The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-14

men resisted Mcclellan all day
long with his heavy masses, IN
GLIDING two corps tsat never hred
II. Jones and Ewell's division under Law
ton, were nearly annihtlated by the trc-
mendous assault Of Summers and HOOK
cr's corps. Jones was wounded. starke
wounded and Bariy succeeding him
found but little more than his own bril-
gade left I'm fighting shape. Assisted py
Grissby and some 800 men OF Jackson aS
division. he swith his brigade. Eep9iseu
one assault. when suddenly Green feu
eral Division penetrated our lines anu
appeared on his right flank. ProthptES
facing his men by flank to meet ~ az"
marching behind rocky ledge, ne
PEELED these intruders and tnsn ie and
forcements arriving he Joined them anu
beat back Summers corps
FREpEH,cKsBuRG, Die. 49, 1857
II was a splendid scene when the ZOE
lifted December b. 1867 anu t &C. 49,
on the plains OF Frede lin of one hun
bred thousand men and Two h1huItu
GINS Confronting the hills crowned with
the batteries and bayonets Oh ane Eariyy
"a NO O,, ,''e IN the most difficult position
that ever tests the soldiers metal. ,
summers grand division threw user
upon the Confederate IeI1 anu Wa narve's
Uui Franklin's grand division was now
launched against our right held by jack
sons corps. and Early was just ,,fs
division in readiness 10 move 10 our
right flank then being threatened. But
there came gallopine TO him the ANU
tant OF Walkers Artillery Battalion WITH
the startling Information that the enemy
had made IAN awful gulf' between Ar
chers and Lanes brigades on our front,
and unless immediate assistance came
our artillery would be captured. In TINS
emergency Early assumed the response
bility OF disregardng Jackson orders
and instantly advanced to the rescue
amidst the shouts Of the Confederates'
Here comes old Jubal. hen straigh1en
that fence" And he did straighten II,
driving the enemy far out on the plain,
and having the satisfaction OF present
" receiving Jackson's orders 10 do just
what he had done
CHANcKLLoRsyILLy, MAY 1868.
Early commanded the right wing OF
Lees army during the battle of Chan
cellorsvlle while Lee and Jackson sur
rounded Hooker with less than half OF his
numbers. With his division Of four bri-
gades and Barksdale's brigade, and the
reserve arillerv all told less than 10000
men, Early held a line four miles long
against three corps at first. then against
two, and at last had it out with Sedg-
wick 5000 strong The latter by a sud
den rush in the afternoon cap
tured Marye's Hill. but at dawn next
day Early Strengthened that fence, and
later joined in the assault at Salem
Church. which led to the discontinue
and retreat of the enemy.
WINCHESTER. JUNE IA. 1868.
On the 18th OF June. 1863. Lee tele-
graphed from his headquarters "A dis
patch from Ewen dated 5 A. NJ. to-day
states that Early's Division stormed the
enemies works at Winchester, capturing
their cannon, etc, with little loss on our
side" This is the brief summary Of the
flank movement and brilliant assault sug-
gested and executed by Early, and OF
the splendid victory. that sent Milroy
routed to Harper's Ferry. and cleared
the path for our northward march.
PENNSYLVANIA AND GETTYSBURG.
Early commanded the vanguard Of the
Army Of Northern Virginia that now pen
etrated Pennsylvania 1t was his divi-
sion that made the decisive charge in the
first days battle at Gettysburg when the
scales were trembling in the balance; il
was he. who, when that charge
had so largely contributed to win us
the victory with 5000 prisoners OF war,
urged that our forces should pursue the
attack: it was his division that took
sault with the batteries that defended
it and had to give back because others
failed. This division was the rear guard
that covered Lees retreat, and l have
never seen II present sterner front
than that 4th of July morning, 1864 when
II stood ready to meet Meade on Semi
nary Rilge In this campaign a part Of
Early's infantry under Gordon. but Early
himself being present, went farther north
than any troops of the South during the
conflict. and at WTightsVille. on the Sus-
quehannah. June o. 1851 the Confederate
war there shot forth its pinnacle OF fame.
The WILDERNESS, MAY 5IH AND 9Th 1864
At the wilderness. May 3, 1864, Grant
made his first assault on Lee. II fell
suddenly at our extreme left on Cen
eral Edward JOhnson's division OF the
second corps, and il was pressed back
in confusion. There were no reinforce
mcnts on the field. The fate Of Lees
army was imperlcd. Happily Early had
ridden ahead of his troops which were
marching in the direction OF the sud
den battle. and he sent post haste for
GordCn's brigade the nearest at hand.
At double quick II came, under Earlys
eye II vas formed amidst shot and shell,
and then that magnificent field mar
shall John Is. Gordon. led the counter
charge. which restored the fortunes OF
a lost field. The next day May 9Th. Early.
with Gordon leading again assaulted
Grants left flank and put the boot on
the other leg, for the result was the cap
ture of six hundred prisoners, including
Generals Seymour and Hayes.
OTHER DISTINCTIONS
Early was with Lee I'm both Of his
northern invasiOns. and is the only other
Confederate General who himself led two
invasions.
lie won the only battle ever won by
Confederate arms beyond the borders OF
the Confederacy as witness the defeat
OF Wallace on the Monocacy July 9. 1864
His three victories In 1864 were the
last in which the Army of Northern
Virginia drove its foe from the battle
field. as witness: Hunters fight from
Lynchburg, June 18th; Wallace's from
MOnOcacy. July 9th, and Crooks from
kemstown. August 23d.
He led the expedition which. though the
smallest in numbers, came nearest Of all
to capturing Washington.
He made the greatest march Of the
civil war or of modern war
He was not finally overcome until the
rolls more men than the Army OF North
ern Virginia under Lee. inclusive Of Ear
ly's own troops and those Of Beuregard at
Petersburg. Not until those in hi. i'm
mediate front were more than .hfee-f fold
his own in numbers. Not until the cav
airy or his enemy was more numerous
than his own infantry, and reported
more men present than his entire com
mani Not until he had killed. wounded
ana captured more men than he ever
mustered upon a field of battle.
FOUR YEARS OF CONFLICT.
He who fought this good fight WAS
amongst the last OF the statesmen 10
cling TO peace and union and he was
among the hrst when his state was in
vaded 10 enter the ranks Of war Offering
his services the very day the convention
adjourned, and making no condition OF
rank as 10 their acceptance: and the
sword once drawn none wieldeda trustier
bfade or returned II more slowly or re-
luctantly to the scabbord.
mid - ha