The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-06-19
WAR STORIES.
A Hdnt0 Jonrnnl.

Of Lee s army, and on this part of tho
line the fighting was continuous and
bloody from early morn till night.
read in history that General Lee
instructed General Jackson to turn
the Federal right if possible, and this
fact accounts for what l am about to
relate.
After the hard fighting of the 18th
OF September Mciaw's division was
IN the extreme left Of the line Of in
fantry, and was on the picket line
on the 18th, and was at the same time
the extreme left picket Oh the line.
Next TO my position that day came
Stc"ar.'s cavalry line of outposts, but
some distance from where was. |
had my post in the edge Of the woods
on the outside of fence corner. One
side Of the fence extended about par
allcl with our line Of battle and lay in
the direction Of the river; the other
side in front and to my right extended
straight toward the Yankee lines
Both sides of the fence were Just out
side the woods.
The cerner of the fence whcrc I was
stationed was the highest point any
where around, and in front Of me and
to my left had plain view Of the
Yankee army, and saw them during
that day, apparently busy burying
their dead officers, for could see am
balances moving about followed by
soldiers with their guns reversed.
AS well as remember, about 8
o'clock in the morning my attention
was attracted to the noise Of cavalry
in motion in my rear. Turning around,
saw squad Of mounted men coming
straight toward my position. When
che squad got about so yards from me
they halted, except one man, who rode
on straight to where / was standing.
He halted just in the edge Of the
timber. apparently to escape being OBJ
served by the enemy.
then noted that it was Stoncwall
Jackson. lie had piece of white
paper, about the size Of common note
paper, IN his left hand. lie would
consult the paper few minutes, and
then look over the position Of the
enemy. Then he would look straight
at me, and appeared to be in deep
study. He remained there for somo
aittle time, engaged in consulting
whatever he had on the paper, looking
over the Yankee lines and then at me.
wondered what he had in mind,
but history states that he was simply
studying the Yankee lines to see if
they could be turned at that point.
He declined to make The attompt, and
saw enough that day to see that he
acted wisely, for there was no way to
conceal flank movement, as We would
have to maneuver in an open country
in our front, and then expose our
plans and our numbers, and the latter
1t was to our vital interest to keep
secret.
I exchanged no shots with the Fed
eral piekets that day, nor did they
make any hostile demonstrations.
About midnight our picket line was
relieved, or rather withdrawn, and un-
der orders we took the caps off our
guns and silently formed as rear
guard to the army, and when day came
we were on the south side of the Po-
tomac.
Ifcll asleep that night On hayrick
by the side of the road, while we were
halted on account of some obstruction
ahead Of US. I was tired aud sleepy, as
had had no rest for three days and
nights. We marched al night on the
10th, or, at least, did, as I was on
detail to get food out of the stores
captured at Harpcr's Ferry. sat up
all night of the 18th, talking to the
Yankee wounded, who lay all about us
that night, and then on picket the
night Of the 18th.
When l awokc l found that l was
alone. l realized my position, and l
lit out for the river. ran, and no
joke. made it and got safely across
the river.
The thing that remember above all
others, not excepting my flight, is the
figure of Jacks' when he sat on his
horse at my picket post that morning.
When he fell at Chancellorsville
told the boys that the prayers Of the
army had left US. loved Lee; but
jackson, to my mind, was the fighter
incarnae Of Lees army. From that
day to the end We said in our hearts,
eff we only had Jackaon!'
w. A. JOHNSON,
q