The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-10-16

1
under this impression that wrote you
the short note dated "feid Of battle"
but which l doubt If you ever received.
The next day wore away, however,
with nothing more than heavy cannon.
aiding, and almost constant picket
fighting, but nothing decisive. We
had seen heavy columns Of the enemy
on this side and on the Stafford
Heights, which had not been engaged
at all, and VIC could not see why
Burnside did not renew the attack.
The day, Sunday, wore away, but,
however, in the manner have stated,
and night came. Soon after dark
Willie Ilcl nile and Mr.. Burnam
and other friends, all members of
soldiers church we had organized,
went out, as was the custom in our
camp, few yards to one side and held
9 scc:c: prayer meeting. j viii write
you more about this "church" when I
have time. \ few minutes after we
returned the brigade was Withdrawn
from that position, suppose for the
purpose of enticing the enemy to come
nearer our heavy columns in the rear
We marched back, leaving only
small picket, and slept on the hills
that night, and next morning took
new position supporting some Of our
batteries, threw up brcastwork all
along our brigade line and awaited the
enemy all day (Monday) still he did
not come.
Next morning General Hood rode
along our lines and told us they had
recrossed the river. Our batteries
went out to the banks and shelled
them y while, cliciting an occasion
al sullen reply, and SO ended the chap
ter.
[ have in this account left out many
an incident that would amusc and in
tcrest you, but which it is of course
inpracticablc to write. Now, to sum
up and give you the benefit of my
my spoculations 60 which you attach,
you say, "much importance -
more, no doubt than they are really
worth.
think the enemy had 10000 men
actually engaged; we had 10000, nos
more-I mean actually firing and fight
ing, But our men had incomparably
the advantage in position. That 3d.
900 were more drcadfully repulsed
than any attacking column ever was
on this continent. They were Burn
sides best troops and their defeat
made the others worse and he dared
not attack us. He could not stay
where he was on the river bank, for
there was no wood for miles around
and his men would freeze without
fires. For these reasons he concluded
he had enough of it and wisely with
drew. If he had attacked us along
our whole line on Sunday or Monday
I think we would have ended the war
by destroying his whole army. l
think when you see the northern ac-
count Of affairs you will find my con-.
lectures correct. AS it is, 1 think
this battle has saved Richmond for
the winter. They say Mcclellan was
present and looking on, and if the
truth was. known it would, venture,
appearthat through his prudence and
by his advice Burnside withdrew.
rode over the field and examined it
carefully yesterday. I put down the
enemy's loss OF 12,00G {the mihimum>
killed and wounded; ours at 1000. In
front Of where Cobb's brigade fought
them the slaughter was awful. Head
ly's widest fights applied to that
spot would be no cxaggeration. The
dead lay there as thick as I ever saw
them anywhere, and tho ground was
in places miry and reeking with gore.
Crampton's Gap is avenged. But the
heroic leader of those brave men fell.
Poor Mrs. Cobb. How my heart
bleeds for her. But though I know
our grief is not like hers, yet this,is
not her loss alone. The whole army
and the country mourns with her. He
was one Of Freedom own and fame's
--one of tho few, the immortal names
tbat vere pot horn en- die - Tho chill.