fifteen miles away-bu
I will not send you there under guard
You just give me your promise to g
there and report to General Winder
And say, Clitz, hc-e is my wife's ad
dress. She is MY banker now. L
you need any money while a prisonc
draw on her for it,
Just as the ambulance was abous Z
start some of Gen. Hills soldier:
brought in Gen. John F. Reynolds,
Federal division commander. Gen
Reynolds had been fighting and doing
picket duty until he was utterly worr
out. So the night before, when ev
erything seemed to give promise Of
quiet, he laid down to snatch few
hours of sleep. While he slept the
sleep of exhaustion his men were driv
en- back and he was captured.
Gen. Hill and Gen Reynolds hae
been together at West Point for three
wears. they had been associated al
young offers at Fort Moultrie, they
had gone out to the Mexican war il
the same company company tina
had Braxton Bragg for captain, ant
and George II. Thomas, John F. Rey
nolds and d RI. Hill for lieutenants
But now when Gen. Hill ad
yanced to shake hands Gen. Reynold
W. Id not recognize him or speak a
all.
Gen. Hills military instincts LEI
him to divine the cause Of his ole
comrades depression and enabled
him to sympathize with brave sol
dier''s chagrin at being surprised ant
captured.
So, going up to Gen. Reynolds will
extended hand, he said:
"Reynolds, do not feel so ba'
about your capture; it is just the fat
Of war.
''It is not being captured" was tn
Generals answer, "that hurts so, bu
it is being captured asleep.
"Cheer up, old fellow Responded
General Hill, Everybody knows tina
you are brave and good soldier
and everybody knows that yo1
would do all that human power ca
do.
Gen. Reynolds frightened up an
said "Wcll, Hill, if you say that
shall feel better about the matter, TO
1 know that you would not mislea
me. No mans good opinion is NOR
appreciated by me than yours, and
you do not condemn me perhaps 9th
ers will not.
Then telling him the same thin
about guard and about money mat
ters that he had told Col. Clitz, Gen
| Hill put him in the same ambulance
and after cordial hand-shake th
two friend-foes parted never to NEE
again.
Gen. Reynolds, after filling full tn