The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-05

was his custom at critical junctures, rode
forward to reconnoiter in person, was
mistaken for the enemy by the 18th N
G. and fell carrying down with him
the fortunes of the Confederacy.
Few Southern historians that have
| seen have adverted to this fatefuI hitch
| in Jackson's masterful plan. Several
| Northern writer's have emphasized it
| especially Lieut.. Col. Hamlin, of the 18th
/ corps, in his history of the Battle OF
charlottesville. 1t was believed that
| there would have been a stern reckoning
had Jackson survived. General Lee does
not mention the matter at all in ~shis
report of the battle. But if given the
cue, one will read carefully the report
of Gen. Rhodes, the division command.
er, and of Brigadier- Generals Ramseur
| Colquitt and of Coils. Loftin and Hutch
| ms, bearing in mind the natural reticence
| OF an officer on subject rejecting upon
| a commaDder-in-arms, he will underst and
why Jackson failed Of, thao complete sue
| cess so justly earned
1t all arose from AN error of General
Coiquitt, commanding Georgia brigade,
the same officer who is said to have
come out second best in a set-to-with
i
that was about the measure of success
Of all from President Davis down who
encountered the eccentric North Caro-
linian at once the Meg Merriles and the
Florence Nightingale of the Conzed-
eracy.
General Colquitt, with four regiments,
had the right-of-way over Ramseur's
brigade of four regiments, Paxton's bril-
gade of five regiments and four regi-
ments of Stuart's horse. Jackson's or
ders were of the most urgent and i'm
perative native. There was to be no de-
lay, no pause in the attack which was to
be hot and impetuous. Approaching to
the full the value Of minutes at a great
crisis like that his constantly repeated
word to all was Forward press
Them Push Right Ahead
Rhodes distinctly says that he ordered
Colquitt that under no circumstances was
there to be any pause in the advance that
General Ramseur would follow him and
look out for the safety of the right flank
But as Colquitt swept forward he en-
countered stubborn Federal picket line
Just at that moment he deserted hand
full of blue horsemen--said to have been
Confederate scouts in Federal uniform
to his right Possessed with the belief
that his right flank was imperiled, disre-
garding the plain order of his superior
Rhodes. to let Ramseur take care of his
flank falling to rise to the occasion ten
dered by fate but once and then but for
brief moment, he halted, changed front
and marched off in quest of the mythical
Federal cavalry He also sent word to
Ramseur that the Federals were pressing
his right flank causing that officer also
to change front. This halted both Pax
ton and the cavalry.
From forty to. sixty minutes were lost.
Towards Teutons used their legs to such
good purpose that they reached shelter
some sort of order was established before
the seventeen regiments so unfortunately
withheld. came up. The result was the
stout resistance that night causing Jack
sons death, the desperate fighting OF the
next morning in which fell nearly 10000
men. the very flower of the Southern
army. and the retreat of Hooker defeat
ed, but not routed.
While Lee made in his report no men
tion of the delinquency his subsequent ac-
tion in regard to Colquitt seems to have
been condemnation of it. Within three
weeks Colquitt was detached from the
army and ordered with his brigade to
Goldsboro, N. c.. There, according to
letter of General Lee to Secretary of War
Seldom, of June 3rd. 1868, .Colquitt seems
to have been employed in the inglorious
task of hunting deserters.
Still as ! would be unfair to no one,
and last of all to Confederate officer,
will add that Colquitt's brigade was
detached and sent to North Carolina at
the request of d. H. Hill, then in COM
mand at Goldsboro, though by General
Lees letter above mentioned. General
Hill was shown as DESTROYS of at once
exchanging it for Ramseur's much weaker
brigade. This exchange General Lee de-
clined to make.
General Colqutt made a grand record
in the Florida campaign of 1864 and else
where. But one of the facts of the. war
that even Southern writer's if they wish
to produce history cannot afford to ignore
or gloze, is the far-reaching error of
judgment of this officer at Chancellors-
Vile, the really decisive battle of the
--..
o. W.BLACKNALL
Kittrell, n. &c.