The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-05-31
A Word From the Hero Himself.

TO the Editor oftAe Neacs and Courier :.
In response to your request that !
should give sketch Of the cavalry OF
the Army of Northern Virginia it has
occurred to me.sthat as the subject
proposed is too large for newspaper
article, some Incidents, showing the
duties, the gallantry aud the perform
ances Of those serving in that arm OF
the seraice, would not be unwelcome
to many Of my old comrades on the
occasion Of our next reunion.
While the cavalry Of the Army OF
Northern Virginia could not compare
in numbers with the infantry nor rival
the brilliant achievements Of those
incompatible wearers Of gray jackets
and bearers Of bright bayonets, still l
hope to show that the duties of the
trooper we're more arduous than those
Of their comrades of the infantry, and
that through all trials they were brave
and true-they thus proved them
selves not unworthy comrades of that
s'incomparable infantry which has
left record Of unequalled and i'm
mortal honor.
The cavalry were the steyes and ears
of the army they kept watch and
ward while their comrades slept. AS
pickets they guarded against the dan
gers Of surprise. Important infor-
nation was often given to our COM
manders; on many occasions large
quantities of arms and ammunition
were turned over to the general stock;
wagons and mules in numbers we're
] brought in. In one instance about
two hundred Of the former and about
! :ninne hundred of the latter, and on
Z or !, occasion, at least. they gave to
their comrades Of Lees army beef
enough to allow ration Of one pound
day for forty days to $4,000 men!
Beyond those services they really did
fghtsometimes, though their comrades
Of the infantry had their jest that no
dead man with spurs on was ever seen!
But that this harmless jest was with
out foundationis proved by the graves
Of many Of the noblest men Of the
South who fell in the cavalry, and by
many a. mourning heart throughout
the borders Of our Southern land
South Carolina bears her full share
of this deep and lasting sorrow, for
many Of her gallant sons who served
in the cavalry died for their State and
for our cause. One regiment Of South
Carolina cavalry, dismounted, and be-
hind only frail rail fence, repulsed
seven furious charges Of an overwhelm-
ing force, leaving on the field 1873 of
its men, dead and wounded. One brl-
gade Of cavalry, in which were two
South Carolina regiments, had twenty
.one Of its twenty-three field officers
killed OF wounded during the Gettys-
burg campaign. These were the men
who bore sabres and wore spurs!
But the highest qualities Of great
leader and the gallantry of men who
would face any danger can be best
shown by quoting from report Of a
fight made by Gen. Rosser, than whom
there was no better soldier in the
cavalry corps:
ssGen. W. H. F. Lee, with his COM
'mand, was on the occasion referred to
at Hanover Court House, while some
other portion Of the cavalry corps
were near Atlee's Station. On June
1, 1864, Lee was attacked by Wilson $
division division, when he fell back
In the direction Of Ashland. Moving
to his assistance with three regiments
of Rossers brigade we struck the rear
Of Wilson's column as he was follow
ing Lee. This column was charged by
Rosser as soon as it was discovered,
and it was thrown into confusion.
Following up his success, Rosser
pressed the enemy vigorously, and in
the series Of brilliant charges-some
Of which were over dismounted men
he drove Wilson into Ashland, cap
turing prisoners from eight different
regiments, about 200 horses and many
arms.
The report Of this affair, which I
regard as one Of the most brilliant
during the war in Virginia, is given to
| show what could be and was effected
by cavalry.
One other point should be mentioned
that regarding the number Of prison
oro +oCon hv tho cavalry in the last