The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-07-04
KERSHAW AT MANASSAS.
The Thrilling Story Told by an
Admirinq Private.

kEkSHAW AL MANhDOAO.
The Thrilling Story Told by an
Admiring Private.
TO ths Editor of the News and Ccu-
rser I read with interest In a resent
issue Of your paper a sketch Of the
splendid fight made by the lamented
Kersbaw on the plains of Manassas,
July 81, 1861, written by at that time
soldier lad Of 16 years and a member
of the 9th regiment, one of the two
regiments led into action on that mem
orable day by this peerless soldier !;
and I, another sixteen-year-old soldier
lad Of that date, member Of the
Palmetto Guard, End regiment, 'sKer-
shaw's Own," crave space in your col
umns to bear testimony also to the
matchless skill, the daring courage
and dash displayed on that field and
Bull Run by our dear old commander.
To give an ineligible understand
ing of the part taken by our brigade,
then Gen. Bonham's, I must give
brief sketch of the maneuvres per-
formed by our brigade just preceding
this first great battle Of the war.
This magnificent command was COM
posed of Carolina's young chivalry,
full of patriotism and fight, who had
rushed to the front at the first sound
Of the war drum, and was constituted
of the following commands Second
regiment, Col. Kershaw 3rd, Col.
Williams 7th, Col. Bacon, and the.
9th, Col. Cash, and Del: Kemper's
batteE 81 artillery. The 1st regi-
melt, Col. Maxcy Gregg's, was with
as a few weeks, but being composed
of three months volunteers whose en-
listment had expired, and with no
immediate prospect Of fight pend
ing, they returned to Carolina to reor-
ganize, hoping to reach us again be-
fore the ball opened but, alas. they
missed the great victory of Manassas,
but fate decreed that subsequently
they should, upon that very field,
write their name in bloody characters
high up on the scroll of fame.
The latter part Of. April we were or
dered from Richmond to Manassas,
which point we,had just reached when
couriers rushed in with the :intelli-
gence that the enemy were advancing.
The long roll:was beaten and the lines
formed and we emarched down the road
to meet the advancing foe.
FIRST CAMP ON BULL Run.
After march Of three miles we
reached the afterwards historic stream
of Bull Run, and the alarm proving
false and the situation natural one
for defence our camp was established
there. and we fortified its southern
bank with formidable breastworks.
From our position the panorama
spread before us as one Of surprising
loyeliness. The open country beyond
the stream as far as the eye could
reach, clothed in the emerald hue of
wheat and clover and dotted with
white farm-houses, on the edge of the
great highway leading to Washington,
that wound its glistening and serpen-
tine form over these undulating hills
and on to the Potomac. The grand
old Blue Ridge Mountains, with their
soft and purplish outlines, mellowed
by distance, was a fitting background
for such q scene, What a picture OF
peace, plenty and rural happiness to
be disturbed by the rude hand of war,
and yet it was decreed that upon these
fertile plains ;Sthe embattled host
should twice submit to the arbitra-
ment Of the sword. About the mid.
die Of. May;ours brigade was advanced
to Fairfax Court House as an7outpost
to meet and retard the. enemy when
they should move out of their breast
works at Washington in their "On to
Richmond" programme. Our orders
were to skirmish with them and grad
ually fall back upon our entrench-
ments at Bull Run.
We were now within half days
march of Washington, and the caval-
ry videttes in sight of each other and
the infantry pickets about two miles
apart. The latter was composed Of an
entire company, read out at dress pa
rade every evening for this duty the
next day by the adjutant.
THE POST, OF HONOR.
Mcdowell. who commanded that
powerful army of thoroughly equipped
and drilled soldiers in the trenches at
the Capital, was about to begin his
march upon the other Capital. Itwas
a matter Of intense interest to the
companies Of. the regiment as to which
would be three miles in advance Of the
regiment on this perilous outpost to
receive McDowells first volleys and
then elude his clutches. 1t fell to the
lot of the Brooks Guards, Of Charles
ton, Capt. A. Burnett Rhett, who,
skilfully seizing every natural protec-
tion for his men, poured into the enc
my's skirmish line heavy volleys from
nigh hundred rifles and got away
with slight loss.
It was on the morning Of 10Th July,
1861, that the proud Union army, with
flying banners and beating drums, and
escorted by an adjourned Congress to
witness the rout and capture Of the
Rebel army, marched across the Long
Bridge over the Potomac and took up
it's line Of march for Richmond.
THE ENEMY ARE COMING.
About an hour by sun on that event.
full morning member Of 1.-The Black
Horse Troop" a famous ante-bellum
organization, on duty as vidette in
front of the enemy, came at full speed
by our camp for Gen. Bonham's head
quarters, and as he passed Col. Ker-
shaw's tent, just on the edge OF the
road, he announced to him that the
enemy were advancing.
The colonel ordered the adjutant to
have the long roll beaten, and in a
minute Pritchard, who was right at
J.:1l.nr kho cnIdiprq with