The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-05-15
WAR STORIES.
Banner Battle OF the War.
Il. j. Mcbride, in -1Nanfu Jou,nni.

pepper Court House towards Frcdcr-
icksburg, Va. ; chilling rain poured
down on us nearly all the way. AS
we tramped along the muddy way we
met great many women, children and
old men who were leaving their homes
to escape the threatened shelling Of
fredericksburg We went into camp
near the Telegraph road, about two
miles to the rear of Maryc's Heights,
where General Longstrcct says that
General McLaws with 5000 men
against 40 600, put more than double
his defending forces hors du combat,
thus making for his numbers the best
battle Of the war.
About the 10th Of December much
activity was observed in the Yankee
camps; on the 1lth and 18th our pick
cts, Barksdalc's gallant Mississippians
were hotly engaged most Of the time
resisting the efforts of the enemy to
put down pom IN bridges and cross
the Rappahannock; about 3 o'clock
on the morning Of the 13tb, the long
roll called us to arms and the Tenth
Georgia double quickcd to the heights,
since known as Lees Hill, where we
we're held in reserve. We could dis
tinctly hear the commands Of the
Federal officers, but on account of the
dense fog, could see only few yards
We thought at the time they were
very close to Us and that the battle
would soon be on. About 10 o'clock
the fog BEGAN to disappear and in
short time the bright sun had reveal
cd to our view a splendid scene; line
of battle several miles long was plain
ly in view and rapidly advancing. The
music of a hundred bands encouraged
the troops; banners streaming, neigh
ing horses, shouting captains, rafting
musketry, roaring cannon told that
mighty struggle was on between tho
contending hosts; the beautiful Rap
pahannock flowed peacefully on to the
sea, it's lovely valleys being drenched
with fraterEal blood.
The Yankees did not advance
against tho immediate front of the
Tenth Georgia 30 that from our lofty
eminence we looked at the mighty
struggle going on on our right and
left. Generals Lee and Longstrcct
were on our line most Of the day; they
had many narrow escapes as the Yam
KEGS shellcd our position nearly all
day long. We could soc the white
,puffs of smoke on Stafford Heights
rising from among tho tulip poplars
standing around tho old Chatham
mansion, where General Robert Il.
Lee courted and won his wife, and
then could as plainly SEQ the immense
shells coming over in our direction;
we would dodge down behind tho para
pet till they had plunged into tho
hillside in front or passed over us;
very few Of them struck our breast
works or exploded near us; the Tenth
did not have man hurt; one shell
struck very near General Leo as hc
set on the parapet surrounded by his
staff, but no ono was hurt; two or
three Of our large guns exploded dur
ing the day giving oil Of US some
frightfully close calls. During tho
afternoon some one who wanted tho
Tenth to get into the thick Of the
fight worse than I did, ordered US to
relieve one Of the regiments behind
the stone wall; we marched in quick
time just after We crossed Hazel Run,
just below Welford's Mill, we were
halted and ordered to march back 60
Lees Hill as none Of she regiments
wanted to be relieved. While we werc
standing near the mill, the litter bear.
ers passed us bearing the body of
General Cobb, who had just been
wounded by she'll. A deathly pallor
was on his face and hc seemed to be
il great pain. Some oowardly mis-
creant has lately tried to defame Gen
cral Cobb. I hesitate to even men
tion the ours anonymous attack. All
true men will hold in utter contempt
the statement Of being who after 81
years would confess himself to being
q sneaking, cowardly murderer. In
this connection, tho Journal has in
hand the statements Of General Cobb's
brigade surgeon, DR.. Il. j. E!irige;
his regimental surgeon, Dr. E. D.
Newton, and his favorite courier, Mr..
John ". Clark, all of whom are still
living and were with him. have
also, through the courtesy Of Judge
Howell Cobb and Mr.. A. L. Hull, Of
Athens, been permitted &c read let
far from hia naetor Rav r X Do.