The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-06-05

0Deep gloom had settled upon the
Confederate banner in July, 1863, for
then Vick,ourg had fallen and the
terrible battle Of Gettysburg had been
fought. These disasters we're not
enough, but Confederate energy seem
ed paralyzing 30 far as the army under
General Bragg was concerned, for the
United States forces under Rosecrans
had by force Of number and superb
military equipment driven the army
OF the west through Chattanooga into
North Georgia. The idea was seized
upon by the military authorities at
Richmand to reinforce the depleted
columns under Bragg by two divisions
of Longstreet 8 corps to be command
ed by tina old war horse, General J.
b. Hood. So hurried were the move
ments of the reinforcing columns that
Lcngstreet could not have his artillery
to reach the hattlefiela &C Ch:oaaa1nau-
ga, but the two divisions under No
DAVIS and Hood were assigned to the
command of the left wing Of General
Bragg's army.
On the day Of the Goth Of Septem-
Der, 1865. TWO giauts in warfare Crap
pied from right to left from sunrise
to sunset. The Yankee left was COM
manded by that superb soldier, Gen
eral George II. Thomas, and to dis
lodge that force General Bragg order
ed every effort to be made, but Thomas
held his ground too firmly to yield the
field there The old war horse, Long
street, pressed the Yankee right and
center with his troops and some of the
Yankees under Gordon, Granger and
Wood, and by the use OF twelve or
twenty pieces Of artillery at an angle
the left wing Of the Yankee army
under Thomas gave way. This left
the entire field In the possession Of the
Confederates
It is a glorious reflection that the
valor of South Carolina troops under
Kershaw on the left and Manigaule on
the right contributed 80 largely to
this magnificent victory, aud it is q
matter of history that the South Car
olina troops, through Kershaws brig
ade, made the 'farthess advance on
Snodgrass Hill.
There was not bloodier fought
battle in the whole war, when you
take in consideration the number Of
troops engaged and the time of actual
combat. Official reports show that
the killed wounded and missing were
over thirty-three per cent, Of all the
troops actually engaged. On the
union side the loss in this battle Of a
number Of regiments was fifty per
cent Of the men engaged, and the
same loss was sustained by the troops
on the other side, aud General Long
street in his history says that his COM
mand lost in two hours nearly forty
four per cent Of its strength. "The
charge OF the light brigade at Balakla.
VA has been, made famous in song and
histery,yet shere were thirty union
/ regiments that each lost ten per cent
more men a. Chickamauga aud many
Confederate regiments whose mortal
ity exceeded this
Onthes night of this day it was that
| Gen. eckihridge in answering the
call of'the South Carolina troops said:
HI willnot say to whom the credit is
dne, but this is the first occasion
upon which I have been allowed to
sleep with my troops on battlefield
| which he's been fairly and thoroughly
Won 5S Il was Of this battle also
that Chas. A. Banna. assistant sec
retary Of war, on the field himself,
sent to his government this dispatch:
."We have this day met second Bull
! Run"
Itis, my countrymen, to such men
as these who barred their breasts on
many battlefield to the belching
Grs aud lead Of the enemy that we
come to dedicate this monument. It
is privilege which we enjoy to have
such heritage as they have left US.
8 GEA,yv