The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-11-20
minute more they would have received

UcGu OIuClcu Ill ny OcuCldl ACO. duu
having encountered Dunovant's line
on the left he charged it, supposing it
to be the enemy, captured it and was
carrying everything before them until
he struck US. The importance of the
precaution to our men not to fire too
quickly became manifest. Dunovant's s
people recognized the Virginians, but
the recognition was not mutual. If
they had not been recognized how
many of them would have been un-
horsed by the rifles of our dismounted
men it would be difficult to estimate.
ordered forward the whole line and
they went at run down the bill, leav-
ing the two batteries on the ridge en-
gagged, over our heads, in sharp artil-
lery duel with the enemy's guns.
Turning to Colonel Phillips, I inquir-
ed eff it was Yankees he was looking
for" J" and on his replying in the afir.
native, I said: "Well, turn the head
of your column and I will show them
to you" With that he turned and
we went laundering down the hill,
plump up against the incompleted
breastworks of the enemy. They fired
volley, which went over our heads,
and broke away from their lines and
crossed a swamp to another line they
had on the east side.
have never understood why they
left their position at that time unless
it was they were dumfounded at the
impudence and audacity Of q mounted
column charging breastworks. Mean
time Dunovant' and Young brigades
had reached the base of the hill where
they were subjected to such a murder
GUS fire from the enemy on the other
side of narrow swamp. I ordered
the whole line to halt and lie down.
I had directed Colonel Phillips to con-
duct his mounted regiment across a
strip of woods and reform it in an
open field to our right. While the
dismounted men were thus partially
protected from the enemy's fire, I
had sent scouts to the right to ascer-
tain if we could not find position
from which to move on the left flank
of the enemy and thus avoid direct
front attack ACROSS the swamp. There
was but one point at which horse
man could cross-a narrow causeway
about the center of our lines. l had
ridden through the woods short dis
tance to the right of the causewar to
reconnoitre the ground, and on return
ing met Dunovant, who remarked to
me that he thought eff we would
make one more forward movement, We
could drive the enemy from this last
line of works." 1t was then getting
late in the afternoon, and I replied,
eff that is your opinion, move your
brigade forward" at the same time
extending the order to Young.
Dunovant gave the command 'At-
tention men" in loud voice. They
had been subjected to such terrible
fire but short time before, they were
little tardy in needing the order.
He called out second time, in tones
that could not be mistaken, and every
man jumped to his feet and moved
forward, firing across the swamp.
Dunovant's horse was fretting and
careering, and mine was not behaving
much better, and as We reached the
causeway to cross with the line on
our right and left, with an open road
TO the enemv's works on the other
side, we were greeted with deadly
volley. Dunovant was shot and tum-
bled forward from his horse on the
causeway. The horse dashed forward
and ran into the enemy's lines. His
command Forward" to his gallant
soldiers was the last word he ever
uttered. When his body was taken
up, under the directions Of his faith
full and gallant Adjutant General,
Jefords, l discovered an ugly inden-
tation { his forehead and concluded
it was there he received his mortal
wound, but on examination, it was
found he was shot in the breast and
the wound on the forehead must have
been made when he fell forward, by a
root or log on the causeway.
We at once summoned DR.. Fontaine,
medical director of the corps, and as
he was making his way through our
batteries on the hill in our rear, he
was struck in the neck by the frag-
ment of a shell from the enemy's 8
guns, and he too paid the penalty Of
faithful, fearless discharge Of duty-a
splendid gentleman and accomplished
officer, passed to his last staccount. He
could, however, have rendered Duno-
want no service, as his gallant life
went out almost in the twinkling OF an
eye.
General Dunovant was born at Ches-
ter, S. c., on the 9Th day of March,
1925, and was therefore in the 39th
year of his age at the time of his
death. He served in the Mexican
war as 3rd sergeant of Company B.
Palmetto regiment and was mustered
into the United States service at
Charleston, December, 1916. He was
discharged at the City of Mexico No
vember, 1e47, on account Of severe
wound received in the charge Of the
Palmetto regiment against the wall
enclosing the castle of Chapultepec.
He was subsequently appointed a cap.
tain in the regular army and resigned
his commission of captain of the 10th
infantry in 1861 to join the Confed-
crate army.
Soon after his arrival in Virginia in
1864, he was detached with his regi-
ment on temporary duty under COM
mand of Gen. Fitz Lee and while so
detached received painful wound in
the hand in an engagement with the
enemy on the James river. Before
his wound was healed he reported for
duty with his hand in sling and never
again left it until his death.
This, with what has preceded, is the
brief story of his career, and OF his
services to his country. They were as
honorable and patriotic as any man s
and that country has never had more
devoted son or gallant defender. He
was one of the few men / have met in
my life who seemed absolutely indif.
ferent to the dangers and perils Of
battle. He was always sedate, self
composed, fearless and ready. He
A. =, l.now bo would like tn die