The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-12-01

\
pulse of the right and left wings was
so bloody and terrible that they would
not venture to renew the contest.
But not so, as we soon discovered.
Another assault on Marye, even more
formidable than the first two, was
making ready. Five lines of battle
were to throw themselves headlong
upon it. Twenty pieces Of field artil-
lery we're brought to bear upon the
stone wall in the open plateau at point
blank range, to tear it to pieces with
solid shot. A hundred guns we're
raining shell on the hill preparatory
10 the charge Lee had sent another
brigade to reinforce the stone wall,
and now they could present quintuple
lines. Another battery was sent to
the hill.
| Just at this time Gen. Lee desired
10 send dispatch through Longstreet
to Gen. Kershaw, behind the stone
wall, at the foot Of Marye's Hill. 1t
was desperate mission, for the cou-
rier would have to ride over Marye's s
Hill, through the tornado Of shell,
down to the stone wall that was being
pounded by twenty pieces of artillery,
and about to be charged By five lines
Of battle, but it seems it was Of press
ing Importance. What the dispatch
was, of course, never knew, but |
was quickly tolled off by the orderly
as the courier to take it. Twas splen-
didly mounted on a horse | had re-
Gently purchased. The dispatch was
quickly prepared and handed to me,
with instructions that / would find
Gen. Kershaw behind the stone wall
[ was ready to start when Gen. Lee
himself turned to US and said "Let
another courier mount and follow the
| first. Let the first courier hold the
dispatch in his right hand, In plain
view, ard if one falls, let the other
take it. - Henry Smith, Of Kershaw
/ County, was named as the second
courier and Immediately mounted. 1
had touched my spirited horse for the
70, when I saw by glance that Gen.
Lee was in the act Of saluting US.
The compliment was so absolutely un-
usual, and in fact unheard Of before,
that was taken aback. | realized in
a moment, however, that it was proba-
bly, in recognition Of the Importance
and peril of my mission, and, reigning
my horse back on his launches, re-
turned with thrilled emphasis the per-
sonal salute Of my commanderin-chief
as did my comrade-and the next
moment we were flying down the hill
towards Marye. There was military
road between Lees and Marye's hills,
connecting the telegraph road with the
Orange plank road, in the rear of
Marye's Hill and crossing Hazel Run.
[ think it was originally made for
railroad track, with embankments over
the run. This was the route we took.
Just at the run was a.large, old mill
house, and as we passed this shell
went through it, scattering boards i'm
mediately behind us. In few leaps
we overlook an ammunition wagon
making its way over under whip and
spur. A shell took off the two lead
mules, sweeping them off the embank-
ment. In a few moments we were on
Marye. l saw just ahead Of me Col.
Walton on his black horse with his
battalion. | knew the Colonel we'll,
and he knew me, for l had often car
ried him dispatches. I shouted to
him as approached: "Colonel, where
can lind Gen. Kershaw % He point
cd, and as I few past him 1 heard his
voice as from a long distance say
cat the foot of the hill, but you will
never reach him.
\ Under ordinary circumstances l
might have checked up at this warning,
but the words Of Gen. Lee came to
me, "If one falls the other must take
it," and without drawing rein we shot
down the deep declivity, found Gen.
| Kershaw behind the stone wall, de-
livered the dispatch, took the usual
receipt-the envelope-and up we
went again and through the batteries.
The brave Louisiana boys (thirty-uine
Of them dead or wounded on the feld)
found time to give us wild huzza,
and the noble old Walton. now dis
mounted, took off his hat to us as we
few past and back to Gen. Lee.
Neither of us received skin scratch.
The top of my kept was missing, and
one of my ears: so deaf | could not
| ~ A. e., r,oo1- l,,f NY !, ~