The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-07-17


the great "civil' war, although fai
70 sec where the "civil' part got in
at
y Confederate soldier who i, no, A
political historian defines history
thus: In gcncraitics, true: in par
ticulars, false
This definition doubtlcs, is not far
from the truth. and at the same time
1T is not the fault "f the historian,
but is the fault Of the participants
in historical events. |, for one, do
Dot propose to criticisc historical mar
rativcs, except to give to the public,
if possible, what | know" about it,.
The Confederate soldier who objects
to any point in history which he
knows is not fair or true should let
such objection be known through the
Journal by giving true version.
If he cant write, get some one who
can to write for him. Every private
Confederate soldier has just as much
right to write history as has the
general or the politician.
These views alone actuatc me in
writing for the Journal. l never did
anything grand or startling as a SOL
dicr, but [ did whole lot Of walking,
talking, starving and looking on, and
In these points feel that l am full
fedged historian.
am proud Of the Confederate SOL
dier, for saw him do SO many grand
and noble things, and it was a great
honor for me to be along and see him
Go them. OF course the Yanhs shot
at me for being along, but fellow
could not be along and see anything Of
account unless he took all his brother
had to take.
Harper's Ferry was captured, it is
true, but its capture was costly one
to kcrshaw's brigade. Kershaw'
brigade Of South Carolina and
Barksdalc's brigade of Mississippi
were sent by General McLaws to cap
ture the heights on the north side of
the Potomac River, and which over
looked the town, which is situated
just opposite and on the south bank
of the river. These heights are known
as Maryland Heights. The ascent
from the base to the top is lccg and
rough. The mountain or ridge was
covered with dense growth of chest
nut and some timber. The surface
was rock-ribbed with boulders and not
at all easy to walk over.
Near the summit the Federals had
cut dom the timber for probably
hundred yards or SO in width and
clear across the crest Of the ridge. In
the edge Of the clearing highest up
the ridge they had constructed breast
works Of the bodies Of the trees, and
built them 80 that in the course of logs
next to the top one there were loop
holes for them to shoot through, so
that they were completely hid from
view or bullets. In the edge of the
clearing farthest down the ridge they
piled up the tops and branches of the
large trees and oil of the small ones,
thus forming solid brush heap along
their entire front.
They had three of these clcarings
and each one prepared for defense as
described. On the crest of the heights
they had battery of heavy guns.
Reaching the foot of the ridge ker-
shaw's brigade was formed across the
center of the ridge and Barksdale's
brigade placed on the Aanks. This
was in the afternoon. Thus formed
tho two brigades advanced up the
mountain.
Pretty soon we encountered the enc
my's pickets. These were forced back
and the Confederate lines pushed
straight ahead till night, when We
slept in line Of battle all night.
At daylight the advance was re-
newed and in short while Kershaw' S
brigade struck the first clearing. The
men could not get through the brush
heap and shoot at the same time very
we'll, so, while getting through and
firing as best they could, they were
subjected to heavy fire from the
Yanks behind the logs. We could
not see Yank to shoot at-saw moth
ing but the smoke of their guns
through the holes in the logs.
When the men at last got into the
clearing the Yanks broke loose and
ran for the next clearing. This was
the case at each clearing. Whep he
brigade had driven the Yanks IRON
the works at the clearing nearest the
top as my regiment had gotten owe,