The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-05-25
BATTLE OF REAMS STATION
j. W. Mattison, lately Of Co. G., Orr's
Rifles, in Abbeville Medium.

j. W. Mattison, lately Of Co. G., Orr's
Rifles, in Abbeville Medium.
In one of your letters from Colum-
bia to the Medium last January, you
quoted what Confederate had said
about captured cannon at Reams
Station, Va, August 25th, 1864.
Reading that sketch vividly brought
up recolleotions Of nearly forty years
ago. have never seen in history any
account Of that fight more than @ pass.
ing notice.
In August, 1864, after Petersburg
was invested by the Federals on the
East and North, repeated attempts
were made to capture and hold the
Weldon railroad, one of the roads the
Confederates used to bring in supplies
to the army.
Sometime in August, 1864, the enc
my succeeded in reaching the Weldon
road, and entrenched themselves al
Ream's Station, few miles south of
Petersburg. This move on the part
of the enemy cut off our source of sup
plies by way Of Weldon. The fight of
August 25th was to retake the road
and open up the line. We were un-
successful, failed to dislodge them
and abandoned the Weldon road to the
enemy, from Stony Greek to Peters
burg, depending on the south side
road for supplies thereafter.
Well do I remember the occurrence
Of the Yankee trsiniug the piece on
his own comrades. McGowan's bri-
gade was in position nearly mile
west of Reem's Station, formed ia
pine thicket., Our gallant Sharpshoot-
ers were thrown out in front 60 drive
in the enemy. They did so in fine
STYLE, Pegram's battery was placed
in our front on rising ground, com.
manding the works Of the enemy.
Orr's Rifles were detached from the
brigade and placed in rear Of the bat
terry as support. Pegram' 8 six field
pieces, and the battalion OF Sharp.
shooters in his front soon had the enc
my under cover, afraid to show them
selves. The Federal battery on the
railroad was soon silenced. The enc
my seemed to be demoralized, and we
soon learned the cause. On our right
and on tae flank of the Yankees, We
heard the well known rebel yell. Soon
the blue coats we're seen running for
lie, General Hampton's troops sweep
ing up the railroad from the direction
of Weldon, doubling the enemy back
on their main force, at Reams Station.
AS Gen. Hampton's forces doubled
them up, Ore Rifles were ordered to
charge the battery on the railroad.
When we reached the battery and rail
road embaukment We found 1uite a /
number of Federals there, ready to
surrender, and glad of the opportuni.
ty. My recollection is that over two
thousand were taken prisoners. Still
the enemy was not driven from the
railroad at Reams Station, the troops
on our left failed to dislodge them and
our troops were withdrawn about
might.
e AT the battery on the railroad was
whore the Confederates turned one of
the captured pieces on the enemy. |
The FIRST shot took out The top Of q,
pine tree two or three bundled yards,
in our front. That was when The GAP.
tured Yankee volunteered to show
them how to use The piece. The ele.
walton was for long range not for
close range, where it was most needed.
Something Of an unusual occurrence
happened during that fight. In rear
Of the fighting line there was quite a
number of stragglers or skulkers, off,
oers and men with guns alsyata SAFE!
distance. -. 4:
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