The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-12-08
taken. Meanwhile Kilpatrick's dis

and drove us out. I succeeded in raj
lying part Of the Cobb Legion, and
with gallant Lieut.. Col. King at their
head, charged Fitzpatrick men. who
had reached their artillery. We lost
sixty two men in five minutes, among
the number the lamentcd Col. King,
who fell gallantly leading almost a
forlorn hope
Fitzpatrick reached Sherman nfan-
try IN time to bring up Il division to
his rescue, and we had TO withdraw
But for the nntoward obstruction Of
an impassablc swamp to Gen. Wheel
| cr S march. which could not have been
/ foresccn in the darkness Of the night,
and the removal Of Laws brigade, we
should have reaped the full fruit Of
our successful surprise, and taken in
Fitzpatrick entire camp, and possibly
have made him prisoner. We NOV
ed on and campcd that night within
four miles of Fayetteville, n. G. In
his official report Gen. Fitzpatrick says
he lost 1870 prisoners. In this he is
certainly mistaken. My provost guard
the next day had 475 prisoners, all
taken from his camp. | have never
learned whether Gen Wheeler guard
had any prisoners, and, therefore,
cannot speak as to that, but have o
! very distinct recollection as to those
in my charge.
There were number OF incidents
attending this event, some amusing,
some tragic. Among the latter will
mention two, if may be pardoned for
their personal character.
My brother captain, James Butler,
who was on visit from the Trans
Mississippi department, and acting
temporarily on my staff, rode up and
asked if | had not better have the
wheels of Kilpatrick's wagons cut
down so as 70 disable them. So con-
fident was l that we had the camp,
replied that | intended to carry them
off. This was while l was awaiting
for the othcr troops to come TO
Wrights assistance. A little later,
perhaps five minutes, l observed a
mounted Federal approaching Us IL q
hostile attitude, showing fight About
the same time | noticed Confederate
riding forward with his back to me)
meeting him. In the dim light of the
early morning could not recognize
the Confederate, but supposed it to
be member of Wright's brigade.
Assured .ha. The tw5 horses we're
about equal, / looked on what would
soon eliminate in mounted duel with
comparative complacency. They got
within ten feet Of each other, not more
than thirty or forty steps away from
where l was, when the Yankee fired
first, followed almost simultaneously
with one from the Confederate. The
Yankee fred a second, the Confeder-
ate second, which saw took effect
III his antagonist. the Yankee, now
ever, managed to deliver third shet,
anu when the Confederate fired his
third the Yankee tumbled from his
horse mortaily wounded.
did not give the matter much fur
ther consideration, occupied as I was,
but on the march that day Mr.. Ben
RRhhottt, enc oss tie staff Of uouTieTs at
my headquarters, asked me if had
witnessed the duel that morning be-
tween my brother and the Yankee
officer in Kilpatrick's camp. For the
first time I learned the Confederate
was my brother engaged in the duel
alou- trance, in q few steps Of me.
Rhets told me he was not more than
twenty feet from them, and that it was
the gamest, pluckiest fight on both
sides he had ever witnessed that
after the first fire the Yankee got
''rattled, while my brother never lost
his nerve or self-possession. Perhaps
I ought not, in this form as least, in
dulge in the narrative of incidents SO
nearly personal, but at the risk of the
imputation Of doubtful taste, viii
mention one other.
My youngest brother Nat, fair
haired, blue-eyed boy of 19, was my
aide e-de-camp. / had sent him with q
message, and on his return just after
the incident above related he held up
his right arm and said, II am wound
ed. / saw the blood trickling down
his coat sleeve, and that he was Sc
vercly wounded. asked him why he
had not gone to the rear. He replied,
II cannot.go to the rear without your
permission. OF course he was then
ordered to the rear, out of range of the
cnemy's guns. His arm was amputa-