The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-15
Mr.. w. w. Gather and Brock en-
~brough's Brigade.
Richmond. Va, Nov. q, 1899.


Richmond, Va, Nov. 81, 1899.
To the Editor of The Wilmington Mes
Senger:
My attention has recently been call
ed to a communication entitled Gen
eral Harry Heth" and signed w. w.
Gather, which appeared in your issue
of October Sth last.
[ am not sure that this is a matter
which merits serious consideration, for,
at least, one reason among others,
which is, that your correspondent has
failed to acquire such widespread dis
tinction as would impart to his mere
signature any commanding force of
dignity or authority. To me he
is simply anonymous. However,
l propose, with our permits
sion, to correct briefly the reck-
less statements by which he exposes
history and seeks to defam me one of the
best brigades in our army.
General Heth in his eport of the bat
tie of Charlottesville, says: Lanes
brigade supported by the Fortieth and
Forty-seventh Virginia regiments
(Heth's brigade) and McGowan's bri-
gade, advanced and charged the enc
AhS ~ LIS III n = VII "OlC
supported by twenty-nine pieces Of ar
tillery. l cannot conceive of any body
calling fire than this force. The bril-
gadeS of Lane, MCGOWAN and a por-
ton of Heth's Colonel J.. M.Brocken-
brough, commanding) Notwithstanding,
drove the enemy from his works and
held them for some time. No
officers or men cOuld have done better
than Generals Lane and MCGOWAN, and
Colonel J. M. Neutrality-suspicious.
cial War Records, Series 1. Vol. %, PIT.
l. pr S91, 892. Comment is unnecessary.
The order cited by your correspond
ent referred solely to the Twenty-sec-
ond Virginia battalion. That battal-
ion had been assigned to General
Charles w. Fields brigade in the
spring of 1862, and finally made so a
a reputation, that L do not feel war
ranted in preSuming it's innocence of
the charge brought against it. To de-
fend it is none of my business. 1 am
only concerned with others who had
no share in the reproach which fell
upon that unfortunate command.
Fields brigade was composed of the
Fortieth, Forty-seventh, Fifty-ffth
and Sixtieth Virginia regiments, to-
gether with the battalion just named,
and led the attack on McClellan's right
flank, June 26, 1862. After participant
ing in the battles around Richmond,
(the Sixtieth having been in the NEAR
time transferred) it was sent with the
division to General T.. ]. Jackson, at
GordonSville, late in July following. 1t
was in all the principal battles of hat
campaign, including second Manassas,
where General Field was severely
wounded, n the command thereupon
devolved on Colonel John NJ. Broken
brough, of the Fortieth Virginia, and
remained with him, until it was taken
by Brigadier General Heth, who COM
handed it in the battle of Chancellors-
vile. Upon the promotion of hat dis
tinguiShed officer to major general i'm
mediately afterwards, it was again in
charge of Colonel Brockenbrough and
SO remained, until the command was
assumed by Brigadier General H. H.
Walker, in the summer of 1863. It was
sometimes mentioned in the reports of
A. P. Hills Light Division, as the First
Brigade (Long's Life of Lee" App. p.
$3.50, and fought under him as it's major
general from Mechanicsville to Chan
cellorsville, after which it was select
ed as one of the four brigades which
formed Heth's division and SO con-
tinued until some time in December,
1864, when it was transferred to Cen
eral GUSTS Lees division and made it's
last fight at Sailors creek, April 6, 1866.
[ am fully aware that these details
liz ldooS H llSIOIS VI lllc
brigade is identified with that of the
Light Division and it neither seeks nor
needs any amendment Of it's record
Among many other references that
might be given, see Longs Life Of
Lee" App. PIP. 511, 52S, 557, SIC, 594;
n the Official War. Records, passim.
The Twenty-second Virginia battal-
ion was ~deservedly~ disgraced as a body.
Still, there were a few noble excep-
lions among them, but their influence
and example were unavailing to avert
the curse of cowardice and the COM
mand was at last deprived Of the COL
ors, upon which it had more than once
brought dishonor.
In conclusion, I desire to say that
I have always felt the highest admira-
ton for the gallantry and patriotism
Of the North Carolina soldiery, and !
could never forgive myself, IL through
carelessness or i'll temper, I had
brought against the brave men who
followed Branch, or Scales, Of Pender,
to battle, so unfounded a charge, as
your correspondent has seen fit to
make against a whole brigade Of gal
liant and generous V~irginfans.
He had more time and better oppor-
tunities than / had to observe the dis
reputable conduct OF the Twenty-sec-
ond Virginia battalion. My business
was at the front.
SAM'L D. DAVIES,
Formerly A%djutant Forty-seventh vir-
ginia Regiment.