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

| /DHr IInffOr ~ ne .\cWS TH'I frHtf,I :
In response to your request that
should give a sketch Of the cavalry of
the Army Of Northern Virginia it has
occurred to me that as the subject
proposed is too large for newspaper
article, some incidents, showing the
duties, the gallantry aud the perform
anccs Of those serving in that arm of
the seraicc, would not be unwclcomc
to many of my old comrades on the
occasion of our uext 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 wcarers Of gray Jackets
and bearers Of bright bayonets, still l
hope to show that the duties of the
trooper were 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
"incomparable infantry" which has
left record of unequalled and i'm
mortal honor.
The cavalry were the "eyes 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
nine hundred Of the latter, and on
I one occasion, at least, they gave TO
their comrades Of Lees army beef
enough TO allow ration of one pound
u day for forty days to $4,000 men!
Beyond those services they really did
fight sometimes, 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 foundation is proved by the graves
Of many of the noblest men of the
South who fell in the cavalry, and by
many 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 bri-
gade of cavalry, in which were two
South C'-olina regiments, had twenty
one OF its twenty-three field officers
killed or wounded during the Gettys-
burg campaign. These were the men
who bore sabrcs and wore spurs!
But the highest qualities of great
leader aud 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:
Gen. 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
we're near Atlees Station. On June
!, 1864, Lee was attacked by Wilson's
division 8 division, when he fell back
in the direction Of Ashland. Moving
to his assistance with three regiments
of Rosser's 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
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 1
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
ers taken by the cavalry in the last
campaign. The returns of these are
not full, but the report Of the provost
marshal, and those of commanding
officers account for 1000. In the
i