Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-11-20
GENL. JOHN gUNOTANr. 4
iGenl. nj. G. Buffers Tribute
to the Memory of this Gallant
Soldier at the Columbia
Meeting of the COnfed-
crate Survivors AssO-
citation.
Comrades Of tie United Conysder.
ate Veterans I.

ate Veterans
have been requested by your
worthy and distinguished COM
mander to deliver an address at
this reunion, and it has occurred to
me it would be appropriate to oc-
eupy the time allotted to me by re-
|lating the incidents attending
the death of one Of the most gall
liant and accomplished soldiers
with whom ] was associated du-
ring our civil war-Brig. Gen. Jno.
Dunovant of Chester-with a brief
and imperfect sketch of his life.
You may remember he succeeded
me in the command of the brigade
composed Of the Fourth, FIFTH, and
Sixth SIuth Carolina cavalry,
which Joined the army of Northern
Virginia in April, 1854, at the
opening of that desperate and t1y-
ing campaign which Grant inau-
gurated against Richmond. Gener.
alDunovant was in command of
the Fifth South Carolina whea the
regiment reached Virginia, and, as
I have remarked, was made briga,
dier general when / was promoted
to the commander of Hampton's
division in September, 1864. He
was the beau ideal of a soldier, a
knightly chiyalric geltlemaa.
thorough in the details of discip-
line and order, exacting, but al
ways just, guarding with care and
solicitude the interest of his sol
diers, demanding of all alike the
full measure of their duty. The
result was mis- command was al
ways ready 10 respond promptly
to his orders. He was in himself
a model of promptness and precl-
sion, both in obeying and execu-
ting orders. ).
To say that General Dunoyant
was able in the organization, dis
discipline and command of troops
in battle would be no higher com
mendation than could be bestowed
on hundreds of Others. He was
exceptional in these respects, and
deserved higher rank than LIE reach
ed. Two things conspired to pre-
vent his advancement: First, the
hostility, and / am inclined to
think jealousy of a superior OIL
Ger in the early years of the wal
had blocked his way to promotion,
and second, his posi- of duty did
not afford that opportunity for ac-
tive field service for the full exer-
elsa of his military talents.
His experience in the regular ar
my of the United States, which be
left to cast his fortune with the
Confederacy, prepared and quall-
fed him for organization and put
ting Volunteer troops in the field.
His first service in THE Confeder-
ate army was a field officer in the
First regiment of South Carolina
regulars, performing garrison duty
in front of Charleston. This duty
was, Of course, arduous ard impor-
|tant, and I.don't think has been
properly appreciated. I have al
ways insisted that the defense If
that historic city, SO full Of unex-
ampied tleedsof beroism. fortltude
and gellantry, is without a paral-
lei in military annals. The de-
tenders of Forts Moultre and Sum-
ter and the Morris Island bate
ries sgainst the combined attacks
of the land and naval forces of
the United States, when consider
ed in all of its bearings and de-
tails, is the most remarkable in
history. But l am straying from
my subject. Dunovant was for
a time one of the actors in that
great drama, bnt it was when he
was transferred to the broader
fields of Virginia that his talents
became more conspicuous, and he
received the promotion to which
they entitled him.
Hc was killed OIL Oct. 1, 1854
nesr McDowell's farm, below Pc
tersburg, leading his brigade, fight
ing as infantry, against the breast
works of the enemy. He was
mounted on his favorite little
chestnut horse, and it was my for
tune to be at his side when he re-
ceived his mortal wound. General
Hampton had directed me to hold
a certain position on the Squirrel
Level road until l heard the guns
of Gen. w. F. II. Lee on my left
and then to move forward and at
tack all along our front, 1t was a
cold, aisagreeble, rainy day. We
were ,lismounted aud had thrown
up temporary breastworks of rails,
logs, etc, and had been engaging
the enemy almost the entire day,
resisting repeated and determined
assaults he would make on our
lines until about 8 3p. M, when [
was appraised of Lees advance
by an incident which was almost
ludicIous, and as is often the case,
came near being tragic. | will
pause to describe it: Dunovant's
brigade occupied the left of our.
line with Young's brigade on the
right; I had withdrawn Tallia-
ferro's regiment, the Seventh Geor-
gia, Of Young's brigade, and sta
Toned it in reserve near the point
Il