The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-12-20
A Bit of War History Pub.
llshed Now For the First
Time.
To the Editor Of Tbe State.

To the Editor Of Tue State.
You published What said 10 TIE
Abbeville Medium sbous Captain 0 B
Warwick of the Eighteenth Z. s
infantry. who was killed ia skirrslsh
iu the Philippines, November Is Voc
gave credis to The Press add Banner
through inadgertence, aad | mako 10
complaint. bu. write to make correc-
ton in What / wrote to tell cone
strange coincidence about the killing Of
General Sedgvich. Lieutenant Charles
r. Paul vas uos 10 the company With
Captain MoLaughin aud Lieutenant
Warwick wao were here in 1874 He
cane in 1876 with Captain and Lieu
tenant Baruhars took him to a big
political meeting az Due West, where
we had brass band. red ehirts, negro
Democratic speakers and two pitchers
On the stand. It was Interesting expe
rience for him
Lieutenant Paul afterwards married
q daughter OF General Rains. who vas
an old army ofioer. but resigned aud
came souts. He bad charge of a
Confederate fouodry io Augusta during
she War between the States
Lieutenant Paul told me that be was
sitting 90 a horse near General Joho
Seegwiok when he was killed by ooe Of
McGowan's sha.pshoo'ers at Spottsyl-
vsoia Court House. Paul was acting
on his staff and General Sedgwich was
giving orders about bringing up some
commissary wagons. 10 very few
minutes the word passed dcvu our line
that one of cur sharpshooters had killed
a Yankee general.
Some time ago while dining with
Honorable j. J. Darlington. 10 Wash
iogton, D c.. his father-in-law. ap
elderly minister, told me that be saw
the body of General sedgSieh when i.
landed in that city, and that General
Seigwich vas the Only man be saw
duriog the whole war who had been
killed In battle.
vas Standing 10 the broad road
leadiog to Spottsylvania Court House
vher the word came along tie liue that
a general had been killed by one of
eur sharpsbooters at single shot at a
distance Of / 900 yards. 1t is strange
that I should meet his aide after so
many years aud also the man who saw
the body reach Washington. lo
<.Lse's Sharpshoo.ers.' recently pub
iisbed, Major W. 8. Dunlop. who
commanded McGowan's sbarpshoo:ers,
tells who killed General Sedgwic6 as
follows
eve reached the backbone Of the
ridge, ue.r the edge of field which
lay out beyond. Here We could
plainly see sedgwick's corps in line of
battle on the crest of another bill,
busily engaged in rec.ify,Dg their lioes
aud constructing breastworke, with
sheir skirmisbers we'll advacced. Upon
these We opened scattering FIRE with
some effect. We discovered an angle
protrudieg from their main line towards
the right Of the battalion. which
brought four gun battery With its
infantry supports placed there for the
defense Of the salient, barely within
reach of gu, loog range rifles. And
to :bese Beu Powell with his Whit
sor,b and few files 90 the right paid
their respects. Presently au officer
of rank with bis staff approached the
salient, aud adjusting bis Geid glasses.
began to take observations OF the froos.
A few sho's only bad been fred at the
group. wbeu the riogiog peal of Pow
ellis Whi,worth was beard sone distance
to the right the officer wss seco to
ssagger and fell. apd the brilliant
career of that gallant and distinguish
ed soldier, Maj Gen Sedgwick. COM
mandaus Of the Fifth Federal army
corps, was closed, and closed forever.
Powell reported at once that be had
killed Federal general, bu: we knew
not his name or rank uctiI it came out
q few days later 10 the northero papers,
announcing tnas Geu Sedgwick bad
been killed by Confederate sharp
shooter which fact 80 published has
gone into history, but the name OF the
man behind the gun has never before
been mentionsd "
Ben Powell was from Lancaster. S.
G.
There may not be much in what |
have said above. but some OF the old
soldiers may be interested 10 the story.
Robert R Hemphill.
AbbevilIe 9. G. Dec 12. 1899.