The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-23
Col. ". L. Goldsmith, Of Mississippi,
Witnessed Both Events.
GORDON BEGGING LEE TO RETIRE.
CAPTAIN Funkhouscr's Graphic Descrip-
ton Of the Georgia Soldier Psrsusding
GeneraiLee To Go To tho Rear. and
Then Leading the Charge.

| cain, md self-containsd, flames like an
archanrel. above the wreck OF war. and
inspires all around him with his own ele-
waited yet steadfast intention.
GEN. LEE TO TIE REAR"
Colonel W. l.. Goldsmith. Meridian
Miss. writes: The Texan. in last confede-
| rate Veteran, is correct and so were
other writer's who saw encrh Lee Gturned
back. All are correct but. strange 10
say. no ono gives dates. This would cor
rect everything. happened 10 witness
both events. One occurred on the 9Th OF
| May. 1854, early in tina morning, when A.
y. Hi was being withdrawn 10 place
| Longstrcct's Corps IN position, because or
the sevxere lighting OF HIPS Corps on the
5th OF May. The Tederas. by a strange
chance, attacked Bilrs Corps willis with
| drawing which was thrown into great
| confusion. and retreated fighting. Long
streets column was Just coming up. Gene
raj H. r.. Lee started TO lead chem into
action. TO check tho wild rush of the Fede-
rails Many OF us heard the Texas SOL
dier toll General Lee 70 go 10 the rear. !
WAS IN a few feet OF General Lee for
Ions time that morning. while trying to
rally the rctreating Confederates. He
was On Old Traveller.
GENERAL GORDON PLEADING.
The second occasion occurred Just sir
| days thereafter early on tho eves-meIno-
rable 18th OF May. 1864. when Hancock. by
night surprise. had cnotarsd the angle
| occupied by General Johnson. 9rd cap
tured nearly his -ntre division with many
pieces OF artillery. General +. r. Lee
I again attempted 10 lead the fresh troops
coming ID 70 .etake our iost wIfhi ]
was there. and saw the gallant John 3
Gordon demonstrating with senorai Lee
T., 10 h. trfltg -. -
and Gordon led brigade after b,.eade
against the enomy, my own included.
and we recaUtured tho works in or front
and held them all day and until 10 p.
| NJ. when we were Withdrawn 10 form
| the new line. ] remember sending Cap
| tain Perry, OF my regiment back that
| awful 18th OF May. 1864 70 tell our ar
| tHefy 10 elevate their guns. as their
| shells were exploding Just over US. and
| killing my men. Captain Perry returned
and said: my Cod. they are Yankee bat
teries'' At this battle the musketrv
rolled for twenty hours continuously. So
you see, this matter. which seems TO be
| In such great confusion, happened twice
| and comrades write about each without
| giving dates, and hence ne conn'c,. ]
| commanded the Fourt nh Georgia Rsgi-
ment. Thomas's Georgia Brigade Willows
| Division. and A. l.. Hilrs Corps. md
saw both occurrences, and all writer's
nearly are correct.
Captain X. j. Funkhouser writes from
| Mauyertown. Va: THE details OF the
'Lee-to-the-rear' incident are given at
the request OF W. T. Gass. OF Texas.
| The claims Of Alabama and Texas are
correct. Their account occurred on the
5th or 9Th or May. 1894. at the Wilderness
proper. The battle OF Spottsyivania. or
Iftrns 81
fifteen or twenty miles distant.
] was first Lieutenant Of Company d.
Forty-ninth Virginia Infantry Ghe famous
Extra-Billy Smiths old regimenO n 10
the battle Of Spottsylvania. After that
] commanded my company and was cap
tured at Hare's Hin. or Fort Steadman
March .. 1866 On front Of Petersburg
along with one hundred and eleven on
GERS and nineteen hundred men. The
Forty-ninth Virginia Regiment was I'm
Gordons Division. Jackson's old Corps.
afterward Earlys and Gordons success
lively.
GRANTS ION TO RICHMOND"
General Grant commenced his ION 10
Richmond" by crossing the Rapidan river.
May T. 1854. tho terrible battles Of the
Wilderness. or Parkers store taking
place on the 9Th and 9Th OF May. Grant
around or nankng policy. only 10 find
General Lee boldly confronting him on
the heights at Spottsylvania on the eve
ming OF Sunday, the Sth after tortuous
march through the Wilderness. which
was no fire. and burned up to the road on
both sides, and I'm very warm weather
too 1t had been evident that preparations
were being made FOR a tremendous con-
nict and it came. In the mean time
the famous horseshoe and other earth
works were created. and a sortie was
made by the enemy on the evening O
the 10th. on portion OF our works. n
little TO the left of the toe OF the horse
shoe and 1t was carried. but speedily re-
taken. with considerable loss on both
sides. on that day and the next. the
18th. our brigade. or division. was used as
a supporting division, consequently we
occupied a position in the rear on tbs
morning OF the 18th, we wers moved no
10 the front line. n little 70 the left OF the
toe Of the horseshoe. the latter being
a thicket. Our position. small open field
connected with another field a little far
Their 10 tho rear by a narrow strip OF
land like an isthmus. We were doubled
upon or supported tho Louisiana Brigade.
l said TO one Of the Louisiana Tigers
whats the matter here? You've had Us
walked up before day and brought out
OF our shelter into the rain" lie replied
"wo Will havd the Yankees over here di-
rectly to take breakfast with us
A GALLANT OFFICER.
II was hardly dawn. aud pouring down
rain. when Hancock landed his forty
thousand men against JOhnsons DIVISION,
in the toe OF the horseshoe, when his
Coo as brave men as the world ever saw.
with its commander. who had won the
sobriouct of Bull" Johnson. were over
powered. ana captured We. being imme-
diately on their left. OF course. the enemy
were 10 pay their respects 70 us next.
A gallant officer sprang out or the dltch.
and said. men. don't be scared. he
steady and follow me- III take you out
We had not gone more than two hundred
wards before we were hated by Colonel \.
]. Pendcton. who said TO me: Captain,
STAY here till return" and started for
General Ewell's headquarters In gallop.
NV attention was called 10 a thicket.
which we would either have
to pass through or flank around through
the little opening already described. and.
"a MY horror the Yankees were going up
an old road at trail arms. and double
quick. 20 cut US off. ! called Colonel PEN
or sevcnty-nve yards OF the Yankees
with a motion OF his hand he directed
Us to ank around the thlcket. which we
did IN a hurry. marching within fifty
or seventy.fve yards Of the Yankees
who seemed to be forming TO charge us.
yybap w rot around the thickct and