The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-22
"CEN. LEE
TO The real"
General John B. Gordon's Story
OF a Thrilling Incident at the
Battle OF Spotsylvania.
is DECEIVED BY VETERANS
Story Originally Appeared i'll
John Esten Cooks Life OF
General Lee.
,i,or ~ the Tipocs-pIspatch:

Editor of the Tmcs-Dispatch:
Sir,-In Gen. Gordons War Reminis-
cences there occurs the following passage
in description of the Spotsylvanla Dattle
OF, the 18th of May, 1864, after the Con-
federate line had been broken: then
placed my troops in limo for counter
charge upon the success or failure or
which the fate of the Confederate army
1ecmed to hang. Gen. Lee evidently
Thought so Calmly and
prandly he rode to a point near the
!. Centre of nv line and turned his horses
head to the front, evidently resolved to
lead In person the desperate charge ana
drive Hancock back or perish III the at
Il tempt ! knew what he meant, ana al
though the passing moments were, OF
priceless value. and | resolved TO arrest
him in tho effort and mus save TO me
Confederacy the life of its great lea6er.
Instantly spurred my horse across old
Travellers front and graspinE his bride
In nv hand i checked him. called out
Gen. Lee you shall not lead my men
In charge. No man can do that sir.
Another is here for that purpose !
shouted to Gen. Lee, You must go to
rear, l1'he echo Lee to the rear rolled
back with tremendous emphasis from
the throats of the men. They gathered
around him, turned his horse in the OPP.
positc direction" etc. This entire scene
was powerful factor In the rescue OF
Lees army = Fully realizing the
value OF such inspiration for the accom-
plishment of the bloody task assigned
tt,y yt,Jr er,r.,-. ',t,,tet mi tla
upon Hancock's advancing columns. With
their terrific onset his leading lines were
shivered and hurled back on their stall
wart supports, onward they swept pour
ing their Volleys into Hancock confused
ranks. Like The debris III the track Of
the storm the dead and dying of both
armies We're left in the wake Of the
Confederate charge
In the main this account is n curious
echc OF Il perversion. of the history Uf
a memorable combat, that was first pub
lished In the contemporary correSpol-
dence of a Richmond paper. Appearing
more conspiciously in Jno Esten Cookies
life OF Gen. Lee it elected the following
correspondence: j
vicksburg Miss, August 81, 1871.
Col, Chas S. VeHable University Of
Virginia, Charleston, Va.
Dear Sir:-I am about to trespass upon
your kind attention IN a matter, which
may seem at first entirely personal but
the contrary will appear to you. after
full and complete statement OF my oh
ject and wishes
You will recollect, Colonel that on the
morning of the. 18th of May, 1864, my
brigade, (AIiss.ssippi1 having double-
qnicked from the left Of our lines. was
halted on the Court House road, near
! SpotsylVania Court House. That after
"a halt at this point Of half hour, Gen.
| Lee in person ordered the brigade. Il be-
/ Ing at the right of the brigade) to an
attention. put 1t on the march. left In
front. and himself at the head, moved
in the direction of the salient from which
the troops of Gen. Ed Johnson had beer
driven; that moving al the quick step,
we were soon under heavy artillery
fire from the batteries of the enemy IN
front and to our right; that whilst thus
advancing, Gen. Lee. yourself. myself
and staff al the head Of the brigade, a
twelve pound (richocheD shot passed just
IN front OF Gen. Lee, so near as to excite
his horse very much, causing him to
rear and plunge in such a manner as
would have unseated less accomplished
horseman.
The men seeing the narrow escape OF
their beloved commander, earnestly urged
him to go back and one or two Of them
caught hold of the bride of his horse
and turned the animal around Gen. Leo
then spoke 10 the men and told them |
that If they would drive the enemy from |
The captured works, he would 60 back,
The men responded with a lssarty I'VE |
VIII"
The brigade moved forward 10 the
point Of attack, drove the enemy from
the captured works, and held the po-
sitIOn untu a, NJ. OF the l1th, resisting
effectualiy the repeated efforts Of Grants
Inassed forces TO dislodse them
With this statement of fncts. which
have no doubt will readily recnr TO you,
beg 10 call your attention to an entire
~ different version of this affair, given
by Mai. John Estsn Coos. in his lie OF
Gen r. Il. Lee, pages 1917 and 3aS In
Which he gives the credit TO troops from
another State.
Now as you were an eye witness OF
what did lake place and personally knew
what troops were engaged. and occupy
ing lie position you did upon the STAFF
Of Gen. Lee. ] feel that ! am warranted
iu calling upon you for correction Of
what may become an error in history.
have no doubt II aen. Gordon's at
tention was called 10 this publication,
that he, with that noble and high sense
duct both AS soldier and civilian, would
himself make the proper correction as
he wears too many Justly earned hon
ors 10 desire those which properly be-
dong 10 others,
Personally ! care but little. but for
the gallant men whom ! had Tho honDr
10 lead, care a great deal, and feel
that 1t is imperative upon me 10 see that
Justice Is done them 20 the promises.
Almost n similar scene nccurrcN on the
9th OF Mas, 1854, In the Wilderness, be-
tween Gen Lee and Gfegss Texas bril-
eade and with d great many that has
seen confounded with the incident at
Erotsylpsnia
trust, coloasi. II rot demanding TOO