The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-12-29

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odds agasAst him. He, too, suggested
or issing tRaPotomac before daylight.
Next came Jackson. He quietly said
that he had had to contend against the
greatest odds he bad ever met. He had
lost o good many %colonels killed and
several division and brigade command
ers were dead or wounded, and his loss
es in tho different commando had been
terrible. He, too, suggested crossing
came Hood. To Gen. Lees inquiry he
displayed great emotion, seemed COM
pletely unnamed. He replied that he
had no division. Gen. Lee, with moro
excitement than l ever Witnessed in
him, exclaimed, Great God | General
Hood, whore Is your splondid division
you had this morning p Hood replied,
They are lying on the field whore
you sent them. But few have strag-
gled. My division has been almost
wiped OUT
AFTER the opinion Of all had been
given there was an appalling stiffness
over the group. It seemed to last 9 v
eral minutes, when Gen. Lee, appar-
emily rising more erect In his saddle,
said : Gentlemen, we will not cross the
Potomac tonight. You will go to your
respective commands, strengthen your
lines send two officers from each bril-
gade towards the ford to collect your
stragglers and get them up. Many
others have also come up. l ! have had
the proper steps taken to collect all
Clellan wants to fight in the morning J
will give him battle again. Coz
1.-THE above was in substance what
occurred and was said. The group
gradually broke up, each going to his
command, and, IL | read their counte-
nances Alright, they said This Is a
rash conclusion, and we fear that the
Army OF Northern Wire inia Is taking a
great risk in the face OF the days bat.
tie, and the great numbers opposed to
u.s. The two armies faced each other
all the next day, (l8th of September,)
the guns numbered, the lines of bat
one being careful not to let a gun go
of for fear, apparently, the terrible
slaughter and scenes of the day before
might be renewed-one army was
afraid, the other 'darsen't.'
During the morning Of the 18th Of
September q courier from Gen. Lees
headquarters came to my battalion Of
artillery with % message that Gen. Lee
wanted to see me. followed the cour-
Ter, and on meeting Gen. Lee he said {:
Col. Lee, [ wish you to go with this
courier to Gen. Jackson and say to
him l sen you to report to him. l
artillery with me :" He said No;
just say hat 1 told you to report 20
him, and he will tell you what be
wants.
II soon reached Gen. Jackson" said
the narrator. "He was dismounted,
with but few persons around him. He
said to me: Col. Lee, l wish YOU to
take a ride with me- And we rode to
the left Of our lines with but one cour-
Ter, 1 think. 1t was very quiet no
firing anywhere, and everybody appar-
emily talking in an undertone, but iu-
tently Watching any one else who was
reached a considerable hill, very SINH
lar to an Indian mound, but for it's be-
ing larger.
I'VE dismounted and Gen. Jackson
said Let us go on this mound or hill
and be careful not to expose yourself,
for the Federal sharpshooters are not
far of. The hill bore evidence of the
fierce fight of the day before. A bat
terry Of artillery had been on it, and
there were wrecks of caissons, broken
wheels, dead bodies and dead horses.
Gea. jackson said : Colonel, 1 wish Won
to take your glasses and carefully ex-
anime the Federal line of BATTLE I did
so, and satisfied myself in witnessing q
remarkably strong lice of battle, with
more troops than | knew Gen. Lee had.
After locating the different batteries.
unlimbered and ready for action, and
noting the strong skirmish line In front
OF the dense mass of infantry, I said to
Gen: Jackson: General, that is a re-
markably strong position, and there is
o large force there He replied Yes,
Col. Lee, 1 wish you to take fifty pieces
of artillery and crush hat force, which
Is the Federal right. Can you do it /?
a scarcely describe my feelings as
again took my glasses, and made an
even more careful examination. | at
once saw such an attempt must fail.
Moro thar fifty guns were unlimbered
and ready for action, strongly sup.
ported by dense lines of infantry and
strong sklrmlsh lines, advantageously
posted. .
"The ground was unfavorable for the
location of artillery on the Confederate
side, which, to be effective, should
move up close to the Federal lines and
that, too, under fire of the infantry and
artillery. | disliked to say what 1 felt
and know; 1 said Yes, General, where
will [ get the fifty guns?' He asked
How many have you?' | replied
About twelve out of the thirty | car
ried into the action the day before.
My Losses were great in men, horses
and carriages He said q can fur
nish you with some.' 1 replied Shall
go for the gunsT No, not yet he
replied. Col. Lee, can you crush the
Federal right with fifty guns?' J said !:
General, l can try 1 can do it If any
one can He replied That is not
what | asked you, sir IL / give you
hfty guns can o crush the Federal
right| [ evaded the question again
and again, but he pressed it home. FL
naily | said General, you seem to be
more intent upon my giving you nv
technical opinion as an artillery officer
than my going after the guns and max
Ing the attempt
Yes, SIR he replied, Il want your
positive opinion-yes or no. l felt that
q great crisis was upon me, and | could
not evade or dodge. I again took nv
glasses and madea another examination.
| waited o good while, with. jackson
watching intently.
FINALLY / said General, it cannot
be done with fifty guns and the troops
you have near here In an instant he
answered Let us ride back, Colonel
felt thai | had possibly shown a lack
OF nerve, and with considerable emo
ton begged that l might be allowed to
make the attempt, saying General,
you forced me to say what did unwil.
iiDgly. If you give so guns to any other
artillery officer | am ruined for life. |
..I ---- III ~