Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-10

Editor Journal:
notice IN a recent issue Of your paper
an article under the caption. This the
Bravest Man Roosevelt Ever Saw" It
refers to Major Micah Jenkins. son Of the
late General Micah jenkins. commander
OF a brigade OF South Carolina infantry
| In Longstreet's FIRST army corps. The
article reads. KILLED in the Battle OF Get
tysburg BY the Same volley that Wound
| ed General Longstreet." ] want 20 cor
rect that mistake. General Jenkins was
not In the battle OF Gettysburg, as ne
had been. much against his wishes. as
signed 20 the Department OF North car
DINA prior 10 General Lees memorable
advance into Pennsylvania Nor was
| I.ongstreet wounded at Gettysburg. but
/ IN the battle OF the wilderness on the
morning OF the eth Of May, 1864. General
Jenkins was killed BY the same volley tnat
! wounded General Longstreet. The cur
cumstances connected with the oeath Oh
/ that very distinguished ofneer were as
follows: All day the 5th and until about
10 a m. the eth, General A p. Hills corps
had been contending against vastly SUI
Derior numbers Of federal troops. On the
fatal morning OF the 9Th Hancock mad
advanced his corps on HIS position ana
forced the latter almost back 70 his arth-
Iery lire badly broken and worn GUY Sy
incessant lighting. Disaster 20 the ConIeo-
crate army seemed assured. General Lee
was with the artillery and directing the
reformation OF the broken lines. he
had sent for HIS old war horse OLone-
street, and was anxiously waiting ms
comIng-always reliable and on hand at
the right moment, he is seen coming down
the Orange plank road, his magnificent
men on the double-auick, resistless as the
ocean tide! Gregg's Texans are depioy-
"A into line and Immediately advance with
that never TO be forgotten YELL The I'm,
mortal Lee springs TO the front TO leao
them: they halt. He must go oaek OF
their viii be no no advance OF IeAai 49,. -
hronzed-faced demon OF the battle front
gently takes the bride rein and turns the
head OF his charger. Lee sorroWtuhy
rfdes over TO I.ongstreet; on goes the Tex
ans Loud roar the cannon with shotteo
breath, and more awful the yeiis OF Dateie
demons The Texans strike HANCOCK
exultant advance; the shock Is tremeno-
ans. neither line recoils; but the tangled
forests tremble and the tangled-nalfeu
Texans and the blue veterans OF Hancock
settle themselves down 60 the -cience OF
butchering one another. The slaughter
on both sides is awful. Bennihs anu o
Laws brigades come TO the AID OF Gress
ana take a hand in the work that Is on
with a veil the whole lire charges. Inc
Federal line Is forced back, but Wads-
worth comes 70 the aid Of Hancock; the
tide OF battle ebbs and flows. Wadsworth
Il killed: I,ongstreet strikes the Federal
left flank: rolls Il up in confused mass
toward the plank and back on the BLOCK
road. Everything now indicated COM
nIeta victory for the Confederates. Gen
eral I,ongstreet rode forward TO prepare
and take advantage Of the opportunity 10
fnf3fct a decisive blow on Grants army.
with that end In view Jenkins fresh brig
ade Is moved forward to the plank road.
Supplemented by Kershaw's brigade.
g. 40 70 ~
connofter the situation, accompanied by
General Jenkins. Mahone's men seeing
movement in their front and the indis-
tinct view obtained owing to the density
OF the forest mistook them for the enemy
and fred killing the Gallant Jenkins and
wounding Longstreet. most lamentaOie
mistake.
As Federal soldier know that IL will
not be expected of me within the scope Of
an article intended for the close call de-
partment. 70 write biographical sketch
o. so distinguished an officer as General
Micah jenkins. were ! fitted for the work,
which am not. Yet the temptation Is so
great 10 say something more, that 1 ven
ture a brief retrospective view OF that he
ro's war record, and under my own OBJ
servation as colonel OF the regiment des-
ignated the Palmetto Sharp Shooters or
South Carolina, we Joined him at the bat
tie OF Manassas or Bull Run, as the Fed
erals have IL. In the hottest part Of that
field. near the Henry house and down the
slope, where so many Of the Hampton Lee
gfon fen and where valiant deeds and good
geperaiship crowned the young Confeder-
acy with victory and everlasting fame. To
Beauregard. Jackson, Bee Barlow ana
Kirby smith, the latter a citizen of Con-
recticut under General Magruder' we
nnd the gallant Colonel Jenkins within
the defenses OF Yorktown.
After the evacuation OF that stronghold
Jenkins regiment with others, covered
the retreat and facing about at Williams
burgh met the overwhelming advance Of
the enemy. inhicting terrible loss in his
ranks and checking his advance until the
Confederate army and subsistence trains
are at a safe distance and proper line OF
defense established. At West Point and
other places his regiment had fought the
hard battle OF the rearguard until the
army was safe on the south side OF the
chickahomfnie river. his regiment having
suffered untold hardships and severe
losses in men and officers. for which he re-
ceived just recognition for his gallant and
meritorious conduct IN face Of an over
whelming enemy.
Next we find him at the battle Of Seven
Pines, or Fair Oaks, with his gallant reg
iment and one other driving before him
whole Federal division, gaining good po-
sition, held the battle field and inhicting
a loss on the enemy about equal TO the
number of men in his regiment, only aban-
doning his position when the army was
withdrawn 10 the former defences of
Richmond. in the dark hours of the Con-
federacy which followed the battle Of
/ Seven Pines. when Johnston's vague plans
and operations puzzled and confused the
president.
A new star appeared on the Confederate
horizon. It illuminated the whole Amert-
can continent. It's refulgent rays pene-
trated the remotest bounds Of the Old
World. That magnificent and glowing orb
pcrsonifed in the wonderful Robert z.
Lee gave new life to the Confederacy.
vigor and swtftness Of movement. Plans
were speedily contaminated; hostile guns
must not cover the capital; the siege must
be raised. the enemy beaten TO cover.
Jackson in the valley receives a message.
his foot cavalry are put In motion. He
beats Banks and Shields down the valley
as with a fail. CONSERVATION Is In their
path. One takes refuge in Harpers Fer
~; the other across the Potomac. The
great fiailer returns and brushes Fremont
out Of his path, drops back few foot-sore
Spartans as pickets for Fremont 10 cape
al until his (Jackson's) return. Lee crosses
the Chickahominie at Meadow Ridge and
drives the enemy TO fits common center
/ about Grapevine Bridge and Voodhurv