The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-28
GREAT BATTLE
OF THE CRATER.
The Work Of MahOne and Weisiger at
the Fight.
Mr.. GEO. S. BERNARD WRITES
In Rcply 20 q Times Editorial Which
Paid n Tribute 20 The Late Gen
creI Weisigcr-A Discussion
Of the Battlc.
MR.. GEO. S. BERNARD WRITES

Ing q handsome tribute 20 the late Cen
erll David A. we.sigcr. makes some
statements calculated TO do great injus-
lice TO the memory Of the late General
william Malone.
Referring 70 the battle OF the Crater
sn which both Of these DISTINGUISHED
Confederate officers won fame, The Times
SAID.
.rhe Virginia brigade and the Geor-
ga brigade OF Mahones Division were
brought during the morning from the
9ar right 10 r%ccapturc the Confederate
lines bv assault. The Virginia brigade
advancing in front came up "a covered
way 10 within two hundred yards Of
the crater and then oe0Ouched 10 the
right and formed line Of battle directly
in front OF the crater. General Mahone
remained in the covered way directing
the movement and he ordered Weisiger
10 hold his brigade after st was form
ed until the Georgia brigade, following
him. got formed on his right. AFTER
Welslger's formation was complete and
the Georgia formation was going on,
Welslcer saw the Federal officers jump
ing out OF their works and motionins
their men 70 do the same and form. lie
saw II was only a question Of a moment
whether he should charge them or be
charged by them in Overwhelming num-
hers Despatching a message 20 Malone
that he could wait no longer but must
charge at once. he gave the command,
led his men. and in a moment was hand
10 hand in a desperate encounter Win
the enemy. His triumph was complete.
and with his 500 men he killed, wounded
and captured many thousands. Neisiger
himself was shot through The BODY ana
being borne back TO the covered way he
&C., NahaHn nfHN fnnFY Ma
hone said 20 him. 'Wcislger. you ana Joe
Johnston are always getting yourselves
shot In telling 10 We.sigcr said ne
thought he was a dead man and was
Indifferent. therefore. about insubordina-
ton. and he replied. Yes, General Ma
hone. and II you would go where General
Johnston and 1 60 you would get shot'
too"
THE VIRGINIA BRIGADE.
The statements here made are in sew
eral particulars Inaccurate.
The Virginia brigade, Nter emerging
from the covered way did not form "di-
rectly IN front of the crater but with
the rirht Of its line Of battle as 1t faced
eastwardly towards the Confederate
breastworks Chen IN the possession Of
the enemy. considerably-probaDly over
a hundred yards-tO the left and rear
of the crater. General Mahone's purpose
WAS ~ nav NNHI EL-# nH"
on the right Of the Virginia brigade, and
as The Times correctly says. his order
20 General Weisicer was 10 hold his brl-
Cade until this formation. that is 10 say,
the placing OF tho two brigades I'm CON
finuous line Of battle. should be COM
pieted. Had this piah been carried out
the right OF the Georgia brigade would
have been about directly ia front OF.
or 10 speak more accurately. directly In
snn~ and vrlaf Of the crater. ana the
first assault would probably have been
more effective. but. mad as the charge
was. with the Virginia brigade and Only
"a part Of the Georgia brigade. together
with some of EllOtts brigade (Which
occupied the trenches Immediately AT.
and on the right and left of, the crater
az the time Of the explosion the assault
although brilliant, was not, IN any sense,
a complete triumph. Only the couple OF
hundred yards OF the brcastwOrks imme-
dlately 20 the north OF the crater were
recaptured. Tho crater Itself was not.
but was held by several hundred OF the
enemy Tor at least four hours longer,
that Is 10 SAY, until about / O'Clock l.. NJ.
when the final assault OF the day that
made by the Alabama brigade OF Ma
homes division. supported by troops
from General Bushr0d Johnsons dlVi-
zion. resulted IN its capture. and in the
capture OF the several hundred men then
occupying IL. This assault was made
under the direction OF General Malone,
after al least one unsuccessful assault
10y the Georgia brigade the assault OF
the GeOreians being made about an hour
after that OF the Nirginians.
To Say that General Wcisigcrs "tri-
umph was complete and that with
lis SO men he killed. wounded. and cap
tured many th)usands,' and TO make
this statement without qualification, Is
20 claim for the Virginia brigade and Its
commander. as their special work what
belongs 90 the whole OF the Confederate
forces engaged in the Battle OF the era
ter.
In a congratulatory order issued by
General Malone 10 the Virginia Alabd-
ma. and Georgia brigades during me
week following the engagement he stated
that, with an effective force of less than
800 men and a casualty list Of 0o. they
killed zoo OF the enemys people, wounded.
by his own account, over 3,Ool, and cap
tured 1.i0l prisoners. embracing NJ ON
GERS. II stands Of cOlOrs, 2 suerdons,
and 1916 stand OF small arms. deeds
which" 10 use the language OF The order,
'%eatiile their banners % The inscription,
The Crater Petcrsburg. july 80 1>6i.'
TO WHOM CREDIT IS DUE.
Talk with the men OF Eliotts brigade,
which, under tho gallant Colonel II. W.
NcMaster, did no small amount OF tight
Ing on this famous day; talk with the
men OF Nlse's brigade. which held the
Confederate lines next on the south OF
The crater. talk with ihe men of RAN
sons North Carolina brigade, which
occupied the lines next 10 Elliotts hri-
gade on the north Of tho crater. talk
with Major David y. Walker. OF YOU
city. who commanded a battery on the
fouth Of the crater, talk with Capt. ".
Gordon McCsbo. who as adjutant OF Pc
grams battalion OF light artillery. posted
Immediately west Of the crater. witness
"a the charge OF the Virginia brigade.
ak with Dr.. Joseph ". EGglcston. of
your city. who. as a member OF Lam
kin's mortar battery. fred many a shell
into the Federal lines during the engage
ment, talk with many Others OF the sur
wing participants in tho battle. and
they will satisfy you that. so far from
the success OF the Confederate arms 40
the crater being the work OF the Vir-
ginia brigade alone. strictly speaking. il
was not the sole work OF the three bri-
gades commanded by General Malone.
but the result OF fighting wherein other
infantry took part and the artillery was
a potential factor.
But 10 what officer IN particular does
especial credit for this success belong2
TO General Neisiger. says The Times. |
These are not the words. hut the sub.
stance Of It's editorial OK February "a. f,
1889.
IL General Weisiger. and not General !
>fahoue Uap entitled Ia tho credit of -