Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-01-22
At TRETILIAN STATION.
III WAS THERE THAT SOME
DESPERATE FIGHTING
OCCURRED.
An Ex-Confederate Tells What
He Knows About 1t.

ndlIlt vi IiON illaiii III "h'Oi 9
great many Edgefeld men were Ell.
gagged, we clip from Ehe Detroit
Free Press. 1t is from the pen OF
Ben T. Glanton of Cold Syringe
Edgefeld County, and does great
credit to his descriptive powers
+. and patriotic heart.
The Broadwaler mentioned as
being instrumental in saving the
dav for tie confederates is our old
friend Abe, who lives three miles
from Edgefield, then lat the time
of the fight a poor, ragged, fight
ing, Confederate soldier boy, now
a rich, honored, and esteemed citi-
zen.
Sergeant Briggs, who a the
very nick of time called out in
thunder tones to all imaginary
force of reserves, (not there or
anywhere else in hearing,) 10
.'Fix bayonets men for a grand
charge" and thus caused the fed
erals to turn tails and vamose
the ranch, is our own genial and
whole-souled John Briggs of Pow.
erty nill.
ave opened the fight the first
day near the station with Buffers
old brigade about daylight, and
drove the federals back some dis
tance into thick woods, lusing sew
eral of our men and having many
wounded, among them our gallant
Col. Aiken, who who was shot
through the shoulder. The fight
ing then became desperate, and the
fierce charges and counter chargt
of the federals caused the lines to
zizzag and waver in the woods, and
at times lhe men of both forces
were engaged i'll hand 10 hand con-
test. In short time, however, a
brigade attacked US in the rear and
we we're forced to retreat 10 where
We had left our horses 1--WE had
been fighting on foot in the woods)
but when we reached the spot We
found the enemy had appropriated
most of them to their own use,
leaving us enough 10 mount four
companies. By this time the fed
erals we're on three sides of US,
calling upon VI to stop aid sur
render. At that critical moment
Gen. Hampton rode up, and giving
the command. by twos TO The
right follow me" We put spurs to
our horses and rode down and
across ravine and up to the other
side between two batteries S engaged
in an artillery duel. When We
reached the top of the hill at the
railroad we charged into a federal
wagon train, which was guarded
by perhaps regiment of cavalry.
Gen. Hampton gave an order and
away we went down q lane near
the road. He ordered the men to
shoot the horses, for then it would
be al easy matter to capture the
whole force. We stampeded them,
killing few and capturing few.
The drivers of the wagons cut the
traces and freed the horses, leav-
ing the heavy vehicles standing.
In this charge | saw Gen. Hamp-
ton shoot down a federal officers
horse, and before the animal had
struck the ground the general sent
a ball from his pistol through the
brain of the dismounted man be-
fore be could get the drop ON
Hampton, for be had his gun with
in short distance of the generals
face.
"We then moved up the road at
the double quick, leaving our pris-
oners to shift for themselves. One
looking fellow gave me his
pistol and said he wanted to get
away as quick as pos ,ible, for we
were sure to lie attacAed in short
time, as the federals had a strong
force near at hand and would give
US some trouble. We were dis
mounted at the fork of the road
close t. the old gum spring mich
igan cavalry brigade men will
know where it was,) within 500
yards of battery, behind a small
hill. We were not allowed to fire
shot, however, for fear Of bring
ing on an engagement at that point
and closing up the way we had cut
out for our straggers to come in.
We could have easily picked of the
gunners from our position. We
held our position until sundown
and kept the gap open for our men
| 10 join US. Gen. Rosser charged
the federal brigade in our rear and
recapturod our horses and band
wagon. There was terrific fighting
in the woods. One of Gen. Young's
men was captured and recaptured
five times. Another Confederate
soldier, large strong man, a d IN
equally large federal, met in COM
bat and each ordered the other to
surrender, the pistols and guns OF
each being empty. Both declining
10 yield, they clubbed their guns
and fought it out IN that way, the
confederate, q Georgian. finally