The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-11

he happened to be thereabouts, he didn'
think it would make much difference
whether he was standing UP or lying
down.
Leading his brigade in a charge on the
enemy's works in his front at Petersburg
August 10, 1864 and driving them with
great success. capturing three tunes as
many prisoners as he had troops, he
passed "A house and was warned that 1t
was occupied by the enemy. Not salts
fled with this information, he rode up to
reconnoiter himself. He was fired upon
and miraculously escaped with only a
painful wound i'm the leg, which how
ever disabled him from active service
during the remainder of the war
Carried to the house in Petersburg OF
that prince Of Virginia hospitality. and
subsequently successful banker of Rich
mOnd, Mr. Thomas Branch. it became
necessary to undress him to have his
wound examined: he took IL pin from
his collar, handed it TO a staff officer in
attendance, with the injunction mot to
lose it as he used that pin for fOurteen
years to fasten his collar" When about
to be put under the influence of chloro-
form. he remarked to the surgeons
Gentlemen, ] charge you under no cir
cumstances are you to amputatc my leg
l prefer death to the loss Of my limb
If / find on my return to consciousness
that you have cut off my leg III be
damned if don't shoot YOU"
Leaving Charleston, Clingman's Bri-
gade was ordered TO Richmond, in the
early part of the winter of 1SG3-64 and
placed under the command of General
Pickett in charge Of the defense Of that
city. In Januarya 1864, Clingnan's Bri-
gade. composed of the Sth. 3lSt DIST,
and H1st regiments formed part Of
Picket's command in an expedition to
capture Newborn. North Carolina.
We made forced marches from Kings
ton and reached Batchelders Creek be-
fore daylight. The enemy were com
pletely surprised. The creek was forced
with but slight loss in numbers, but
memorable in the death of Col. Shaw Of
the Sth regiment, who was instantly
killed by shot from the works defend
ing the ford. The town was promptly
vested The General held Il counsel of ~
undecided whether to assault the formi-
dable works defending the place, the
part of his forces on the opposite side
of the river not having come up. Cling
mans voice was for making Il demand
for unconditional surrender, and in de-
fault Of an affirmative answer, for an
immediate assault. He was over ruled
the troops lay on their arms in line
of battle all day and night in front of
the place. subjected to the fire Of the enc
mics batteries. and night coming on. we
quietly withdrew and ingloriously re-
traced our steps to Kinston.
At the critical period in the battle Of
Drewry's Bluff May rs, 1860, Cling
mans Brigade was ordered to charge
and break Buffers line. AT the given sig
nal. the brigade mounted its works.
crossed the ditch in front. formed on the
opposite side under a hot fire from the
enemy directly in front. and advanced.
So impetuous was their charge, that they
penetrated far into the enemy's line and
unsupported were fired upon on both
| TANKS by the enemy now in our rear.
The brigade held its ground however and
| General Butler was soon thereafter seen
Withdrawing from the field and we fol-
lowed him in pursuit to his entrenched
camp mt Bermuda Hundreds.
1t was however, at the second Cold
| HarbOr that the supreme crisis in Gene
| raj Clingman's military career occurred
and his greatest triumph. 1t was in the
afternoon. All day in our hastily con-
structcd works we had resisted the fierce
attacks Of General Grant as ne again
and again hurled his men against Lees
/ line. As was afterwards ascertained, the
troops ON our left had been ordered
elsewhere, and none had come to take
their place. This was perceived by the
enemy. they hurried division through
the opening, and formed in the woods
IN, " Of
their presence by seeing Il line OF blue
coats with the United States flag at their
front advancing to take us in the rear. a
situation more critical and trying could
hardly be conceived 4 moments hesi-
tation and we were lost. Without wait
ing for instructions. General Clingman
ordered his men out of the works and
formed n line to the rear. then in the
front of the advancing foe who by this
time, We're in easy range and had opened
fire on us. Clingman gave the order to
charge, which taken up by the regimen
tai commanders. the entire line rushed
to meet the enemy. 1t was simply mag
nifcent Astonished Mt this unexpected
attack. the enemy became demoralized,
made stubborn but brief resistance,
hesitated. broke and were driven back
through the opening whence they came.
and our lines were re-estahlished, Our
loss necessarily was heavy, about one
third of the brigade; the General and
every member of his personal staff but
one, was wounded; but that important
part of General Lees line was saved. A
contrary result might have brought about
defeat of his army.
On September Both, 1864, General Lee
ordered General Hoke to retake Fort
Harrison; it had been captured the day
before by Butler Clingman's Brigade
was selected to make the assault sup
ported by Colquitt's Georgia Brigade
The troops were formed for the assault
in little hollow some three hundred
yards from the fort. The enemy had
diligently strengthened its defences since
the day before and in anticipation of the
attack had massed his troops in several
ranks deep and they were armed with
the Spencer repeating rifles. Realizing
how great would be the loss of his men
in such charge, General Hoke impOr-
tuned General Lee, who was directing
the movement in prison. not TO order it
to be made; but to select n new line of
defence on ground equally as favorable
and which his men were then holding.