The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-05-08
off in volleys, and walked the echoes

off in volleys, and walked the echoes
for miles.
We pushed on towards Gen. Whit
ing, and had not proceeded far, when
We encountered another "lone senti-
mel" who challenged me more 6crccly
than the first. This time it was an
infantryman. I believe our "wcb
footed friends say they are more
dangerous than the "crittcr compan-
les, +" but I had about the same expert.
ence with the foot soldier, that | had
with the cavalryman. We finally got
by this trouble to encounter more
dangerous and threatening one-not
that We could not have taken care of
one man, but if shot had been fired
under the circumstances, it is difficult
to say what would have happened.
The third and last 'call, was from
company of infantry. The men were
deployed across the fork in the road.
1t was fortunately getting a little
light. The first streaks of the early
dawn were breaking. The officer in
charge hearing the volleys from col
umn approaching from the direction
Of the enemy naturally supposed we
were enemies. His men had their
guns cooked, ready to fire, when he
recognized US. What a deliverance!
I explained what might be regarded q
comedy of errors" but for the dead
ty work of the internal machinc"
and sought Whiting. Hood, Hampton
and himself had been startled by what
they supposed was musketry firing and
we're mounted, rapidly making their
dispositions for fight. Troops were
dcployed in line of battle, batteries
stationed, ambulances and supply
trains ordered to the rear, and the
field bristled with bayonets. After
learning the true state of affairs,
breaking the line into columns and
heading towards Williamsburg with a
swinging stride was the work of few
minutes.
After his column got fairly under
way, Whiting sent back to the vicinity
of Yorktown. Hating on the hill
where We first heard the ordinance
house volleys, about sunrise | heard
the shouts Of McClclland's troops,
when doubtless they were aroused by
the work of the "infernal machine
and appraised of our departure. So
that instead of 49 hours, it was not 12,
before McClelland must have known
of the evacuation. How long it might
have been but for the internal ma
chine of course, is matter of con-
lecture, but the facts are as | have
related them.
The only criticism to which | think
McClelland was amendable was that
he did not have flying column mob
lized and ready to advance promptly
and overtake Johnston's retreating
army. I brought up the rear Of G. W.
Smiths command. Pender's Rcgi,
ment of Writings brigade holding the
rear of the infantry column. We
moved leisurcly the entire day Of the
4th of May, frequently halting at long
intervals, and were not approached by
the enemy until late that afternoon in
the neighborhood of Williamsburg,
which, as 1 now remember, is nine
miles from Yorktown. About 4 p. m.
l was joined by Col. j. Lucius Davis
with his Tenth Regiment of Virgin
ians and Lieutenant-Colonel, after
wards Brigadier-General W. c. Wick.
ham with the Fourth Virginia cavalry
my battalion still in the rear. We
observed across a wide, open field, a
line of mounted skirmishers, deployed
in perfect order, covering the entire
field. I appealed to Colonel Davis,
the ranking officer present, to be al
lowed to charge them with my four
companies, but he would not consent,
and the approaching line did not ad-
vance, but was content with firing a
few shots at long range. We leisurely
withdrew, passed Fort Magruder, and
drew up in line in an open field near
Williamsburg. We had scarcely dis,
mounted, standing to horse, when a
messenger came at full speed saying
General Johnston wanted the cavalry.
To mount and be off in gallop was a
movement quickly executed. My COM
mand happened to be nearest, and,
therefore, the first to receive the order,
took the advance.
General Johnston and his staff was
standing on the roadside, not far from
Fort NIagruder, strong esrthwork oc,
cupied by McLaw's brigade. General
Johnston ordered me to report to Gen
cral McLaws at the fort. McLaws
pointed to about four squadrons Of
Federal cavalry drawn up in line in an
aprle orchard some three b .ndred
yards north Of the fort, and said, 81
want you to drive that cavalry away. "
We made at them, put them to flight
and drove them pell nell across a
ravinc very wet and boggy, many of
their horses foundered in the mud,
and captured II men and horses.
Pursuing up the other declivity we
ran into their reserves, the United
States I'd Dragons. The whole regi-
mcnt then made for my four compa-
nies, and it came our time to get back.
At one time we were mixed up with
the Federals, and it was one of the
very few occasions during the war that
I ever saw an opportunity to use the
sabre.
Night coming on we retired to our
bivouacs, for much needed rest and
food for men and animals. The next
day the battle of williamsburg was
fought, but will not attempt an ac-
count Of that as l fear your patience
is fatigued already by too much
dcail.
The point I desire to bring about by
this narrative is that 4S hours did not
clapsc before McClelland discovered
Johnston retreat. Second, that but
for Writings naturally mistaking the
"dcsultory fire from the Federal fleet
for that of our own artillerymen he
would probably have reached Viii
liamsburg about the time he left the
vicinity of Yorktown, and third, that
the chances were IcClelland would
not have not known of our retiring
for several hours later than he did
but for the explosion at the ordinance
store house, and, therefore, the battle
of Williamsburg might have been