The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-05-08
EVACUATION OF YORKTOWN.

Ef Az UhllUN UT IOhAloHN'
Interesting Facts About the Evacuation
of Yorktown by the Confederate Army
in 1862.
Memorial Day in Augusta was fit
tingly observed on April 2G. General
NJ. c. Butler, Of South Carolina, was
orator of the day, and made the fol-
address:
Comrades Of tho Confederate .Surt'-
rors and Ladies Memorial association
Of augusta: With you permission |
will depart from the usual rule on oc-
casions like this, when the speaker is
expected to entertain his hearers with
at least an effort at oratory, and con-
fine my remarks to simple narrative,
descriptive of an event during the
evacuation of Yorktown by the Con-
federatcs in May, 1862, which had an
important bearing on the movement Of
the troops of both armies, and was
full of thrilling interest to those of us
engaged in it.
| trust the narrative may be of some
historic value and correct mistakes
which have gained circulation.
Eirht or ten wears ago, | was intro
duced to a gentleman at the Hotel
Continental in Paris, who had held
the rank of a general officer in the
Federal army, or perhaps a general by
brevet, whose name ] regret cannot
now recall. Our conversation driftcd
pleasantly with "reminiscences of our
late civil war, and while he expressed
great admiration for Gen. Geo. Is.
McClelland, said he had served on his
staff, etc., criticised him very severe
ly for allowing 4S hours to elapse
before he discovered we had abandoned
Yorktown, and adjacent works. [ told
him in regard to that substantially
what I shall say here, and convinced
him of how much he was mistaken.
It will be remembered that General
Jos. L. Johnston, who at that time
commanded the Army of Northern
Virginia, withdrew his forces in the
winter of '62 from the lines in front
Of Manassas, and reinforced Gen. Jno.
B. Magrudcr in command Of the troops
on the peninsular of Virginia, with
his headquarters at or near York
town.
Magruder had fortified his lines with
very heavy carthworks, forts and en-
trenchmcnts, and they were strength
ened on the arrival of General John
ston with his reinforcements, so that
from the York River on the east, to
the James River on the south and
west there was strong line of defen-
sive works. McClelland, the Federal
commander, confronted Johnston with
powerful, well-equipped and discip-
lined army, with his base Of opera
tions at Fortress Monroe, and adjacent
points, supported by strong naval
force in the adjoining waters. An
examination of the map will show
what vantage ground he had; pow
erful fortress and vessels of war in
his immediate rear, with nothing to
threaten or disturb his base of sup
plies, with two large navigablc rivers
on both of Johnston rs fanks. John.
ston had no naval support or none of
account, with long line of communi-
cation to his base, Richmond.
McClelland, however, must have
concluded Johnston's position was
too strong to be carried by direct as
sault, so he sat down in front of him,
and begun to seigc, by parallels and
no doubt eventually have prevailed
with his great advantage of position
and marine support.
General Johnston realized McClcl-
land superior stragetic position, with
both fanks more or less exposed to
attack from the Federal war ships,
while he was receiving an attack in
front, decided to evacuate his works,
and move back on Richmond. The
retreat begun on the night of May 3D.,
1862. Gen. G.. w. Smith had charge
of the line of retreat on the York
River side, and, I believe, Gen. Long
street on the James River side. At
that time I commanded a battalion of
four companies of South Carolina cav
airy, encamped at Whittaker's Mill,
about three miles back Of Yorktown.
In the order Of march, was as
signed the duty of bringing up the
rear of Smiths division, consisting of
Writings, Hoods, and Hampton s
brigadcs of infantry aud several bat
teries of light artillery. l trust may
lie pardoned for this reference to my
self, but it is necessary, to make my
statement intelligible.
The general order, of which a copy
was delivered to me, directed that
Whiting in immediate command of his
own, and the other two brigades,
Hood IS and Hampton S, should follow
D. II. Hills division, that Hill would
move at sunset on the evening Of the
Sd of May, and that I should bring up
Writings rear with the cavalry.
Whiting moved out about two miles
from Yorktown on the Williamsburg
Road, and halted for Hills depart
ment. He sent me in to report when
Hill had left. I accordingly rode into
Yorktown between sunset and dusk
and found Hill had broken camp.
Everything was astir as Hill moved
out and I SO reported to Whiting.
Here was the beginning of my troubles
for the night.
AS rode along one of the streets Of
this antiquated and celebrated town,
a small boy, | suppose some drummer
boy of Hills division, yelled out to me
at the top of his voice, Look out,
sir, torpedo has been planted in
front of you" l looked down and
sure enough just in front Of me | dis
covered the fresh earth where the boy
said torpedo had been planted. My
horse feet could not have missed it
twelve inches, and it goes without
saying | gave wide birth to it after
wards, and required no further admon-
ition to look out for fresh earth as
long as | remained thereabouts that
evening.