The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-10-25

"a: The night was disagreeably
cold-it was raining. The Federal
officer in command of our prisoners
gave them permission to build fires.
which they began to do by gathering
up brush and wood for that purpose
Some of them took advantage Of the
darkness of the night and con-
clucluded not. to return with their
wood, etc, but endeavor to escape.
Most Of them succeeded. Entirely
surrounded by the enemy and not
knowing which way to 20, they
secreted themselves in the woods and
awaited the 'dawning of the morn,
ing But fortunately for them the
enemy soon struck camp and moved
on, being hardly pressed by our
troops. was told by some of the
men who did not escape that at day
light they ''called halt" and called
the roll Of the prisoners, and when
they found 30 many of them "absent
without leave" the Federals began to
rage and rant about it.
These unfortunate men we're con.
fined in prisons, and some of them
never got home until July. 1865.
Amongst those was Lieut.. w. j.
Crocker, who was nearly q corpse
when he reached home. This de.
tachment was commanded by Capt.
John D. Caldwell and Lieut.. Halle
In this engagement our company lost
nine killed and but one or two
wounded, among them J.. Wesley
McGown, that 1 now remember.
The FederalS, being defeated, with
drew and we returned to our command
below Richmond. The evenings
project was complete failure, and
Dahlgren was killed. The two main
armies Federal and Confederate)
met in the Wilderness and terrible
battle was fought, which lasted two
days, 5th and 9th of May. The Con-
federates claimed the advantage and
the Eederals were repulsed at every
point along the line. Gen. Grant.
being defeated, attempted 40 pass
Lees right by a flank movement
made on the night Of May 7th. He
expected to gain a position at Spott-
sylvania Court House, but when he
got there he found the ubiquitous
Lee ready to receive him. Here one
of the most desperate battles of the
war was fought, in which the South
Carolina troops, and especially Nc
Gowan's brigade. bore an important
part. Kershaw's brigade, too, took
an active part. Charge after charge
was made by the Federals, and many
of their men were knocked off the
hrea>tw"rks by the onfederates with
the butts Of their guns.
Before the break was made at the
Wilderness on the night of May 7
Gen. Lee had sent Gen. Stuart to
delay the Federal movement in the
direction Of Richmond until he Lee)
could meet them with all his forces
and again bar the way to Richmond.
This movement eliminated in the
battle of Spottsylvania, as aforesaid.
on the 18th Of may. Graut Instead
of surprising Lee was himself sur
prisea as we'll as defeated.
After this things remained COM
paratively quiet until the 19 h of
May, when Gen. Lee discovered that
the Federals were moving. Gen
Grant made an effort to seize Han.
over junction, on the North Anna
River, which would have enabled
him to enter Richmond from the
north. But Lee reached the posi-
ton. Gen. Grant then made smother
night march for the purpose of get
ting between Lees army and r oh
mond. In this he failed also. He
made still another attempt and found
the Confederate army drawn up at
Cold Hsrbor to dispute bis advance.
\ During the oampaign Gen. Stuart
was killed and the command of the
Confederate cavalry DEVELOPED upon
Gen. Hampton. Gen. Stuart was