The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-10-21
WAR STORIES.
Things Related for Truth Of History n ever
Before in Print.
y. W. Anderson, in Atlanta journal.

burg, with $4,000 Confederate prison
ers and the consequent scvcring of the
Conicdcracy in two all coming togcth-
or with the battle Of Gettysburg, were
( the most serious disasters the Confed-
craoy had ever sustained.
shall always believe the gravcst
! mistake the Confederate authorities
ever made was in no. sending General
hougs;tcct with reinforcemcnts (whcn
he wa, recalled from Suffolk to the
AID OF General Jo5cph Il. Johnston
and tie relief Of Pcmbcrton instcad
OF going to Pennsylvania and fighting
the ha,tlc Of Gettysburg.
During the forenoon Of the .hird
| day fighting at Gettysburg, | had
been sent back 10 the headquarters ON
some business, and as was returning
to the front the great artillcr, duel
was opened and the concussion o. the
shells was so great, the earth fairly
tremhled beneath my horse feet as
II an earthquake prevailed. When !
reached point within the range Of
the shells it seemed as if the air was
actually full Of them as some of them
were striking the ground and richo.
chetting, some flying high 10 the air
and some exploding with dcafcpinp
SOUND. 1t was an awful tempest of
iron for any one to face. Soon Gen
cral Pickett started in to make his fa-
nous charge and then the Astorm Of
lead and iron grew worse. The whole
ilrc OF the encmy's line from Big
Round Top to the streets of Get:ys-
burg was concentrated upon the gal
liant 'lrginians as they moved for
ward, but they did not faltcr for sin
gle moment. Finally the line of the
enemy was reached and passed, but
the force in front was too great, and
the Confederatcs fairly melted away
before the terrific fire that was raincd
upon them, aud those who could do SO.
were compelled to retreat. AS rode
upon the field Of carnage Imct Young
boy, not more than 1G years of age,
but Wiz was one of pickctt's men,
comlpG out He was bare headed; his
right foot vas shot off at the ankle; he
was using his gun as orutch and
was "hobbling' as be-. ..c could,
without single groan or murmur.
The shells were falling thick and fast
all around, but the poor boy did not
heed them. 1t seemed cool place,
in fact, to what he had been through
further to the front, and he did not
appear to mind the shclls now. AS I
looked ut him and saw that his right
;oot was gone from the ankle, and the
bloody stub of the leg hanging down,
and he using his gun as crutch, nv
sympathy was so excited in his behalf
that lquickly dismounted a: his side.
telling him TO catch hold of tho horn
OF my saddle and help himself as much
as he could, while l caught him by
his left leg anu in moment had
him seated in my saddle. I led nv
horse and started back to carry him
out of the reach Of the shells. AS I
walked along say she'll coming
directly towards me and it was lust
about as high az my head. I was
paralyzed for the moment and could
not move in any direction, but stood
Still and saw it flying toward me.
When 1t was within ten steps of where
l stood it went down to the ground
and as it did SO it struck rock about
rs large as man head, which caused
1t to change its course slightly as it
rose, and so it passed just in front of
me, and at the height of my breast.
Ieat was one Of the closest calls"
l think | ever had and the whole
scene, the approaching she'll and the
brave and wounded boy using his gun
for crutch, is as vivid in my mind
today as if it had occurred yesterday.
l delivered the poor boy to some Of
his command in the rear, but [ never
saw him after that and don't know
he got we'll or not. I hope
he did, for he was SO brave and man
ly.
During the early part of August,
1864, after General Jubal Early bad
pushed his campaign up to the very |
gates of Washington and then retired |
to Winchester, Va, General R. H. |
Anderson, who had been in command |
of the first army corps since General |
Longstreet was wounded at the battle
of the Wilderness, on the 9Th of May,
was detached from the army, near
Richmond, and sent to tho valley of !
VssCsnso xvskl>