Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-11-21
GENERAL JOHN BRATT0R.
Quite Pretty Story Of His Treatment by
General Phil Kearny.

The following extracts are from a
communication held over. with the
name of the author mislaid:
Only a few personal friends Of the
late General John Bratton know of a
striking episode in his career in the
war for Southern independence. 1t is,
in many respects. as remarkable as the
celebrated letter Of Lord Charles Mon
tagu to Major General Moultrie, an
other South Carolina rebel" when he
was a prisoner Of war in the hands of
the British. Reference is made to a
letter from Major General Philip Kear-
ny, u. S. A., to the then Colonel John
Bratton, c. S. A, who had been des-
perately wounded at the battle Of Sew
en- Pines, and was a prisoner at Fort
ress Monroe.
On May 81, 1862, Colonel Bratton, on
foot, led his regiment (the Sixth South
Carolina. r. H. Anderson's brigade), in
the battle Of Seven Pines. The brigade
had four times attacked the Federals,
and had driven them two miles from
their first line of battle. In the fourth
charge, about sundown, Colonel Brat
ton was seriously wounded in the right
arm, the ball entering his body. He
attempted to get back to the Confeder-
ate lines, but was captured by the enc
my. His wound was carefully dressed
by DR.. B. GeSner, assistant surgeon Of
the regiment that had captured him.
and in whose hands Colonel Bratton
put his watch for safe-keeping. He
was carried to Fortress Monroe, and
there confined with a number Of wound
ed Confederates in one Of it's dark and
damp lower easements.
A few days later, while in his con-
finement, Colonel Bratton received by
special courier the following letter from
General Kearny:
Col. Bratton, Sixth South Carolina
Regiment:
Dear Sir: The fortunes of this unnat-
ural war have made you prisoner, and
as it was in the hands of one Of my
regiments (Fourth Maine, Col. Walker)
that you fell, I take the liberty, in
courtesy and good feeling, Of putting
myself or friends Of the North at your
disposal.
I forward by a special messenger
your sword, belt, and watch, together
with a letter from the surgeon, DR..
Gesner, who attended you, and who Is
an acquaintance Of your family in the
South.
If, sir, you will permit me the favor
1 shall also place at your call credit
with my bankers, Riggs & Co., Wash
ington, 5000, which may serve you un-
til your own arrangements are made.
Very respectfully, your obedient SER
want, T. kEARNY,
Major General Commanding Third Di-
vision, Third Corps.
This letter from General Kearny,
one Of the most eminent cavalry lead
ers of the Federal army, to Confeder-
ate colonel whom he did not know per-
sonally, is a beautiful tribute to Colo
mel Bratton's gallantry and an evi-
dence that General Kearny, like Sir
Philip Sydney, was the ''impersonation
of high thoughts seated in a heart of
courtesy"
How happy would General Bratton
have been had the fortunes Of war
permitted him to reciprocate the cour-
tesies of his friend, the enemy" How
earnestly would he have worked for
Kearny's exchange or release on pa
role! How warmly after the dreadful
war was over, would he have welcom-
ed him to hospitable "Farmington," his
country home in Fairfield county! But
such was not to be. General Kearny,
the soldier Of France in Algiers and
Italy, a hero Of Contreras and Churu-
busco, and major general of the United
States army in the Civil war, was to
fall three months later the same year.
while accommodating at Ok Hill, near
Chantilly, Va.
AS a fitting conclusion to this inter-
esting episode in General Bratton's ca
reer, and as evidence Of his courage
and ability, he was on May 6, 1864, ap-
pointed brigadier general, and on June
9, following, the appointment was con-
flrmed, and he was ordered to report
to General R. E. Lee. His brigade was
composed Of the First (Hagood's), Sec
ond, Fifth and Sixth regiments, South
Carolina volunteers, and the Palmetto
Sharpshooter's Gongstreet's corps)'
Army of Northern Virginia.