The National tribune., 1901-10-24
DANIELs's. BRIGADE

This brigade consisted of the SD, 43d,
45th, SD and I'd battalion, all from North
Carolina. 1t was first commanded by
Daniels, who was Killed at Spottsylvania;
then by Grimes, and after his promotion
by Colonies, several of whom were killed.
To say that this brigade accomplished
more in the first days battle than any
other is no reflection upon the other gal
liant brigades OF Rodes's Division. Gen,
Doubleday, who, after the fall of Gen.
Reynolds, succeeded to the command OF
| the First Corps, says that Stones Penn
sylvania Brigade held the keypoint OF
this days battle. These Pennsylvanians
occupying a Commanding position, were
supported by other regiments Of infantry
and two batteries of artillery. Daniels's
right, Brabble's 32d N. c., leading, had
the opportunity given it to carry this
''key-point" by assault, and gloriously did
it take advantage of that opportunity.
No troops ever fought better than did this
entire brigade and its killed and wounded
was greater by far than any brigade IN
its corps. The 45th and I'd battalion met
with the greatest loss, the former having
219 killed and wounded, the latter 153
out of 240, which was nearly GA per cent.
When on the morning of May II at Spott-
sylvania Hancock's Corps ran over John
sons Division, capturing or scattering the
whole command, this fine brigade and
Ramseur's North Carolina and Bob John
sons North Carolina, by their promptness
and intrepidity, checked the entire Sec
ond Corps and alone held it till Lanes
North Carolina, Harris's Mississippi and
other troops could be brought up.
RAMsEUR's BRIGADE.
This famous brigade consisted of the
I'd, 18th, 18th and Both n. @. 1t was first
commanded by Gen. Geo. B. Anderson,
who was killed at Sharpsburg. Then by
Ramseur, who was promoted, and killed
at Cedar Creek. Then by Cox. The
fondneSs of this brigade for prayer-meet-
ing and Psalm singing, united with an
everreadiness to fight, reminds one of
Cromwell's Ironsides. 1t fought well at
Seven Pines, when one of its regiments,
having carried in 67S officers and men,
lost "a per cent in killed and wounded.
At Malvern Hill it met with great loss.
1t occupied the bloody lane at Sharps-
burg. At Charlottesville out of 1,509 it
had 154 killed and 526 wounded, or 45
per cent. On May II at Spottsylvania it
acted probably the most distinguished
part of any brigade in the army. 1t
did the last fighting at Appomattox, and
about % men of the 18th, under Capt.
w. 7. Jenkins, of Halifax county, fired
the last shots. To see these poor devils,
many Of them almost barefooted and all
of them half-starved, approach a field
where a battle was raging, was pleasant
sight The crack of Napoleons, the roar
of howitzers, and crash of musketry al
ways excited and exhilarated them, and
as they swung into action they seemed
supremacy happy.
LANES BRIGADE.
Lanes Brigade consisted of the It'll,
18th, 2Sth, 35d and 9th n. G. 1t was
first commanded by Gen. l.. o. B. Branch,
who was killed at Sharpsburg. The
18th and 1Sthrappear upon Col. Foxs
percentage table. both having in the seven
days fight lost So per cent. The numer-
ical loss for the brigade was S07. At
Charlottesville it had 739 killed and
wounded. In the history of this battle,
by Col. Hamlin, Of Maine, the conduct
of this brigadeais spoken of very highly.
In IOngstreet S. assault as it moved over
the field the two wings of its right parted
company, and at the close of the assault
were several hundred yards apart. The
point of direction for the assaulting col
umn was a small cluster Of trees oppo-
site to and in front lof Archer's Brigade,
and while the rest of the line dressed on
this brigade, by some misunderstanding
four and a half |, regiments of Lanes
dressed to the left. 1t went some dis
lance beyond the Emmitsburg road, but
fell back to that road, where it remained
fighting till all the rest of the line had
given way, when it was withdrawn by
Gen. Trimble.
Some time ago a, Union veteran in a
st. Louis paper gave an account Of what
came under his observation at SpOttsyl
vania. His command had been repulsed
and was driven by Lanes Brigade, when
he WAS shot down As the yictoriOuS line
swept by a Confederate was struck, fall
ing near him. The conduct of a young
officer, whose face was radiant with the
joy of battle. had attracted his attention,
and he asked his wounded neighbOr who
he was. His reply was, That's Capt.
Billy McLaurin, of the 18th n. c., the
bravest man in Lees army
ARCHER's BRIGADE.
This superb brigade consisted of three
regiments from Tennessee, one regiment
and one battalion from Alabama. 1t suf-
fered very severely the first day: on the
third it was calamity led by Col. Frye,
who says. referring to the close Of the
assault: Il heard Garrett gave the com
mand. Seeing my gesture of inquiry he
called out, i am dressing on you A few
seconds later he fell dead. A moment
later a shot through my thigh Frustrated
me. The smoke soon became so dense