The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-02-03

| nOuTS III TepulSlHS tue CudlSeS VI Iuc
cavalry, which continued in desperate
efforts to break the line and reach the
train. When the last of the wagons
had passed this point, and Gordon's
advance arrived, covering the rear of
the train, resumed the line of march
by direct road, parallel and to the
left of that upon which the trains
moved, Gordon still following the
wagon road.
Arriving at Sailors Creek, posted
the Mississippi brigade Humphrey 81
on the hill to cover the passage of the
creek, and moved on to the heights
beyond, where T overlook Custis Lee,
with his division, and was informed
by him that Gen. R. H. Anderson, in
'front.', had encountered the enemy in
his path, and was then engaged. We
then formed line, faced to the rear to
hold in check the Union forces then
pressing upon the Mississippians.
My division formed to the right, as
we then faced, and Lees to the left
of the road. We had scarcely formed
in this manner before the Mississippi
plans were forced to retreat across
Sailors Creek and rejoin me.
We saw artillery, two batteries Of
twelve pieces, as we'll as [ can remem
Der, put in position on the opposite
hill, some five hundred yards distant,
whose missiles of death soon crashed
through and over our ranks. 1t was
not long before columns Of infantry
poured over the creek, under muir
derous fire, and filed to our left, while
other columns pressed upon our front
and right, until the whole line was
engaged in desperate struggle. Gen.
Anderson sent me word thatif could
hold the position for half an hour he
thought he could open the way, to
which I returned an encouraging an
swer. The flower of the Union army
was upon US, Humphreys and
Wright's splendid corps in my front,
and Clusters and Merritt's cavalry
holding Anderson at bay, riding into
his lines and over all obstacles with
the utmost gallantry and reckless
determination. My own command
held the ground fercely and sternly,
with calmness never surpassed even
by those veterans of an hundred bat
tlefelds, while the naval brigade to
my left fought with sort of rollick-
ing enthusiasm, due not only to their
splendid courage, but also to the nov
city of their position and their recent
release from gunboats and the monot-
ony of siege service as heavy artillery.
For about an hour and a half of the
best and closest fighting of the war
the situation remained seemingly un-
changed. But no word came from
Anderson. Broken, killed, captured
or dispersed, his entire command had
melted away. The wings of Sheri-
dams infantry united to his cavalry
to the right and left of us the circle
of fire was complete. At length my
right gave back and a fire from the
rear announced Anderson's fate. |
gave the order to fall back, firing, and
slowly moved with the retreating mass
through the dense woods, as near as I
could guess towards Appomattox.
Not far had we progressed when one
of my men informed me that the strug-
gle was useless, that most of my men
had surrendered. Riding a few rods
in the direction we we're moving, l
arrived at the edge of an open space,
across which, in precise and orderly |
array, was formed one of Clusters bri
gades, towards whom were running,
with uplifted hands, from all parts of
the wood, the men of my command, as
fast as they reached the open ground
and comprehended the situation.
Riding back to the skirmish line |
ordered them to cease firing, explained
the situation, and gave the word,
'sSauve qui pcut." Turning to my
staff dismissed them with orders to
escape if they could. I remained |
where they left me, watching their
receding forms as they galloped
through the woods with feeling which |
may be imagined, but cannot be ex-
pressed. Soon I found myself sur
rounded by some thirty of my brave
comrades, including Gen. DuBose and
Gen. Sims, of Georgia, and Major
Costin, of my staff. | asked the lat
ter WHY he had not gone. He said,
sadly: General, [ have followed |
your fortunes too long to leave you
now" When further pressed to save
himself he said: II have no home
to return to. l prefer to share your
fate" Poor fellow, and gallant, gen
erous gentleman, he did return to his
home afterwards, on the eastern shore
of Virginia, where I trust the few re-
naming years Of his bright, young
life were crowned with honor and
peace he richly deserved. Finding
myself responsible not only for myself |
but also for these faithful comrades,
who seemed determined to stand by
me to the end, endeavored to escape
with them. Riding slowly through |
the woods in the direction my staff
had taken I had not proceeded far
when I met a eavalryman, riding |
jauntily along from the opposite di-
rection, and following him some tWen
Gy UT mUEt QlSdlWCu OOulCoCldeCS,
evidently his prisoners, [ halted |
him and ordered him to dismount and
give his horse to Gen. DuBose, who
had lost his. He was so reluctant to
comply with this request that turn
ed to one of my men and told him to
enforce the order.
At that moment one of his prison
crs called out to me, General" and
made significant gesture Of caution,
pointing to his rear. There, not more
than eighty yards off, was body Of
the Federal infantry. "Stop mo-
ment," | said to the cavalryman, who
was about to dismount, ARE those
your troops p Eyes, sir, said he.
"NNhose command do you belong TOP
I said. 'To Clusters cavalry" said
he; "Corpl Lanham, of the I'd Ohio
cavalry" touching his hat in soldierly
salute. Said I, Corporal, l am Ma
jor Gen. Kershaw and these arc my
men. If l surrender this party will
you pledge your honor as soldier
that we Shall be conducted to Gen.
Clusters headquarters without moles-
tation or insult ?" II will said he
emphatically and proudly. "Where
are Clusters headquarters % I asked.
"They are with the light battery near