The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-01-16


papers and for few moments he sat
quietly; his head inclined slightly and
his expression changing quickly as his
mind reverted to the stirring incidents
in history in which he played so
large part.
In an instant his keen eyes and
commanding features assumed the cx-
preston of a soldier and one could
almost see him on his horse, the ex-
citement of war before him and the
prospect of immediate smoke and
plenty of it.
Then he smiled and said:
"Wcll, well, you want story Of the
war? l saw many moments during
that four years when it looked as if my
time had come, but possibly the mar
rowcst escape ever experienced was
one spring evening shortly before the
close Of the war.
"It was on the 9th of May, 1864, a
day which will probably never be for
gotten by many soldiers both in the
Union and Confedera tc armies.
"Shortly before dark my command
had assailcd the right flank Of Grant
army, scattering it into confused de-
tachmcnts and literally destroying
Scdgcwicks corps. Every command
on our front, as my troops swept down
the line, was thrown into the widest
disorder and when night hovcrcd over
the two great armies the ranks of the
enemy we're tangled into an almost
helpless condition.
"The darkness gre" deeper and
blacker and tie smoke Of battle aided
by the shadows of night made it utter
ly impossible for my command to do
more than gropo its way through the
heavy underbush of the wilderness,
where che engagement had occurred.
II saw that it would be necessary
to halt for the night and I accordingly
ordered one Of my brigades to cover
our front as skirmish and picket line
until morning and instructed them to
report to me its position at the carli-
est moment.
''The inky blackncss rendered more
gloomy by the dense shade Of the for
est greatly impsded the progress of
the brigade, and while they endcavor
ed to get into position I began to grow
uneasy. Time passed and heard
nothing from them. My anxiety in
creased each moment and finally real
izing the danger of delay and restive
undo. the suspense, I decided to per-
soHsiiy look into the cause Of the de-
lay.
II took with me only ono courier,
William Beasley, who had enlisted
from LaGranze.
Silently and cautiously We began
our ride toward the front. Neither Of
US spoke. Even the horses seemed to
realize that much depended upon them
and they walked almost noiselessly
over the soft earth, avoiding every
tree and limb.
Suddenly without any premonition
we found ourselves in the midst Of
large body Of troops without align
ment or definite formation, which 1
believed to be my own brigade.
"Not for moment did I realize
that ! had missed the position Of my
own command and ridden into the very
midst Of the blue coats.
Satisfied that I wSs among my own
men ana desiring to know how the Of
ficer in charge had gotten the troops
into such tangled condition, eau
toned 3easley to make no remark
which would indicate ny identity.
"There was only the faintes. twin
kle Of star in the heavens and &C.
cordingly the color of their uniforms
was not distinguished to my eyes.
"For several moments we stood, un.
decidedly, hardly knowing what course
to pursue when Beasley, who had rid.
den close by my side, leaned over to
me aud said in whisper:
General, these are not our men;
they are Yankees"
Hugh, Bcasley," replied.
NThat is nonsense. How could we
miss the brigade, which, according to
my order, should be here, and get
among the enemy's lines?"
A moment more We stood, and then
Beasiey seized me earnestly by tie arm
and said:
General, I tell you, sir. these are
Yankees. have just been looking at
their coats and then at yours. I can
plainly see that theirs are blue.