The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-03

works held By the enemy captureh. such
is n plain statement OF the facts IN re-
gard 10 the two engagements as 10 when
YOU inquire. so far as they rest "i'hin
my knowledge.
Yours respectfully.
-. a. WEIS1GER.
To Gen. VIM. Malone.
Lynchburg, Va"
General Malone has had that letter In
his posses sion for twenty-three years
and he has never denied single mate
rial statement contained in ii, 50 FAR as
we know.
A few years later. Captain W. Gorden
McCabe wrote Gen. Wcisiger. asking MIN
for his recollections of the battle ana
Gen. Weisiger wrote him the following
letter, which we copy from THE Com
monwealth of the same date:
Petersburg. November IL, lob.
Dear Sir: -,
The following is substantially the
movements Of the Virginia DTlSaue y"
the Goth July, 1864. | was ordered 10 'aAc
the brigade which was under my COM
mand. and move down to retake our
works. which had been captured by the
enemy after the explosion OF the mine
We proceeded towards the point dosis-
antcd through the ravincs and covered
way.
When within about $50 yards from the
Crater General Malone and an officer
who / took to belong TO the Engineer
Corps, were stopping down at on OPEN
ing in the covered way, the latter draw
ing a diagram of the works on the
ground. Malone asked me If l under
stood the position, TO which | replied )
do lie then ordered me to move out
and form preparatory TO charge ana
inform him when | was ready, and await
further orders. ! moved out. formed line
OF battle. ana ordered the men 10 lie
down. and directed my aid Captain ID.
A. Hinton, to inform General Malone
that | was ready to move. After Cap
tain Hinton left me | walked down part
of the line and told the men that they
had to take the works, and TO DO 1t
quickly / then returned TO the right OF
the line, Captain Hinton came up and
reported that ne had reported to Malone,
Who said that | must await orders rom
him or Captain Girardy twho was then
acting on Mahones stanJ.
4 few moments later, Girardy came up
to us Just at that time l saw Fed
cral officer leap from the works with
stand OF cOlOrs in his hand. and ut least
fifty or more men with him, as ! sup
posed. preparing 10 charge us. l repeat
cd my orders 10 Girardy, who said he
had orders 10 proioi my line with the
Georgia bril adc. / told him II we did
not move promptly all would be lost. lie
agreed with me. | then requested him 10
report to Malone the circumstances, and
that / had moved forward. l then gave
the command attention. forward. The
men sprang to their feet and moved for
ward at a double quick, reserving their
fire, as ordered, until within few feet
OF the enemy, when they delivered
CALLING FIRE and then used the bayonet
freely. ! presume about the time Cirar-
dy reached Malone / had the works IN
possession. as far as my line could cover
A short time after reaching the works
was wounded and left the field with my
aid, Captain Hinton. In coming out
found Malone at the same point at which
| had left him in the covered way /
reported to him that | had been wounded
and had turned the command over 10
Colonel Rogers, OF the Sixth Virginia
Regiment. All the fighting was over in
my immediate front before / left.
Respectfully,
d. A. wEIsIGER.
Captain W. G.. McCaDe.'
The publication of these letters produc-
ed some controversy, in the course Of
which The following letter was puphsh-
ed in the State Of September list, 1850;
Manchester, Va, September u, 1850.
W. l.. Royal. ESD:
Dear Sir.-I authorize you TO state
First. that before | sent my letter OF
April p. 1872. published in The Common
wealth of June IS, 1880. 10 Gen. William
Malone. / submitted it 10 Captain Dru-
~ A. Hinton, who, after making some
alterations in it of no moment, assent
ed TO all that 1t contained. Second, that
/ am not. and cannot be mistaken about
! finding Gen. Malone I'm the covered way
when | returned wounded from the line
that my brigade had taken. l recollect
well conversation | had with him then
and there in which he asked me why
Col. Rogers was sending so many mes
sages to him. Third, the brigade num-
bered that morning, TO the best of my
recollection, about 500 men. Fourth. the
charge was made in a very short time
after the brigade was formed in line Of
battle. Respectfully yours.
ID A WEISIffER.