The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-08-12

battlc when Grant moved forward at
dsybreak on the 9th and it was driven
back in great confu,io except Nc
Gowan's Brigade which had been
formed III line jus. as Grants move
ment began. We had not gone back
more than quarter Of mile when
the Texas Brigade came into position
on the left Of the plank road. They
were as steady as the Old Guard or
the Tenth Legion, and every man Of
Hill 8 Corps knew that the tide would
turn and they stopped their retrograde
movement and formed line right there.
Every man Of the Army of Northern
Virginia who survives knows that the
Texas Brigade was never SO hard
pressed that anybody was needed to
lead it III fight.
We do not say that this thcatrica al
exhibition did not take place, but We
affirm that there was no necessity for
Gen. Lee to lead the Texans or my of
Longstreet's Corps when they came
upon the field that morning or at any
time during that battle.
The battle of Spottsylvania was
fought on the 18th of May, 1864, just
six days after the Wilderness, and a
similar story is told about hat day but
this time it was not the Texans that
Gen. Lee offered to lead but the Geor-
gians and the 'irgiuians. The other
doy newspaper correspondent gave
graphic description of the incident.
Gen. Gordon was the great man on
that occasion. He is described as
gallopiny around on "his foam covered
charger. 1t il said that with both
rowcls pressed co his horses flank
Gen. Gordon with Que great bound
took Gen. Lees horse Traveller by the
bride, turned him around requesting
Gen Lee to 20 to the rear and take
care of himself.
We heard nothing Of this story till
years after the war but upon investi.
CATION we ind that it appeared just
after the war in book styled Lee
and His Lieutcnants," written by.
Edward A. Pollard, of Riohniald va.
lie was a newspaper man and p
the story in good shape, WeAdon
see how it could be known that Cor
don s horse was covered with foam.
when it was raining in torrents that
morning. Gordon troops must have
been 10 great panic if Gen. Lee thought
that Gordon himself was not able to
get them up to the scratch. If they
were standing up to their duty as they
usually did We can't see why General
Lee thought his presence was neccs.
sary to get them TO move forward.
We will conclude this article by
narratiDg au incident Of that great
battle.
Early that morning Gen. Hancock
assaulted our line at point held by
Gen. Edward johnson and his divis-
ion. He captured johnson and his
men and lot Of artillery. That par.
ticular part of the line was called the
Horseshoe bend aud it was neces
sary for it to be retaken and held till
the line could be rectiied. Gen. Lee
selected one brigade -rcl each corps
to do the work. Harris Mississippi
Brigade and Perrin's Alabama Bri-
gade went in first but Gen. Lae did
not tbink it necessary to plac. him.
self at their head to get them to do the
important work they were called upon
to perform. Harris stayed with his
men. Perrin fell dead 40 he reached
the point where he was ordered to 90.
AT that time McGowan's Brigade was
in the front line, mile and quarter
away, ready to hold back tbe line Of
the enemy which was advancing on
that position. Gen. Lee rode up and
ordered the brigade out of position,
filing the place vacated with other
troops. Then it was made known to
us that we were 50 take our place in
ths Bloody Augle and to hold it at all
hazards. Gen. Lee sat on his horse
near large brick kiln as we passed
by. He showed no nervous excite
ment but looked with admiration upon
Us. He n,ade no offer 10 lead us for