The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-09-04
WAR STORIES.
Gen. 'Tige' Anderson's Brigade at Sharps-
burg.
W. II. Andycws, IN ATLANTA ./ournu/.
burg.


II 600 prisoners, $1,000 stands of
small arms and 20 cannon, besides 9
large amount Of army supplies. His
command was placed vn the left Of ID.
II. Hill, with the exception of A. =.
Hills division, which was left at
iiarpcrs Ferry to parole the prison
ers. Late in the evening Tie Fedcr-
ais having crossed Auiician Creek
above, attacked Jackson s forces aud
a battle Of several hours cnsucd.
About sundown COW was feeding in
front Of Anderson's brigade. The
general ordered her killed aud given to
the men. | received about one fourth
Of pound, and after heating it over
the Goals ate it without any salt or
bread.
On the morning Of the 18th as soon
as the pickets could see each other,
the firing commenced, and by sunrise
was general engagement along the
greater portion of the line. Tige An
dcrson's brigade was ordered to the
left to Jackson s support. We moved
out by the left flank to the corner of
che town, whore We filed TO the left at
an angle Of about fifty degrees, pass
ing between the town on our left and
corn6cld on the right, where the ar
til!ery was making fuss enough through
the corn to hav" been shooting trace
chains.
In the bottom we passed over lot
Of wounded Confcdcrates who asked
what command, then cheered us as
we -assed. We were ordered to un-
sling knapsacks. After going about
one mile we were ordered by the right
flank in line Of battle and advanced on
piece of woods. When we were
within 200 yards the Federal sharp
shooters opened on us and our sharp
shooters were ordered to the front. I
saw Fsderal officer shot down as our
men entered the woods and he had
not quit kicking before his boots wee
being pulled off. On reaching the
woods we were ordered &c rall down
the fence, placing the rails endwise in
pile to lie down behind for protec-
tion from the enemy. While Corpo-
raj DAILY, Of Go. L, and myself wore
peeping over the rails mimic ball
struck the top one between our heads.
1t would be needless to say that we
lowered them few inches. 1t was
heavy timbered pieoo Of woods with
no& enough uGdo:gvo.yet 10 obstvuot
our view.
The Federals were in line OF battle
beyond the ridge and not visible from
our position.
A regiment ol the right OF ous orr
gade marched in by the right flank
and as their heads showed over the
ridge the Federals fred on them. The
order was given to change front FOR.
ward on first company right in front,
which order was executed on the dou-
blequick and the fight opened in ear
nest. In the meantime General Ker-
shaw's South Carolina brigade march
ed up within 20 feet Of our line and
halted for a few moments. Agein
the command was given, forward, and
they marched over our line. As they
stepped over US, General Kershaw
asked what command, and when told
Anderson's Georgia brigade, called
for three cheers for the Georgians
which the Palmetto boys re with q
vim.
We watched and admired them as
they moved into action without bob
bic or tremor in the line. AS their
heads showed over the ridge the Fed.
erals, opened fire, but the boys moved
steadily on until they reached the top
when every man fred at the same
time.
If had not been q Georgian
should have wanted to be one of the
Palmetto boys. There is nothing on
this green earth half 80 grand as to
see the boys moving into action. A
cavalry charge is superb; artillery
dashing on the field carries you away,
while the deadly infantry moving into
the jaws of death causes you to hold
your breath in admiration. General
Anderson ordered his men by the left
flank doublequick, and with arms at
the right shoulder shift we moved
rapidly down inside the fence. When
the head OF the column passed Ker-
shaw's left the Federal line opened
fire and the brigade caught it until we
made our distance to the left. Il has
been nearly 80 years ago since that
memorable day, but in memory can