The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-10-05
WAR STORIES.
The Might Attack on Fitzpatrick.
G. NJ. Calhoun, in Columbia State.

halted, to rest the men aud horses,
all dismounting, some sitting down
some lying on the ground holding to
the bride reins Of their respective
horses. Our scouts were then order
ed to enter the enemys camp and To-
cate Gen. Fitzpatrick headquarters
and pick up any stragglers who might
be prowling around and might give the
alarm. Just before daylight, orders
were extended on down the line in
subducd tones: Mount, move for
ward; no smoking or striking of a
match Very soon Fitzpatrick 8
camp was seen not far in our front.
Getting up AZ close Is We could with
out giving any alarm, Gen. Hampton
formed Buffers brigade On the south
he taking position in front and lead
ing same into action; while Gen.
Buffers formed, Young's brigade on
the west, forming with ours right
angle, he leading itin person. Before
the charge was made, Gen. Butler
placed 80 PAGES in his front those
scouts who had entered the camp the
night before, with orders that on the
command, "Charge," they were to
make for Kilpatrick's headquarters
and capture him.
When the charge was made on the
sleeping enemy, Buffers brigade, led
by Gen. Hampton, struck the prison
side of the camp, when we were met
by several hundred of our imprisoned
boys who had broke loose from their
guards on hearing the Grst notes Of
the rebel yell. Right here occurred
the saddest thing of the whole war.
Our boys were unprepared for such
demonstration of Joy on the part Of
their imprisoned comrades, two of
whom in joyful ecstacy, threw their
arms around the necks of two cavalry
mems horses, while they, mistakiug
them for the enemy, shot them down.
Gen. Buffers scouts soon reached
kilpatrick's headquarters, capturing
his aides, horses, etc., but the willy
chieftaip made his escape by throw
ing the boys off his track. Being very
thinly clad, he was hailed and asked i,
"Where is Fitzpatrick" ''There he
goes" said Fitzpatrick, son that
horse" thereby saving his own sweet
person. One of his men, a prisoner,
told lie after running short wav, he
made one of his men give him his horse
with nothing on him but the halter
rein.
Fitzpatrick gives a tolerable good
version of this fight. It being so
tempting to starved soldiers, after
vanquishing the enemy, if not re-.
strained, they would necessarily sat
isfy their hunger in 80 rich camp.
Had not the boys boen allowed to stay
in 80 long, all would have been we'll i,
for up to this time our loss was tri-
ding. Fitzpatrick, seeing or judging
the s.tration, rallied most of his men,
who, with reinforcements, returned to
the conflict, taking US somewhat at q
disadvantage, but nothing like STAN
pede, as with him. All Of our prison
ers were gotten out and he was kept
in check.
This movement, however, was suc-
oessful in many particulars. Kilpat-
rick was thrown back, allowing our
command to follow in the wake Of
1iardee's retreating column, thereby
preventing his weak, footsore and
worn out men from capture, besides
the several hundred prisoners re-
leased and those captured and those
killed and wounded. But in the re-.
bound Nc lost ma15 good men who
had passed through many battles un-
scathed.
Now as to the claim of this Wheeler
man. Why, they, or any part Of
them, were not in or near the camp
when the charge was made and Gen.
Wheeler would not acknowledge to so
false claim. 1t is well known, ex-
cept possibly by this self-constituted
writer of untruthful history. that Gen.
Hampton, on OF: return from Virginia
to Columbia, was made lieutenant
general of cavalry, thereby ranking
Gen. Wheeler, who was subservient to