Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-26
Longstreet to The Rescue
Of Thomas Brigade

I have been constant reader of "Close
Calls" and have noticed with much in
terest the misunderstanding of Comrade
McRea and others in reference to Will
cox's brigade in the battle of the Wilder
ness
Brother McRea was correct in his ac-
count of the battle of the Wilderness,
except he used the word brigade" in
stead of division" when he alluded to
the retreating columns on the plank road.
1t was part of Willcox's division that
was f1anked and pressed back on the
morning of May the 9Th and not Will
cox's brigade (Which he commanded be-
fore being promoted to the rank of d.
vision commander.
II was Thomas Georgia brigade of
wincox's division that was being pressed
back along the plank road and was saved
from annihiiation by the arrival Of Long
streets corps y
The writer of this was a member of
Thomas brigade and have been waiting
and watching for some other member TO
write Of some of the incidents of that
fearful stampede" which / consider a
"close CALI for every man in Thomas
brigade, composed of the Fourteenth,
Thirty-fifth, Forty-ffth and Forty-ninth
Georgia regiments.
While memory lasts can never forget
the the 4th day of May, 1864.
The army of Northern Virginia was en-
camped along the Rapidan river, around
Orange Court House.
Lee and Grant had never met in combat
All winter each army had been recruiting
and getting in shape for the most deadly
conflict of the war
On that beautiful May morning, when
nature seemed TO be in it's sweetest mood
the woods alive with bird songs, the land
scape green with bursting buds and flow
rr~AgI nf the Rlua Ridge
was capped with snow; the couriers gave
out that stirring order: Cook three days
rations and be ready to move at min
ute's notice"
Thus, before. the rations could be cook
ed, the command, 'fall in" rang out all
along the line. At once we realized that
the Army of the Potomac, the best equip
ped, best fed, best clothed and best dis
ciplined army the world ever produced,
had begun its march toward Richmond.
All. old comrade! Don't you remember
the long roll?
Do you remember how brigade after
brigade fled into the road?
Do you remember the march from Or
ange Court House TO the Wilderness?
When, while passing over some elevated
point, you could look three or four miles
i'm front and see the long line of Confed-
crates with their guns glittering in the
sunlight, and the same to be seen by
looking behind you?
Do you remember how that inspiring
scene made us think we could whip the
world?
DO you remember how, on the night Of
May 4th, we peeled the bark from trees
to make a tray in which to work up our
meal and how we cooked 1t in ashes?
Do you remember how the distant COM
mands sounded as we marched along
about noon on the 5th?
1,arr he rrTf1n
we passed the little old field on the left
of the plank road, where Lee had dis
mounted and was in close consultation
with that great cavalry leader, J. E. B.
Stuart. Here we had been ordered to
halt. While taking a short rest, awaiting
orders a column of blue coats were seen
to emerge from the woods and in a dou-
BILE quick right flank movement We're
crossing the corner of the field into the
woods on the opposite side. Some one
shouted, General Lee, look at the Yam
kess! Get out of here; you will get
killed. If the general heard he paid no
attention, but stood immovable while our
brigade wheeled in to line of battle and
marched to meet the thanking enemy; and
we were soon in the harvest of death.
Darkness closed the deadly struggle on
the night of the 5th. We rested on our
arms IN line of battle that night and with
out opportunity to reform or straighten
our line curing the Night Inc .DaIlle
opened on the morning of the 9Th with our
division at a disadvantage For some
reason, without any blame to any one,
our right was turned and our. brigade ex-
posed to an enflading fire, causing us to
give way in confusion. .~
Such a scene 1 hope I will never wit
ness again. We were in the widest con-
fusion when the head of Longstreet's
column at a double quick came to our
relief.
1 suppose, from the writings of Mr..
Mckea, 1t must have been Bennings bril-
| gade first to our relief.
remember one of Longstreet's men, on
seeing me wounded, called out to me to
| throw him my cartridge box, having lost
| his i'm the march. did so and he picked
| IL up and movsd ---'-r nut losing his