Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-29

| battle OF Mcdowell, IN so Tar as they
came under my observation, are as VINO
| in ray mind now as though they had
transpired yesterday.
| My regiment (the Twelfth Georgia) was
| ordered TO leave the turnpike In the
| afternoon OF May the s, 1862 We took
| a trail leading of from the main road.
| up the side OF the mountain. After we
| had gone some distance, we were halted
and In a short time ''Stonewal' jackson
rode by at rapid pace. going towards
the front This was the first time j had
ever seen him. He rode by with his cap
in his hand. his head uncovered, and re-
ceived cheer after cheer as he passed
along the lines. We little thought then
that in forty days he was to make Tor
himself and his 1900 Confederates VINO
followed him a record unsurpassed in the
annals Of war.
We were soon moved to the front and
formed in line of battle along the brow
of the mountain on the extreme left 'front.'
ing west. This was the highest point
on the line, and we had the honor or
holding the key to tho battlefield. IL /
remember correctly the Forty-fourtn
Virginia was on our right, and your regi-
ment Qhe Thirty-first Virginia) was
formed on a lower ridge on the extreme
right of the line. There were some troops
facing south TO protect our flank. do
not think they were heavily engaged
the main attack being made along the
entire front of your regiment. the Forty
fourth Virginia and the Twelfth Georgia.
The battle opened in good earnest about
two hours before sunset and ragged Tor
two hours, the Federals renewing the
attack at intervals with the greatest
courage and determination. At one time
81, Of h. q
tentior was attracted to you- regiment
The Federal head reached the brow OF
the hill, and to me ii seemed that they
were nearly close enough to use the oayo-
net There was some confusion, put
1t was only momentary, as j soon saw
you drive them back down the side OF the
mountain in great confusion. 1 don't
think you had much more trouble with
that part of the attacking line after that,
but have sin ss heard that an effort was
made to turn your right fank-but the
flankers were driven back by Virginia
regiment.
About shutdown, the loss In my regi-
ment having been very great, and our
ammunition being about exhausted, we
were ordered to fall back, and the enemy
at once moved up TO the top OF the noun
tain. AS 1 went TO the rear | met Vir-
ginia regiment moving up in line OF bat
tie, with the precision of dress parade'
AS soon as their front was cleared TINS
regiment opened fire-fring by 'volley,"
and advancing with perfect coolness.
They moved forward in the face OF
deadly fire, and never halted until they
had swept back the Federals and com
pletely regaine4 the ground vacated by |
my regiment This was one of the hand
soonest affairs that i witnessed during |
the war. / had become separated from my |
regiment and again advanced to the front |
with the Virginians. The battle closed |
about dark.
This is our baptism of blood-my regi- |
ment suffering more severely than any
other engaged on our side. TO the VIZ
ginia troops, with which we became
greatly attached, and to none were the
ties Of comradeship stronger than to
your regiment, present my kindest re-
CARDS to all the old soldiers, and say TO |
them that my heart is with them. And
say to the ladies for me that there was
never a member of the Twelfth Georgia |
who did not reverence the name and the
devotion shown our cause and the many |
acts of kindness shown us individually |
while far away from home and kindred |
by the noble women of that State. May |
the blessing of peace and a kind Provi-
dence be theirs for all time. They fed |
our hungry; they nursed and cared for |
our sick and wounded. and L trust and |
believe that their reward will be equal |
to their loyalty and devotion TO the |
cause for which We fought-a cause as
holy as any for which patriots ever shed |
their blood or was ever consecrated by |
the tears and sufferings of noble wo-
manhood.
Your comrade,
THOMAS. ]. GIBSON.