The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-08-14

o4"uou w oouv OF EccSS On top CT
tue mill, distance Of more than 100
yards. The west side hill. rose from
che branch at an angle Of about As
degrees aud was very short. When
the Texans, Georgians and South Car
olinians reached the crest Of this hill
they we're within less than stones
throw Of the Zouaves' ranks in line of
battle at the foot Of the hill. There
laid the first Of them that paid the
penalty of invasion. Thirty yards up
the hill was line of dead, and as
straight as il they had been placed
there by hand
There were three of these lines be-
tween the branch and the woods, and
they bore testimony to the discipline
and courage cs Duryea's zouaves.
They must have made determined
stand at each place, as the dead were
so close together that could walk to
and fro without touching the ground.
And between these lines numbers had
fallen as they fell back.
Seen from distance these dead
men, with red trousers reminded me
OF Marks description in his gospel of
the 5000 Jews dressed in their bright
hued Oriental garments reclining on
the grassy hillside to be miraculously
fed. They looked like garden beds of
flowers.
In the woods just beyond was de-
tail Of Confederates burying our dead.
They had dug trench about six by
thirty feet to inter our brave, ragged
boys. 1t was scene to move the
fountain Of the heart and moisten the
cheeks. They had gone into battle,
living in elbow touch, and now lay
close together in the elbow touch of
death.
Near here Colonel j. M. Gadberry
fell. What splendid specimen Of
manhood gave.up his life here for the
cause he loved. Over six feet high,
we'll proport;oned, straight as an ar
row, handsome, commanding in ap-
pearance. His was an all-round char
acter. He was a good citizen and
lawyer, true patriot and brave SOL
dier. When young man he raised
company for the Mexican war, but
was too late to get it in the Palmetto
regiment, which he had the honor to
name. He was o member Of the Sc
cession committee and when the ordi-
nance of secession was passed he hast
ened home and went with his company
to Charleston and joined Colonel
Gregg's First South Carolina regiment.
This was six-months' command.
After Sumter fell he went to Virginia
and served out its unexpired term.
While in camp at Fairfax Court
house Colonel Gregg surprised Gen
eral Schenck's troops at Vienna,
stampeded them, having killed and
wounded 1T, according to the news
paper reports at that time, and re-
turned to camp without losing drop
Of southern blood.
Our time was nov up and we re-
turned home. Our little experience
in service caused US to hustle for off,
ces in the commands then in process Of
organizing. Colonel Gregg raised an
other regiment, and Captain Gadberry
was elected colonel Of the Eighteenth
South Carolina regiment.
Three of our colonels in Longstreet's
corps died IL this battle slose together,
and three close together in jackson
corps.
Sergeant Young, very intelligent
member Ct the company, was on the
left Of the pike, where we put in our
best work, and was asked by two staff
officers who had looked over the battle
ground if he belonged to the battery
that did that work over there. One
of them said he witnessed it, and that
he never saw such shooting. Every
shot hit its mark. Hitting the mark
was not due so much to scientific
shooting as it was to the immense
numbers there to hit.
| I saw great many dead Federals
on the battlefield. The sight did not
cause any feeling to go out through
the eyes. My only regretwas that all
who met us there were not just as
those werc-dead.
However, do not now wish any of
the living harm. and would not harm
them if could. But I am not yet
reconstructed enough to palaver or
slobber over them.
Union, S. C.