The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-08-05
GEN. PIERCE II. B. YOUNG.
Dashinq Career of the Famous Confed-
crate CaYalryman.
1Ncw York Times.

The death of Gen. Pierce NJ. B.
Young in hospital in this city last
Monday was deeply pathetic in its
suddcnness and quictness. He was a
soldier who loved battle for its clangor
and tumult, for the opportunity it Of
fers to bravery and skill, and for the
fire it kindlcs in courageous heart.
He would have preferred falling in
battle rather than this peaceful,
stealthy creeping on Of death in slow
disease, which must conquer at the
end. \ death in the mad rush of
the charge at Gettysburg, Or in the
ardor of the heroic fighting around
Richmond, would have better satisfied
his gallant spirit. Some years ago, in
speaking of the death Of his former
commander, Gen. Thomas R. r. Cobb,
who fell at Fredericksburg at the
head of his famous LEGION" Gen.
Young said:
"He could not have selected a better
field to die on, or one in which his
brilliant daring and splendid genius
for war shone brighter. 1t seemed his
true hour of death. lie Jared in
death better than Jackson, who was
almost his counterpart in Christian
heroism and Christian knighthood.
Jackson was shot at night by his own
| guns; but Cobb died a soldiers death
on the field of victory "
"a soldiers death on the field of
victory NOT Jackson S death at mid
night at the hands of his blundering
troops, and not the quiet passing away
on hospital cot-was what this born
soldier craved. He came to this city
only short time ago to be trea ted for
a disease which is more certain of its
victim than an enemy bullet or sabre,
and he was dimly conscious of his APP
preaching death. AS soon as he
reached his hotel he gave word that
he did not wish to see any one, and went
quietly to the hospital, doomed man.
He had feared this disease for years,
and his life in Central America had
greatly hastened it's progress. Gen.
Young belonged to that chivalrous
kind of soldier which long range guns
and the mathematical precision of
modern warfare have banished from
the field. The civil war saw the last
of the brilliant "sabreurs men like
Sheridan, Ashby, Stuart, Forrest and
Young. Such men are survivals of
the age of chivalry, and would be out
of place in the wars of the present,
where fighting is no longer profess
sion nor an art, but has become mere
matter Of chemistry.
When South Carolina seeded from
the Union Young was then boy of
20, was at West Point, nearing his
graduation. He wanted to resign at
once and 60 to Charleston to fight for
his native State, but he waited to see
what course Georgia, where his family
was then living, would adopt. AS
soon as that State followed the exam
pie of South Carolina, he left West
Point and reported for duty at
Charleston, where he Immediately took
part in the attack upon and capture of
Fort Sumter, then held by Major An
derson.
AS soon as fighting was temporarily
suspended at Charleston his restless
ardor drove him to Montgomery to Of
fer his services to Jefferson Davis.
He was appointed second lieutenant
in the artillery corps, and ordered to
Pensacola Artillery service did not
suit him. There was not enough dash
in it. Immediately after the battle
of first Manassas, therefore, he asked
for fifteen days leave, went to Rich
mond, and secured a position that
would carry him into the thick of the
fighting in the Virginia valleys. lie
was appointed adjutant in Cobb's Le-
gion, then organizing from Georgia
troops, and destined to be one of the
world most famous bodies Of sol
diery.
In October, 1861, Young was APP
pointed a major in the provisional
army and put in command of the caval-
ry of the Legion. With his command
be aided in checking McClclland S ad
vance on Richmond, fighting skirmish-
es at every defensible point, and by
throwing dams across the rivers which
made them overflow and turn the
swamps along their low banks into i'm
passable morasscs. In the severe
fighting that accompanied these ma
noeuvres, and in the still severcr
struggle along the Little Chickahomi-
ny and at Seven Pines, Major Young
distinguished himself by the most
brilliant daring and the successful
conduct of all movements entrusted to
him. After Lee had defeated the
Federal army and forced it back across
the Potomac, the Legion took part in
the invasion Of Maryland and in the
battles of Booncsborough, Antietam,
and Sharpsburg. At Burkcttsville,
just before the battle Of Frcdcricks-
burg, Major Young engaged the Fed
erals in severe fight, in which both
sides suffered heavily. Those who
saw the young cavalryman in the fight
ucSC[lUc Hlul DIS DcluS III pcllcCI
Bcrserkcr fury He led his men into
the midst of the enemy, his sword
waving like a fame on o:ery side.
The close contact with tie foe fired
his blood, and lie became needless of
danger. lie never knew fear. He
acted more rapidly than he reasoned, d,
aud he did heroic things while cooler
men paused to think whether it was
worth while attempting them. In the
midst Of his brilliant and successful
charge he was struck down by a bullet.
When he came out of the army hospi-
tai at Richmond the great battle Of
Frederick sburg had been fought and
won. He never got over the keen
disappointment Of not taking part in
that fight. He never mentioned the
victory withouta sigh that wound
received in skirmish had robbed him
of the glory Of being at Frcdericks-
burg But as soon as he was well his
brilliant services were rewarded, and
he was made colonel of Cobb's Legion.
Cobb himself had fallen at Frcdcr-
cksburg in the moment Of triumph.
One of the most admirable traits in
tho character of Gen. Young was his