The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-30
GEN, ROBERT RANSOM
Continued From Second Page

visional. From the time of his first
promotion to the end he was alternately
in command of cavalry and infantry,
thus proving his versatility for com
mand, and the great confidence reposed
in him by the appointing power.
n ovember 1861, whilst Colonel of
the First Cavalry he led successfully in
the first encounter between the cavalry
of the two armies. In the spring of '62
he was promoted Brgadier General for
the special purpose of detailing him to
organize the cavalry under General
Albert Sidney Johnston in the West, hut
Newborn having fallen this purpose was
abandoned. and he was ordered to East
ern North Carolina to hold the enemy
in check and to maintain railroad com
munications. In June 1862, he was as
signed to the command of a North Caro-
lima brigade of infantry, and was with
Holmes and Huger during the seven
days fight, and at Malvern Hill his
brigade made the last charge and left
some of its dead among the Federal
guns.
In the first Maryland campaign his
brigade was Il part of j. q. Walkers di-
vision, and was at the fall of Harper's
Ferry and in the hard fought battle of
Sharpsburg. From the extreme right,
tSeptember 17th) he was at 8 "A. III.
double quicked to the left center, where
the enemy had penetrated our lines.
They were driven back. and three success
sive attacks in overwhelming force re-
pulsed. and the position held until our
army was withdrawn on the night of the
18th. That feat is all more worthy of
mention when it is taken into account
that two gallant commands had been
forced back when he came to the rescue.
and that his force was subjected to an
artillery fire at canister range for sew
eral hours without the chance of re-
plying.
At Fredericksburg he commanded
Walkers old division december 18th.
1862, and was in special charge of
Mary's and Willis Hill,' where the
Federals suffered heavier than at any
other part of the line. Here it was
Meagher's famous Irish brigade was al
most exterminated after various repeat
ed charges to carry the position. Per-
haps the lesson then received from the
force in his front, was the prompting inn
pulse of the generous tribute paid his
Thos. Francis Meagher. In reply to a
serenade given him in Chicago after the
war. he was reported ut the time to have
used this language: Now that they are
PROSTATE, the question comes up how
shall we treat them? My answer is
with the utmost Kindness, cordiality
generosity and Indignantly. for they de-
serve it. No people have ever dared as
they did, no people have ever endured
as they did, aye, by the god of battles
no people have ever fought as they did.
They have proven themselves the master
Revolutionists of all history. TO treat
such a people otherwise than indicated.
would be the quintescence of baseness,
cowardice and pusilanimity.'
Had that magnanimous course prevail
ed as it probably would had it been left
10 the decision of the true soldier ele-
ment of the North, the asperties and
animOsities of the war had long since
been as effectually wiped out as have the
earthworks around your towns that the
war called into being. But, alas, those
sons of thunder mouthers. ranters and
dollhouse politicians, who had a Falls
taffian repugnance to the villainous smell
of saltpetre when they could get a Whit.
and illustrate John Phoenix sheer of
Soldiers in peace, citizens in war;" had
no notion of giving up their chief stock
in trade.
In January, 1863, he was ordered to
North Carolina with division to re-
pulse threatened attack on the w. &
w. II. X. Here he remained in active
service till May ensuing, when he was
In H..
General ID. III. Hill in the command of
Richmond when the latter was transfer
red to Bragg's army in the West. Here
he remained about two months when
sickness compelled him to give up the
command
In October, 1868. he was assigned to
command in East Tennessee and drove
the enemy as far south as Knoxville,
and i'll November had brigade of cav
airy, and was then ordered to Richmond
''for other and distant service" 1t was
the Presidents purpose to assign him
to the command of the trans Mississippi
Department. and his nomination to a
lieutenant Generally was sent in. But
the threatened condition of affairs at
Richmond and the confidence reposed in
him by the President induced a change
in that arrangement and he was as
signed to the command, having for it's
object the defense and protection of the
Confederate Capital
How well that duty was performed is
shown by a manuscript letter of Mr..
Davis to him, from which | make a
short extract. You had been my main
reliance for the defense of Richmond.
You had shown both your galantry and
capacity before you were ordered to re-
inforce Beauregard for temporary SER
vice" This letter bears date of 18th of
March, 1887, only two years before that
immortal man left us. Only six weeks
before his death l heard from his own
lips strong confrmatory evidence of the
high estimate in which he held General
Ransom. This was fully shared by the
devoted and gifted widow of our Chief
tain. When compiling his biography she
wrote me an urgent letter to try and
induce Bob Ransom to go down to
Beauvoir and help her in the work.
This unfortunately, was out of his pow
er to do.
ApropOs of these two men: the last
time that | ever saw General Robert
Ransom was, ! believe. in the summer of
1891, ut the reunion of the old Con-
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