Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-08-12
HOW GEN. COBB FELL.

HOW GEN. COBB FELL.
The passing away Of Mrs. Thomas R..
R. Cobb, of Georgia, recalls the tragic
death of her gallant husband, General
Thomas R. R. Cobb, who fell in the
battle of Fredericksburg. He was
killed behind the famous stone wall at
the foot of Marye's Heights, where for
three days his command, in snow and
ice, had fought one of the fercest bat
ties of the war. General Longstreet,
in one of his papers in the Century
Magazine, gives the following graphic
account of the fight before the stone
wall
"In front of Marye's Hill is pla-
teau and Immediately at the base of
the hill there is a sunken road known
as the telegraph road. On the side of
the road next to the town was stone
wall, shoulder high, against which the
earth was banked, forming an almost
unapproachable defense. 1t was i'm
possible for the troops occupying 1t to
expose more than small portion OF
their bodies. Behind this stone wall
| had placed about $500 men, being
all of Gen. T. R. r. Cobb's brigade,
and portion of the brigade of Gener-
al Kershaw, both Of McLaw's division.
1t must now be understood that the
Federals, to reach what appeared to
be my weakest point, would have to
pass directly over this wall, held by
Cobb's infantry.
"An idea of how well Marye's Hill
was protected may be obtained from
the following incident. Gen. 4. 7.
Alexander, my engineer and superln-
tendent of artillery, had been placing
the guns, and in going over the field
with him before the battle, l noticed
an idle cannon. | suggested that he
place it so as to aid in covering the
plain in front of Marye's Hill. He
answered, General, we cover that
ground now so well that we will comb
it as if with fne-tooth comb. A
chicken could not live on that field
when we open on 1t.
"a little before noon | sent orders
to all my batteries to open fire through
the streets or at any point where the
troops were seen about the city, as a
diversion in favor of jackson. This
fire began at once to develop the work
in hand for myself. The Federal
troops filed out of the city like bees
out of a hive, coming in double-quick
march and filling the edge of the field
in front of Cobb. This was just where
we expected attack and was prepared
to meet it. AS the troops massed be-
fore us they were much annoyed by
the fire of our batteries. The field was
literally packed with Federals from
the vast number Of troops that had
been massed in the town. From the
moment of their appearance began the
most fearful carnage. With our ar
tillery from the front, right and left
tearing through their ranks, the Fed
erals pressed forward with almost In
vincible determination, maintaining
their steady step and closing up then
broken ranks. Thus resolutely they
marched upon the stone fence behlnc
where waited the Confederate brigade
of General Cobb. AS the Federall
came within reach of this brigade
storm of lead was poured into theil
advancing ranks and they were swep'
from the field like chaff before tht
wind. A cloud of smoke shut out tht
scene for moment, and, rising, re
vealed the shattered fragments recoil
ing from their gallant, but hopeless
charge. The artillery still ploughec
through the ranks of the retreatint
Federals aud sought the places of con
cealment into which the troops haC
plunged. A vast number went pell
NELL into an old railroad cut to escap'
fire from the right and front. A bat
terry on Lees Hill saw this and turned
its fire into the entire length OF tn
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