The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-08-14


tionate message which I cherish as 8
sacred souvenir of his parting bene
diction. This is the account of his
wound and death given me by Brough
ton. He, too, poor fellow, later went
gallantly to his long account, a hand
some, dashing, faithful soldier of the
Confederacy.
Having reformed my own regiment
along the west bank of Richland creek
still covering my camp and Brandy
Station, we were in position again to
make stand and defeat, on our par
at least, the object Of the reconnaissance
of the enemy, which was no doubt, tc
ascertain if Gen. Lee had any portion
of his infantry in that vicinity.
Not being strong enough to assume
the offensive, we awaited an attack
The enemy approached cautiously
Having stationed one piece of artillery
near a church, north of Stevensburg,
Gregg had opened fire from this gun
to cover the advance of his troops.
Farley remained with me, and we
were sitting, mounted, near the centre
of our line, watching the desultory fir-
ing which usually precedes and attack,
and were chatting pleasantly about
the cool performance of the man with
the striped hat (Turner), when q
twelvepound shell from the enemy's
gun struck in the field about twenty
steps, away from US, ricochetted, pass
ing through my right ankle. on
through my horse, cutting the saddle
girth. through Farley's horse, taking
off his right leg at the knee, 1--WE were
facing in opposite directions.) The
shell having accomplished its mission,
fell without exploding near by. If it
had rounded up its career by an explos-
ion, I would not be here to-day to en-
joy your company and tell you about
it. My poor faithful horse, who had
bore me safely through so many peril
Gus places bounded in the air landing
me, saddle, accoutrements and all in
the road. Farley's horse dropped un.
der him at my feet, or rather foot as 1t
was then. Farley fell with his head
resting on my horses side. This bold,
daring, reckless rider had, a few days
before, captured this horse. with COM
plete equipments from a Major ofaCal-
valry. Astride this splendid mount,
Farley was the beau ideal of q Cavalry
soldier. Young, handsome, dashing
and fearless, he was always ready for
any bold, desperate venture, carrying
up to this time what appeared to be a
charmed life. How many such splen-
did young characters we had in our
southern armies, and how many paid
the penalty of their heroic devotion to
their country.
The first persons who reached US
were Capt. John Chestnut and 1t.
John T. Rhett, of my regiment. They
were soon joined by few devoted SOL
diers, such as could be spared from the
lines, and we were borne off the field
Oh improYised stretchers prepared un-
der the direction of DR. B. w. Taylor
and DR.. Moore, Surgeon and Assistant
Surgeon of the regiment. DR.. Taylor
took me in charge, and DR.. Moore at
tended Farley. About the time DR..
Taylor was saving my life by amputa-
ton, five o'clock in the afternoon, the
spirit of the dashing rolicking Farley
left his mortal body and passed, I trust,
to better land where heroes, as we'll
as Christians, ought to 60.
What occurred after this, or on other
parts of the battlefield, I have, of
course, no personal knowledge, and
having made it rule in my official re-
ports, and what I have had to say
since, about military operations during
the war, never to attempt an account
Of what I did not see or have knowl-
edge of, I shall not now venture into
that field.
The general result was, however,
that the enemy failed of his object,
and recrossed the Rappahannock the
night of the 9th of June, not much, If
any, wiser, of Gen. Lees purpose than
before the reconnaissance.
1t will no tand cannot be denied, we
were taken by surprise. This is al
ways possible where the dividing line
between two armies is a natura-
boundary like the Rappahannock riv-
er. To mass Strong force in the
night time in the immediate neighbor-
hood of the outpOsts and pounce sud-
denly upon them at daybreak next
is not difficult or dangerous
This was often done by
both sides, but on this occasion the re-
party did not pass the
'eyes and ears" as the cavalry has
been designated) of our army. 1 have
learned that part of Longstreet's in.
fantry moved out towards where we
were crossing sabres, but do not think
the Federal commander got near
enough to know what they were.
Pleasanton who, I understood, COM
the attacking forces on the
other side, was an aggressive, vigorous,
hard fighting antagonist, but he was
entertained by Stuart all day in q very
lively fashion, and did not make much
neadway when he encountered the
lighting squadrons on our side.
Stuart's headquarters were at Fleet
wood Hall, farm house mile or so
% the north of Brandy Station, and
many charges and counter. charges
we're made, as l have been informed,
along the line of the railroad and to
he right and left of it, some four or
i've miles to the left, where my regi-
nent and the 4th Virginia were en-
,aged. I did not see either Gems.
Stuart or Hampton that day, as they
we're occupied in other parts of the
ield, and we had to 60 it pretty much
alone for the reasons above stated.
Mai. T. J. Lipscomb succeeded to the
command of my regiment and handled
t the remainder of this days fight.
and until the close of the war, with
MS usual gallantry and ability.
After Brandy Station came the
march of Gen. Lees army to Gettys-
ourg where the pivotal battle of the
war was fought. 1t has been saic the