The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-03

Judge simmons Tells Of Major Ginter's
Gallant Charge at Manassas.

Shortly before the Seven DAYS fights
around Richmond. I'm June, 1862. the
Thirteenth. Fourteenth, Forty-lfth and
Forty-ninth Georgia Regiments We're
formed into "a bpgadc under the COM
mand OF Brigadicr-Gcncral j. r.. Ander-
son. VI was then that ] became acquaint-
ed with Major Lewis Ginter. lie was
commissary Of the brigade.
Being colonel Of the EDrty-hitn Heoisi.
Regiment. 1 was naturally thrown % good
deal in his society, and on each cam
uaign became better acquainted with him.
After the resignation of General Ander-
son i'm Julv. lS62. General r.. H. Thomas
WAS appointed 90 the communal OF the
brigade. and as 10 belonged to StoncWall
J1cksOu's foot cavalry AN ol ihe ON
Gers of the brigade were thrown together.
10 chat most or AS became intimate. ana
especially so with Major Ginter. Tie was
very s0ciablc. very polite. put ON no
airs. as the Georgia crackors' remarks
cd. and heard the complaints OF the
humblcst private with the same patience
and pOlitness as hc did the highest ON
Ger in the command.
have seen him when his wagon were
fun of ratiOns. and nave seen him when
he did not have "a pound OF beef or -four.
and he was always the same-a perfect
Old Virginia gentlemen. No undue elatiOn
when mis- wagons were fun: %nO-undue de-
sp0ndency when they We're empty. A
real pleasure TO him when he could feed
u.s.. a plausible excuse FOR the government
when he could not.
After the battle of Cedar Run i'm Au-
gust. 1862. Captain Norwood. our adjutant-
general. being wounded. Major Ginter
volunteered to act I'm his place. He was
IN The battle of the Second Manassas
end the other battles of the Maryland
campaign. At Manassas he rendered VAL
uable and DISTINGUISHED service TO the
brigade. and the whole corps by his dar-
ing and courage. The whole of Pope's
army was hurled for two days against
Jackson's single corps.
ON the -eCOnd day there was a gap be-
tween thomas Brigade and Gregg's. The
enemy in one of his charges discovered
TO. rushed through. and was about 10 di-
vide or cut i'm TWO A. -. Hilrs division.
Major Ginter Jaw the danger. n by his
courage and presence of mind rallied the
men. Ted them 10 the charge. and drove
the enemy back. He appeared 90 De as
cool and collected as il ne were were con
dlese parade Had it not been for Dis
quick and courageous work. Hill's az
vision would "a been separated, and
Jackson forced TO "a disastrous re-
treat. Iongstrcet ana Lee had
NOT then crossed the mountain.
1 always thought that Major Gintcr
ought 90 nav been made "a briea-
dlcI-so1Crll on that day. I'm am the other
battles ib which Doe was engaged. DE dis
played Sire same courage and ability that
Doe did ln his first one.
As % commisslry. we thought that Ma
ior Gintcr was tine best I'm the army. lie
was popular with both officers and men.
B know bee ld not have an enemy I'm The
brigade. : lcvcr heard officer or man
say "a word against him. but all spoke of
him in the highest scfms of respect and
love. Even 90 this day. whom ! meet "a
member OF tbc brigade. Major GintCr is
the first man he inquiries about
To give an Illustration Of what the
mon think Of hm 90 uhis day. will
state that j was hia guest in June. 1896.
during the meeting of lhe veterans in
Richmond. A half dozen others were
also his guests. After dinner. when we
had retired 10 his library. the servant an
mOunced that "a Young man was at the
door and wished 90 see him.. he went To-
tho door and found q young man from
Georgia. VINO handed him a letter from
hi- fJthor The father wrote. Introducing
dis son. and stated that ne could not
come TO the Reunion himself. but had
sent his son. ana had charged him not
to leave Richmond til ne mad seen Major
Gintcr. The father was q private in the
Forty-nfth Georgia.
Tho Major took the boy 10 the dining
,oom. had dinner prepared for him. re-
manned with him until he had eaten his
dinner. and brought him 10 the library
and introduced him 10 his guests. lie
made the boy feel perfectly at home.
] saw the boy afterwards. and he said:
~ now understand why papa and the
other men love Major Gintor 50 well"
This is q fair illustration of the man
ner in which he treated All the men OF the
brigade. and IL is easy to understand why
they loved him in the army. and why they
still love him. ; among the number
II. j. SIMMONS.