The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-11-18
WAR STORIES.
The Battle Of Trevilian.
Champion Guardian.)

After the great battle OF Cold liar
Dor Grant ordered Sheridan, command.
ing the Yankee cavalry, to join Hun
ter at Lynchburg, destroying railroads
in his march, and cut OFF Lees neccs
sary supplies from the Shenandoah
Valley.
On .hc 9Th of Junc nc stealthiiy
tried to slip away from Hampton,
crossed the Pamunkey River and was
moving, with 10000 cavalry, in dag
onal direction toward Gordonsvillo.
Hampton's faithful scout informed
him promptly and Gen. Lee ordered
him to head Sheridan off. On the
night Of the 9th orders were issued to
Hampton's and I'itzhugh's Lees di-
visions, 5000 mounted mcn,s prepare
for three days march. None but
Hampton, in command, knew what
was up. At sundown on the 10th
Ha,npton's old division was near Ire
william and Fitzhugh Lees division
was near Louisa Court House. Sher-
man and his corps Of raiders had halt
ed for tho night and their bands and
bugles were heard in northwest di-
Tection. Both sides Of the cavalry
were surprised to learn that they were
confronting each other and Sheridan g
side did not yet know but that Hamp-
son was sixty miles away, operating
around Cold Harbor. At daylight
next morning detachment from But.
ler's brigade, under Col. VIM. Stokes,
Col. Aiken and Capt. Mulligan, NOV
ed upon, struck the enemy and drove
back their advanced lines. Col.
Aiken, of the 9th Regiment, was
wounded, aud Col. Stokes, of the 4th,
wa. put in command. Young's bri-
gade took position on the left and or
ders, "Dismount to fght-aotion left
and action right" had Buffers whole
brigade on the right of Young's just
after sun-up. Hart's battery and one
other was in position and Rosser's 8
Virginia Regiment was held in re-
serve. The Yankee brigades moved
up and severe fighting commenced.
The writer Of this and Sergt. A. r.
Richardson, touching elbows, fired
forty times before we let our rifles
cool. Both Of US were good Calviuists,
but We thought of Hebrews 2: 3; some
small oaks providentially, and before
US, saved us from many 4 Yanko bull
let. It was tho first time we had ever
seen mountains and Richardson re-
mark5lS, "The old Blue Ridge is look
ing dGsn or the scene" Some Of the
boys wondered how we could be 80
cool. The Yankees were reinforced
the fighting is desperate-Kiah Sadler
is killed-Capt. Simmer, commanding
our squadron, walks up and down en-
eourssing the men; not one of us
thought Of giving back an inch, but
orders came, fall back, mount quickly
and move westward.
Fitshugh Lee somehow had not
moved up on our right and Custer's
Yankee brigade had penetrated
through the gap and was completely 10
our rear. A part Of the 9th Regiment
on our extreme right, and all Of our
ambulance corps dead and wounded
were captured. Gen. Hampton or
dered Roaaer to charge Custer, which
vasr done promptly, grandly and sue
esssffily. recapturing everything.
Hampton moves .e~srd the west.
Hart,a battery is duelling with Yam.
kee artillery. The Yankees had the
Gordonvills road. The 9th South
Carolina charged them, out their lines
in two, and We rushed up and took
che road. Sixteen pieces of artillery
poured shells upon Us. A Regiment,
of Confederate horses, whose riders
were dismounted to fight, took fright
and stampeded with the noise Of rum.
bling thunder by US. The Yankees
tried to capture one Of our batteries.
General Hampton dashed up to ours,
the 5th Regiment, and ordered in stem.
toriau tones, "Dismount and protect
that battery" Instantly we were
meeting the party. Our nerves were
as iron and with vim We beat them
Back. Capt. Simmer called the atten-
tion of myself and Wiley Thomas to
sharpshooter in tree picking of our
men. We paid him our best attention
for that occasion and saw him hurry
down. Both sides now concentrate
for pitch battle, while each waits
for the other to charge. Our twelve
pieces Of artillery and Sheridan's
awenty-four, lose no time at Smelling.