The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-05-02

at the first battle OF Manassas was
placed in reserve and was 30 to remain
throughout the battle unless we should
be heavily repulsed or become sud
denly victorious. In making this
disposition Of our brigade Gen. Beau
regard fully expected the timely ar
rival of Kirby Smiths brigade, then
on its way to Manassas from Rich
mond. 1t. is generally known that
Smith was behind hand, caused by q
traitorous railroad officer, but it is not
generally known that . portion Of our
brigade was called into action, in con-
sequence of the failure of Smith, in
time to carry out the plans Of our
commanding general.
AT about 3 clock p. m. orders sud-
denly came ordering two of our regl-
ments and the battery to the front.
Gen. Bonham was required to remain
at his post. This was CALLING to the
gallant old man, who was anxious to
|, share in the danger and glory. He
forwarded, under the command of Col.
Kershaw, the End and 9th, the former
Kershaw's own regiment, tho latter
commanded by Col. E. B. G. Cash.
The result of this movement was
turn in the tide of the battle. Our
two regiments went into battle under
Q might say to young troops) horrible
circumstances. When approaching
the battlefield I'VE would meet being
borne out soldiers wounded in every
conceivable way; some with one or
both legs hanging; some with part
Of their faces shot off some terribly
wounded in the body. The sight and
groans of these wounded men and the
declarations of timid ones who had
volunteered to assist off the field
wounded comrades, that 'swe wee cut
all to pieces" /" we're not calculasca to
increase the ardor. Of raw troops, and
two or three in our command showed
the white feather at this point, and
never could be induced to face the
Minnie ball in subsequent battles.
Col. Kershaw' conduct in this try
ing ordeal was something remarkable.
He had been conducting q body Of his
friends to picnic he could not have
exhibited personally more noncha-
lance: Whenever he uttered a COM
mand it was without quiver of the
voice. No excitement did he exhibit
in anything that he said or did. He
spoke few words of encouragement
and sympathy to some of the wounded
men that he met. The conduct Of
Col. Kershaw on this trying march
into battle did more to keep US in
heart than all the rearing and snorting
and cavorting so frequently INDUCED
by officers under such circumstances.
I was. very young, perhaps the young
est boy in the 9th, and remember
that I kept my eyes on Col. Kershaw
all the time; his very calmness had a
good effect on me, and all the others
too. We became separated from him
a little while, as he had directed our
Colonel to charge through a small
piece of woods. Our two regiments
for a little while did some hard fight
ing and lost many good men, but we
won a glorious victory. Although We
have not received the credit that is
due us, it is undoubtedly true that we
turned the tide of battle. When We
drove the New York Zouaves from
their position there was giving way
all along the line, wh.cn soon termi-
mated in an utter rout.
Gen. Bonham, having been elected
Governor of South Carolina, resigned
a short time after this battle, and Col.
Kershaw was promoted to the COM
mand of the brigade for meritorious
services on the battlefield. Under his
command our brigade entered on ca
reer that gained for it throughout the
army an enviable reputation for
bravery and endurance. At the cap
ture Of Harper's Ferry our brigade
was placed temporarily under the
command Of Gen. "Stonewall" Jack
son. One of the Maryland Heights,
called Pinnacle Height, was in the
hands of the enemy and it was neces-
sary that this should be captured, as
it was considered the key to Harper's s
Ferry. Only one brigade could en-
gage in the infantry attack on account
Of the peculiar location Of the enemy.
Early on the morning Of September
13, 1862, our brigade was put in mo
ton. We had been informed the
night before that our brigade had been
selected to effect the capture of this
height. After ascending a few hun
dred yards We came in contact with the
enemy. Advancing, as we had to do,
over stubble that had been burned
over our men experienced great dith-
Guilty in reloading their pieces, and a
bayonet charge was an utter impractl-
oability. We steadily, however,
drove the enemy towards the summit.
When within a short distance Of the
summit they ceased firing and retreat
ed rapidly, throwing themselves be-
hind breastworks which had been
constructed to meet such an emer.
rency. Here we came to q halt as ii
H.as utterly impossible to dislodge the
ono. W" nv from their well chosen retreat.
wb;cb both nature and art had com
b;ned t. render impregnable. What
wara u,n.u ue w e. do Must we give up II
despair al afte. losing so many Il brave ray"
comrades /? W. "ers r. otGeae4 1;aa from Nv plo th.
missiles Of the enem. " 20 usra uera orderst mt
about fifteen minutes v w Mt a sol
to charge the breastworkA ,,it h'ss assured uyv
dier hesitated every one /. ~ ,ediessl,
that our General would not n., 10 f;r.
sacrifice his men. Under terrib.\ .rd
we approached to within twenty ya.&
Of the fortifcations, when, to the al
tonishment of all, the enemy gave way
and ran pell-meH down the mountain
in the direction Of Harper's Ferry. /
was lying wounded near the breast
works yet I noticed astonishment on
eyerv face Mt the conduct of the 6ne-