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

anu QTOVc uS OuU. SuCcCcueu III al
lying part Of the Cobb Legion, and
with gallant Lieut.. Col. King at their
head, charged Kilpatrick's men. who
had reached their artillery. We lost
sixty-two men in FIVE minutes, among
the. number the lamented Col. King,
who fell CALAMITY leading almost a
forlorn hope.
Fitzpatrick reached Sherman S infan-
try in time to bring up division to
his rescue, and we had to withdraw.
But for the untoward obstruction OF
an impossible swamp to Gen. Wheel
er's march, which could not have been
foreseen 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 camped that night within
four miles of Fayetteville, N. c. In
his official report Gen. Fitzpatrick says
he lost13 prisoners. In this he is
certainly mistaken. My provost guard
the next day had 475 prisoners, all
taken from his camp. I have. never
learned whether Gen. Wheeler $ guard
had any prisoners, and, therefore,
cannot speak as to that, but have a
very distinct recollection as to those
in my charge.
There we're number Of incidents
attending this event, some amusing,
some tragic. Among the latter | will
mention two, if may be pardoned for
their personal character.
Ny brother captain, James Butler,
who was on visit from the Trans
Mississippi department., and acting
temporarily on my staff, rode up and
asked if I had not better have the
wheels of Kilpatrick's wagons cut
down so as to disable them. So con-
fdent was l that we had the camp, l
replied that intended to carry them
off. This was while I was awaiting
for the other troops to come to
Wright's assistance. A little later,
perhaps FIVE minutes, ! observed a
mounted Federal approaching us in a
hostile attitude, showing fight. About
the same time [ noticed a Confederate
riding forward with his back to ine)
meeting him. In the dim light Of the
early morning l could not recognize
the Confederate, but supposed it to
be member Of Wright's brigade.
Assured that the two horses were
about equal, I looked on what would
socn 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 I was, when the Yankee fred
first, followed almost simultaneously
with one from the Confederate. The
Yankee fred a second, the Confeder-
ate second. which i saw took effect
in his antagonist. The Yankee, how
ever, managed to deliver third shot,
and when the Confederate fred his
third the Yankee tumbled from his
horse mortally wounded.
did not give the matter much fur-
ther consideration, occupied as | was,
but on the march that day Mr.. Ben
Rhett, one of the staH: Of couriers at
my headquarters, asked me if l had
witnessed the duel that morning be-
tween my brother and the Yankee
officer in Kilpatrick's camp. For the
first time 1 learned the Confederate
was my brother engaged in the duel
alou- trance, in a few steps Of me.
Rhett told me he was not more than
twenty feet from them, and thatit 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 sclf-possession. Perhaps
l ought not, in this form at least, in
dulge in the narrative of incidents so
nearly personal, but at the risk Of the
imputation of doubtful taste, | will
mention one other.
My youngest brother Nat, fair
haired, blue-eycd boy Of IS, was my
aide-de-camp. had sent him with a.
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
verely wounded. | asked him why he
had not gone to the rear. He replied,
II cannot.go to the rear without your