The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-01-24
THE SECOND SOUTH CAROLINA.
Commanded by Col. Wallace 1t Sared
The Day At Cold Karbor.
To the Editor of the State:

OF the military achievements OF our
Confederate soldiers in the war be :
tween the States, beg to call your
attention to the following error which
will not prove unintercsting to the
readers of your valued paper.
In the Confederate Military His
tory of South Carolina by Rev. Ellison
Capers the following statement is
made:
"On the Cold Harbor line June lst,
when strong Confederate movement
by the right vas ordered diary Of
the First corps says: In the afternoon
a furious attack is made on the left Of
Hokc and the right of Kcrshaw, enc
my penetrating an interval between
them. kershaw brings up the Sec ond
and Third South Carolina and ..rcgains
Bryans lost ground, and captures
prisoners and stand of colors.
The writer of this communication
was present in the Richland County
court house, when the survivors of
Gen. Kershaw's brigade presented
him with his portrait in Confederate
uniform. Ii his speech of thanks to
the survivors, Gen. Kershaw turned
to Col. William Wallace, of Columbia,
and said: "This is the man who at
second Cold Harbor saved the army Of
Northern Virginia with his regiment,
the gallant Second South Cnrolina.
General Kershaw was unable to at
tend reunion Of the survivors of the
Eighth South Carolina Volunteers at
Florence, S. c., and wrote letter to
them which was published in The
News and Courier. In that letter he
again complimented Col. Wallace
courage and ability at Cold Harbor.
The following is an extract from his
letter: "The Eighth held the broken
line at Cold Harbor where the gallant
Wallace led the Second in the charge
at double quick, and hurled the ad-
vancing columns Of the enemy over
the trenches at the point of the bayo-
net and again averted the 'on to Rich
mond.'"
Maj. Charles Kcrrison, Jr., in
brief sketch published in The News &
Courier several years ago) Of the Sec
ond South Carolina Volunteer infan-
try, says: "The Second South Carroll
ma saved the Confederate army at Cold
Harbor. An unwritten history. A
very quiet afternoon at Cold Harbor,
the year 1864. Two regiments in re-
serve, the Second and Seventh. The
Third, Eighth. Fifteenth, Twentieth
and James gallant little battalion on
the line. Not sign Of intent tion that
the enemy would attack. We, the
regiments IN reserve, had scarce got
through our scant Confederate dinner,
before the roar of infantry FIRE greeted
the ear. A second after courier
from Gen. Kershaw reported with or
ders. Forward the two regiments in
reserve" (the Second and SEVENTY
with the order to double quick and
form in rear Of portion of the divis-
ion works which had just been sur
prised and captured by the enemy.
With his usual Scotch instinct (he
will pardon the expression) and that
cool grit which series of days of
close relationship during the war i'm
pressed on the writer. Col. William
Wallace Of the Second, the senior col
onel in the command Of the two regi-
ments in reserve, ordered his men for
ward. The Second fellint ranks, be-
ing the first to receive orders, with
instructions to the Seventh to follow
at once. The Second, at quick time,
reached the place of attack. To cx-
plain the position of the ground it is
necessary to state that the division in
line Of the works described a right
angle, so as to reach the necessary
point, the reserve had to file left on
reaching the apex Of the angle and
double quick in rear and near the line
of Confederate works. So rapid Ouas
the move Of the Second that the Sew
enth Gas gallant regiment as ever
fought had not time to reach and
form with US. 1t was a momentous
peroid, requiring judgment, decision
and dash. The Second formed on an
elevation, about two hundred yards
from the captured works held by two
regiments Of the enemy. Forty eighth
and One Hundred and Twelfth New
York. Pausing only for moment to
get the Second to front and into line,
the order from the colonel came: Fix
bayonets, CHARGE! With the familiar
Confederate yell, forward dashed the
regiment. only 100 rifles strong, driv-