Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-07

Junction Of the Boydton plank road ant
the White Oak road, near Burgess's mill
| on Hatcher's run. About p. II. But
ler's Brigade charged (dismounted) across
| an open field on the right of White OAK
road. and drove the enemy back to the
cover of dense pine thicket on the
Boydton plank road. where their en-
tire infantry was massed. whiir they
had placed several batteries Of artillery
In position on the brow Of hill just
beyond the thicket, and out Of view OF
the battlefield. Our line OF battle was
halted at the crest of q small hill and
along rail fence, only hundred yards
or so from the enemy's line Of battle,
and heavy and continuous firing was
kept up until long after dark. During
the progress of the battle General But
Ter dispatched me to the line Of battle
/ with an order to the various regmental
| commanders. While riding across the
| open field / was met by a detail bearing
| the dead body of Lieutenant-Coionel
Jeffords. the commanding officer OF the
Fifth Regiment, WHO had been killed on
the line of battle. q was at this time
| serving as A. A. IL and ]. general on
| General Buffers staff, but by the death
of Colonel Jeffords was promoted the
next day to the command OF the regi-
ment.) After delivering the order of
General Butler to Colonel Rutledge,
Major Ferguson and others, was
making all the. haste I could to get out
of a fire which was uncomfortably hot
for one on horseback, several balls
having passed through my clothing. when
I saw a STAFF officer. who appeared to be
riding TO meet me, fall from his horse.
] galloped up 20 see who he was and TO
render assistance, when General Hamp-
ton cto Na oil ia
mounted and General Hampton, stoop-
ing over the PROSTATE form, gently
raised his head and kissed him, saying:
my son, my son. 1t was bis son.
Lieutenant Preston Hampton, his aide
de-camp.
The little group was In full view OF the
enemy. and volley was fired at US,
wounding four of the party. one Of them
being Captain Wade Hampton, Jr., an
other son OF our noble chief, who, having
been upon the staff OF General Joseph
T.. Johnston, reported for duty with
his father upon the removal of General
Johnston from the command at Atlanta.
] assisted Captain Hampton to mount
his horse, and supported him to where |
General Butler was overlooking the field, |
q short distance to the rear. and, |
leaving him in Geaeral Buffers |
care, 1 galloped a hundred yards or
so further TO the rear, where l
found q surgeon taking care OF the !
wounded Returning with him at full
speed. we met General Hampton riding
by the side of a spring-wagon, which
had been found in a farm-yard on, the
field and which was being pulled out
of the line Of fire by some of the staff
and couriers DR.. 3. w. Taylor. the
chief surgeon of Hampton's cavalry
corps. was sitting in the wagon sup
porting the head of Preston Hampton
upon his shoulders, but the gallant youth
had ceased 10 breathe. General Hamp
ton simply said: "Too late, Doctor" and,
his horse, he rode over to a
portion of the field where Lieutenant
Baniberg, OF Hart's Battery. was engaged
with two guns in an artillery duel with
the batteries on the hill in the rear of
the pine thicket. and we directed their
fire until after dark. giving particular in
as TO the number OF seconds
'use and the elevation Of each gun at
each discharge. The accuracy OF this
ire was attested the next morning, as
Ne saw then several exploded caissons.
md over twenty dead horses. 1t was
IN ennobing and an inspiring sight TO
lee this grand hero, with the kiss from
he lips Of his dead son still warm upon |
IFS own, while the other son was being .
,orne from the field severely wounded, {
hus subordinating parental affection to |
uty to his country.
1t remains only to say that, owing to ]
he obstinate resistance met with at this 8
oint, the enemy found that they could G
lot succeed In reaching the railroad, and
lso fearing an attack the next day by {
General w. II. F. Lee, on their left flank |
nd General Malone on their right they
uietly and noiselessly retreated during {
he night. \
This was the last battle of any conse- j
uenoe fought by the cavalry that fall, \
s the roads soon became well-nigh i'm ;
assable, and both armies went into \
inter quarters. ZIMMERMAN DAVIS. h
olonel Fifth South Carolina Cavalry. c
Buffers Brigade, A. N. V. u