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

of the armies had not been seriously
engaged, still we thought that the re-
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 N-aryc, even more
formidable than the first two, was
making ready. Five lines of battle
were to throw themselves hcadlong
upon it. Twenty pieces Of field artil-
lcry were 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
to the charge lee had sent another
brigade to reinforce the stone wall,
and now they could present quintuplc
lines. Another battery was sent to
the hill.
Just at this time Gen. Lee desired
to send a dispatch through IoDgstrcet
to Gen. kershaw, behind the stone
wall, at the foot of Maryc's Hill. It
was desperate mission, for the cou-
rier would have TO ride over Marye's
Hill, through the tornado of shell,
down to the stone waH 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. Wha. the dispatch
was, of course, never knew, but I
was quickly tolled off by the orderly
as the courier to take it, Twas splen-
didly mounted on horse l had re-
Gently purchased. The dispatch was
quickly prepared and handed to me,
with instructions that / would find
Gen. Kcrshaw 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, and if one falls, let the other
take it, Henry Smith, Of. Kershaw
County, was named as the second
courier and Immediately mounted. I
had touched my spirited horse for the
go, when l 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. I 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 commander in chief
AS did my comrade-and the next
moment we were flying down the hill
towards Marye. There was military
road between Lees and Msrye's hills,
connecting the telegraph read With The
Orange plank road, in the rear of
Marye's Hill aud crossing Hazel Bun.
l think it Yves originally made for
railroad track, with embankments over
the run. This was the route we took.
just at the run was large, old mill
house, and ss TIC passed this she'll
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 emhank-
ment. In few moments we were on
Marye. / saw jusG ahead Of me- Col.
Walton on his black horse with his
battalion. l knew the Colonel we'll,
and he knew me, for I had often car
ried him dispatches. I shouted to
him as I approached: "Gcleae!, ==hhs7ss ==hhs7ss
can lind Gen. Kershaw ?" He point
ed, and as few past him. heard his
voice as from q long distance say
CAT the foot Of the hill, but you will
never reach him.
Under ordinary circumstances T.
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 dsolivity, found Gen.
Kershaw behind the stone wall, de-
livered the dispatch, took the usual
rcceipt-the envelope-and up we
went again and through the batteries.
The brave Louisiana boys (thirty-nine
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 q skin scratch.
The top of my kopi was missing, and
one Of nv cara an 1eaf I cotrsd pnt