The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-05-22

noticeable slackenlng OF the speed OF
the Federal cavalry. Gen. Hampton
rode along the column, gave his usual
instructions about depending on the
sabre and not using pistols except
against a fleeing enemy, and then
rapidly came the commands. Draw
Sabre Trot Gallop! Charge and off
We went. We were hardly at the
gallop before the enemy had halted
and were firing their pistols wildly,
the balls striking along the second
and third story windows, and causing
the Unionists, moment ago so en-
thusiastic, to close their shutters with
bitter disappointment. By the time
we were fairly at charge the Federal
cavalry (from Indiana as we afterwards
learned) had turned tail despite the
commands and entreaties of a brave
Ohio infantry officer, (Col. Moors),
who was in charge Of them. Before
we could overtake them a section of a
battery which was coming up behind
them, without waiting for them to
pass, had unlimbered gun and fired
a shot which brought down some Of
the retreating Federal cavalrymen.
The charging party was down on the
gun in moment and quickly spiked
it, but by that time the recall had
been several times sounded and the
party returned up street and Joined
the main column. On the way back
Tom Ancrum, Of Company A, was
seen just off the main street appar-
emily in hot discussion with dis
mounted Federal officer. This after
wards proved to be Col. Moore, who,
despite the fight Of his squad Of cav
airy, stood his ground, and, as the
front of the charging party rushed by,
dismounted and led his horse to the
side Of the street. Tom Ancrum had
demanded his surrender, but he re-
fused to give up his sword, saying he
could only hand it to an officer. A
comrade whom Ancrum called in con-
sultation soon settled that matter.
This comrade had been in the rapid
retreat into Frederick and had lost his
hat. In place of it he had red hand
kerchief tied round his head, and he
was armed with a double-barrel shot
gun. Col. Moore protested that it
was not consistent with the rules Of
civilized warfare for an officer to sur
render his sword to private, but the
wild looking Confederate told him in
language more emphatic than polite
that it did not become Yankee to
talk about civilized warfare after their
doings in Virginia, and that if he did
not hand over she sword in short order
he would blow his brains out. Col.
Moore handed over his sword under
protest. Tom Ancrum carried him
and his horse to Gen. Hampton, and
the horse, beautiful black mare, be-
came, believe, one Of Hampton s
favorite steeds.
The second instance that I recall
when Hampton gave his favorite in
structions as to trusting to the sabre
occurred on the afternoon Of the battle
of Coffeeville. The cavalry was tax
ing care of the rear of Lees army as
it marched into Pennsylvania. It had
been an all day fight from early in the
morning, slowly but steadily retreat
ing before an overwhelming force.
Having been detailed from the COM
mand for several days on special SER
vice, Lieut.. Tom Lee, Tom NOVEL;
and myself, after good nights rest
and frst-rate breakfast at the house
of hospitable Virginian near Upper
vile, rejoined our command in field
several miles east Of the town on the
road to Alexandria. Desultory firing
was then going on, and Capt. Chestnut,
of our company, who was resting on
the grass, advised us to dismount,
which we did. I have an impression
that Hampton and Butler were there
also, but whether either Of them was
in that particular part Of the field at
that time J. am not certain. At any
rate the battle continued from that
time on. 1t was soon after our arrival
when our squadron was stationed in
support of battery Of artillery which
was on an elevation behind US, and
the firing quickly became 80 fast and
furious that we could barely distin-
guish the battle flag Of the battery
amid the clouds of smoke. Several Of
our man stationed as sharpshooters a
few hundred yards in advance were
wounded by the enemy's infantry, and
one of the mounted men in ranks had
one cheek carried away by piece Of
she'll. The poor fellow yelled SO loud
ly that one Of the officers remarked he
was certain the wound was not fatal.
And so it proved, for in few months
he was back in service, with great
scar on his face it is true, but only
the feshy part of the cheek had beer
taken off. Later on, when We had
been driven back as well as I can re-
collect about half way between Upper"
vile and Paris Gap, while Adjt:
Moore, Of our regiment, now so we'll
known as Gen. James Moore, was re-
connoitering an approaching body Of
the enemy's cavalry some distance in
front of his own command, his horse
was shot under him, and he coolly re-
tanned his position till another horse
was sent to him. From that position
we had retreated through a thick
body Of woods, and were becoming
heartily disgusted with the continual
retreating, when it was learned that
Gen. Hampton had decided that he
should return and charge the enemy.
We were not sorry and soon every
thing was in readiness, and Hampton
rode along the column and gave the
same instructions as to charging which
I have previously described, and back
vie went through the woods, but when
we reached the other side the enemy
had disappeared.
Having been asked to write some
thing for the HAM IN edition OF the
Nevs and Courier, l offer these feeble
reproductions of some of the minor
scenes in the mighty drama Of which
our favorite hero was so great a part.
ROSWELL T. LOGAN,
Private Co. &, 2d S. c. Cav.
A. G 90 3--o ,o,,o'