Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-03


OF June g. 1854. made the following state
ment: 'sThe Federals were in a manner
successful in their assault on the posi-
ton OF Breckenridge, some half mile
TO our right, near what is known as Tur-
key Ridge. With his division occupy
ing a summit on open ground he was as
sailed I'm heavy force. his mountaineers,
like the noble red men, being used 70
nothing larger than squirrel rihe, could
not stand the racket Of big and little
guns with canister. so they, too, made a
run for the rear"
This is an error, or, 1 should say, the
general statement contains many errors
He says OF that body Of men that they
were used TO nothing larger than
squirrel rife" On the contrary II had
in IL men whose flag wore the symbol
OF crossed bayonets, and who, on the
preceding month and 18th day. with only
$500 men. fought and won one of the
most thrilling battles of the war. Al
New Market, In the valley of Virginia,
in open field combat, they advanced in
orderly line Of battle for two miles,
under fire, with a steadiness that elic-
tied from an English officer, who was
an eyewitness and participant on the
other side, one of the most beautiful
tributes ever paid TO southern gallantry,
and many have been paid and many have
been deserved: and assailed a large d.
made Of fence rails and other things,
and supported by another strong division
not far In the rear. and put Sigels whole
command to rout, killing, wOunding and
capturing many men and taking six
pieces Of artillery. This victory won by
so small force from so large an army,
stands as an impeTishable monument to
the cool, intelligent courage of the
southern soldier. Again: These same
men, August ed, 1864, fought another
battle not far below this same New
Market. I quote from General J. A.
Early: After the enemy's sxirmishers
were driven in, ii was discovered that
his left flank, extending through Kerns-
town. was exposed, and General Brock
inridge was ordered to move Echols' d.
vision now under Brigadier General
Wharton (Breckinrldge's old division) un-
der cover OF some ravines on our right
and attack that flank. This movement,
which was made under General Brock
inridge's personal superintendent, was
handsomely executed, and the attacking
division struck the enemy's left flank in
open ground, doubling IL no and throw
ing his whole line into great confusion"
All the artillery the enemy had was
turned on US. and a brigade Of cavalry
was hurled at us. Through streams of
water. over rock fences, against infantry.
artillery and cavalry. across the valley
from end TO end of the enemy's line,
dashed forward and onward these same
mountaineers, cheering, charging, reor-
ganizing. firing all the time, and never
hating 10 rest until there was no or
ganized enemy I'm sight
Once more: On October 1e. 1864, this same
division. now fought to the FRAGILE OF
loo men. might have been seen making
fits last charge. The Sixth corps, the best
troops in the northern army, had been
thrown across the path OF the victorious
Confederates, about three and half miles
In the rear OF the enemys breastworks,
at Cedar creek, and Wharton's flock Of
kids" assailed that whole corps, charging
up 70 the feet OF the foe and alas! dying
there. OF course the order was a mistake
and some one had blundered," but II was
mot theirs TO ask the reason why" yet
eft was theirs to do and die" and there
lives yet an old soldier whose heart was
broken that day. About 800 men returned
from the charge. and how any OF them
escaped Is a wonder. From many a vale
and mountain Of the Old Dominion a great
lamentation went up that day. Rachel
weeping for her children, and would not
be comforted. for they are not" These
are examples taken from the records made
by the division that Mr.. SILVER criticised
so severely, and show whether or not
those men were not used to battle.
2 He says that Breckinridge's men
tie guns and ran away.
In reply call his attention to the fact
that he was a half mile away. This In
valldates his testimony. for he could not
see Us from that direction or from half
that distance.
Now as TO the facts. 1. The writer was
there and knows what he says. 2 Only
Echols' brigade Of that division was with
Lees army. g. Our line was so run as to
al n nit ha
est the woods where the enemy massed
his force CHancOck's CORPSE 4. Our line
had only one man to each three feet and
that only between cannOns, which took up
room. 5. Our regimental officers, upon
learning that we were likely to be at
tackled next morning, reported to our bril-
gade commander the exposed and weak
condition Of our line and sent Lieut.. Boul-
din to report to General Breckenridge.
After some effort in the rainy dark night
TO find General B., he gave up the effort
and returned. I heard him tell this, a
few days later, and felt that he ought to
have been shot, because his failure came
near being disastrous to Lees army and
caused our. brigade great loss. 6. Before
daylight had fully come Hancock's corps
rushed from the woods upon us and over
US. Never a man ran. On the contrary,
the infantry and artillery fought their
guns, big and little. to the utmost Of their
power The Twenty-sixth Virginia bat
talon covered the vortex Of the angle and
her flag was very close to that point. II.
D. Craig, a brother of the late Rev. ]. n.
Craig, DID, of Atlanta, was shot while
standing on the breastwork encouraging
the men. All know that our line could
not hold out against such hosts Of the
enemy as was converging US, but the
chance to kill Yankees was fine. Chap.
Woodram, our flag bearer, emptied his re-
volver into the oncoming mass, having his
flag standing on the earthwork in front.
He said. They are going to overrun US,
but they cannot take this flag dntn they
have killed me-" He furled the flag in
part and then sent it's spear through a
Yankee. Withdrawing it he was about to
send II through another when he fell dead.
c. B. Humphreys. a color-guard, seized
the flag, intending to finish Woodlands
purpose, when four Yankees seized him
and after a tremendous scufiie tore the
flag from his hand.
He stood and watched the enemy passing
Il from man to man. until II went out OF
sight He picked his gun. slipped on
cap Che had just finished putting in the
load when Woodram field, and shot
man who was bayOneting comrade. The
enemy disarmsd him and those about him,
and ordered them to the rear. They bay
oneted also Col. George NJ. Egar. who
fought with his sword as long as he
could AS our fellows were starting to
the rear Finnegan's men came like the
wind and cleared the angle. c. B. Hum
phreys fell as II shot, and when the last