The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-12-08

taken up by Fitzpatrick, move aroun(
the head Of the swamp, and enter hi
camp from the left. Wheeler was tt
turn to the right from about the poln
where the head of my column was 10
Gated, and move to the right through
the open pine woods and come from
the rear, as nearly simultaneously witt
my attack as possible. Accordingly
when learned that Wheeler had turn
ed off to the right, [ moved forward ur
the road.
Meanwhile I had directed Col
Wright to select squadron, whose
commander he could vouch for, and
order him to report for instruction
NV recollection is that he selected
Capt. Bostick, of the Cobb Legion
land if am in error in this trust
that some survivor Of that splendid,
gallant regiment will correct me.)
|
My instructions were that the lead
ing squadron should rush into the
camp, surround the house where Kill
patrick made his headquarters and re-
main there, if possible. until we could
occupy the camp, and make Kilpatrick
prisoner. I further instructed Col.
Wright to follow up the leading squad
ron by throwing regiment at time
into the camp that I would have
Laws brigade so posted as to go to
the rescue at the proper time.
Wright moved promptly, followed
by Law in trot; just before the
dawn Of day he charged pell-mell into
the camp, and as turned the head of
the swamp at the head Of Law 5 bri-
gade, we were greeted with scene OF
the widest confusion. A squad OF
about 13O Confederates came rushing
frantically towards US, and at first we
supposed or feared that Wright had
been repulsed, and yet could not un-
derstand how that could be, as his
rear regiment had left US not more
than two minutes. Our minds were
soon relieved on that score. ,as the
Confederates turned out to be prison
ers who tore away from their guards
when Wright rushed in, and were
making good their escape. The poor
fellows reported they were half starv-
ed on the march with Fitzpatrick, and
naturally rejoiced in their deliverance.
Our men aroused the sleeping FEEDER
ais and captured four hundred and
seventy-fve.
At CHS point, let me relate what
Gen. Fitzpatrick said Of this event in
conversation with me after the war.
1 told him we had ridden up to his
camp fires the night before, without
being challenged by his picket or even
a camp guard, and expressed surprise
that he had not taken this natural
precaution that he paid very poor
compliment to our vigilance and en-
terprise, which / thought was scarcely
justified by past experience. His ex-
PLANTATION was that Col. Spencer, who
was afterward with me in the Senate
from Alabama, commanded the rear
brigade Of his column, and that it was
his duty to post the pickets and
guards. Spencer, on the other hand,
denied this, and fixed the response
bility on Fitzpatrick. OF course, l
could not settle that controversy and
left it where / found it.
Gen. Fitzpatrick further said that
he walked out about daylight that
morning, as was his custom, to look
after his horses. He heard our yell
as we broke into his camp, and said to
himself, My God, here is "a Major
Generals commission, earned after
four years hard fighting, gone up in a
surprise; that about that time man
rushed up to him and said: ''Where
is Gen. Fitzpatrick p and that he re-
piled, "There he goes on that black
horse,' Gas one Of his men was escap-
ing upon black horse y that he, Kill
patrick, mounted in dishabillc and es-
capped. The Confederate who accost-
ed him left him and pursued the man
on the black horse, and thus by ruse
she saved his bacon.
l have never ascertaincd who this
man was, but my theory is that in his
anxiety to take Fitzpatrick prisoner he
was naturally misled and dropped the
substance to pursue the shadow ION
a black horse" Be that as it may,
Wright brigade charged clear through
the camp, and when l reached kilpat-
rick S headquarters, in front of which
| al L 4:1).,x X,,,ropc n N 4