The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-08-21
BRANDY STATION.
An Old Soldier Takes Issue with
General Butler i'm His Account Of
tho Eirhf

General Butler In His Account Oi
the Fight.
Editor Press and Banner:
| have read and re-read Gen. Buffers ad
last issue OF your paper, with indescri bablt
interest, though did not see the fight In
every respect as described in his speech.
AS participant in the battle, and mem
ber of Company G of his regiment, j will
with your permission, and with all due re-
spect TO Gen. Butler, comment thereon.
! The cry OF the lone whip-poor-will, Kings
bugle call "To horse" and the sharp crack
! Of rifles, uncOmfortubly near, were the first
sounds that greeted the ears Of Buffers sleep.
ing troops, on the memorable morning OF 9th
OF June, 1865.
| PERFECT DESCRIPTION OF a GRAND SIGHT.
His description Of Gen. Lees review of all
! the cavalry of Virginia on 1th OF June, (Whi ch
We believe was one OF the grandest sigh u
! ever witnessed on the American COntinenL)
and OF the battle gound, and the hurried d Is
! position made OF his troops around Stevens
burg, are in my judgment perfect, and in
exact accordance with my recollection
While the main part OF the battle was fought
some distance TO our right, it fell to the lot OF
Buffers Rs Regiment to defend this little town,
almost within the suburbs OF which our bat
tie line was formed. Frank Hampton, with
his squadron OF forty men, occupied the road
where 1t crossed the ridge, while the balance
of the Regiment was deployed along the ridge
10 the left
AN OLD SOLDIERS orINIoN-SoME YARNISH.
AS regards the fighting done at this
point, we feel that the General has put
on a good deal OF varnisb. Indeed 1t Is so
much at variance with our recollection, that
IL Is with some heSitancy that we venture TO
disagree with him. He states he was in rear
of Company q, that"a line OF mounted skir-
misners attacked our position" were twice
were on the line. and think the General must
be mistaken. We have no recollection OF
any four footed animal appearing in our
front, not even the proverbial "moliy-cotton-
TAIL" which vas 80 commonly Jumped up"
by skirmsn line, (often causing the "Rebel
yell" and the exclamation, "run molly-cot-
ton-tail, IL | hadn't a reputation at stake,
| would run L0On)
part of the line. but remember dist tlnctly OF
Capt. Farley passing in our rear, in search
OF Gen. Butler. Jesse Adams, OF Columbia,
had wounded Federal in his front, whicn
attracted FurIey's attention. We have no re.
collection or his daShing through the lines OF
Company &, firing al the enemy.
We suspect we know more about thu man
whom Gen. Butler credits Turner with hav-
take pleasure in in forming him who took of
his spurs the next day, aud used them
through the balance of the war, and many
years afterwards and who saw nothing to In
dicate that he was a amounted officer" AS far
as we know, not Il man on our skirmlsh line,
received scratch on that day, and no FEEDER
cept the Fayette Turner's man. With the po-
siton we held, free from the danger of calva-
.ry and artillery ION account OF the woods) we
could and would have put up good fight,
lay In the road where Hampton was, with no
protection on his right. Gregg soon found
the weak spot, and sent a Federal Regiment
against him, which swept him off the hill
like chatf before the wind, passing 80 far In
our rear as almost reach our "led horses"
causing confusion more easily imagined than
described. Our line fell back, remounted,
and crossed the deep, narrow, ugly stream In
he ran up piece OF artillery and, as we re.
member, fired one time only, the shell pass
ing over our heads while crossing the creek.
THE SHELL THAT WOUNDED GENERAL BUT
LER PASSED OVER THE TROOPS BEFORE
HITTING HIM.
General Butler states In his speech 81 re-
formed my own Regiment along the west
side of Richand creek" We saw nothing of
any reformed line, and so far as Company G
Is concerned, We feel sure he Is mistaken.
After crossing the creek, we fell back in good
order IN columns Of tours. Some 200 yards
beyond the creek, we came upon General
Butler wounded by the shell which had pass
ell over us. He was carried along with much
difficulty close by the side of our mounted
line. While moving up the hill q few mount
ed Federals made u dash at the rear of our
column, where Gen. Butler was, from an un-
eSpecleu quarter. 1ney were I'Uneu upon
and driven back.
Many conflicting stories have been told
and published about Gen. Buffers removal
from the field. and we have also heard that
he gives Company G no credit for services
rendered. We make the above statement
with emphasis, and among those who will
verify it are commissioned officers.
STRANGE THAT BUTLER SHOULD SAY HARD
THINGS OF HIS OLD SOLDIERS.
During the heated campaign last year.
while "courting" the old soldiers, Gen. But
ler said, soldiers blood Is thicker than politi-
cal blood" But we submit, his actions to-
wards some of US, who differ with him in
politics, does not prove it. Strange it Is, in
deed, that Gen. Butler, should say so many
hard things Of those who stood by him In
dangers and privations, who did much TO
make his name and fame. aud who have al
ways delighted to honor and revere him. In
all truth aud sincerity, we believe, his part OF
the Battle of Brandy Station was fought in
less time than Is required TO read his extend
ed speech. His fight was but as child's play
when compared with what occurred twelve
days later at Upperville, in holding Ashby's
Gap, across the Blue Ridge, or q days later
at Gettysburg, during which time Gen. Lee,
lost from his ranks, perhaps, not less than
10000 men. Respectfully,
John A. Devlin.