The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-10-05

LIZ SlSioh1 hSouCo llOn lNlIpHl-
rick Lost His Pistols and Holsters"
This article was written by one of
Wheeler men, aud for barcfaced in
accuracy Of the facts is certainly ahead
Of anything l have ever read. Truly
it is another case of Betsy and the
Bear
The scene and circumstance record.
ed by the writer was the surprise and
charge Of Gen. Kilpatrick's s camp near
fayetteville, N. c., by Gen. Ilamp-
.ton on the morning Of March / j. 1868.
I will first quote passage from his
.rticle: An important incident OF
the war has never been published. 1t
10 a matter of history that Gen. Wheel
rer surprised the camp Of Gen. Xii.
,oatr:ck near fayetteville, N. g. Gen.
Wheeler divided hi forces and sur
rounded his camp during the night.
N9ne Of Wheeler's divisions failed to
come up in time, being unable to cross
"A swamp, when Aliens division
charged and took possession of the
camp" mirabile dictu. The reader
will perceive that this writer does not
even mention Gems. Hampton and
Butler, but gives all praise to Gen.
Wheeler, who was not in it, but on
another road. Now, before giving my
~ersion of the battle (more than once
.corroborated by Gen. Butler himself
an AL essential particularly, l will
suote from Gen. Kilpatrick's report,
whose war book now lies before me.
In many things it is correct, only he
was 80 scared and demoraized that he
greatly magnifed our forces. seeing
sthousands charging upon him when in
reality there we're not many hundred.
Says Fitzpatrick in his official re-
sport:
During the early part of the even
Eng left Gen. Atkins and joined Col.
Spencer with my staff, and actually
rode through one of Gen. Hampton
divisions of cavalry, which by II p.
N. had fanked Gen. Atkins and was
then encampcd within three miles Of
Col. Spencer. My escort was captur-
ed and made my escape with my
staff. Gen. Hampton had marched all
day, resting his men three miles from
Col. Jordan at2 o'clock n. M, and
lust before daylight charged my posi-
'tion with three divisions of cavalry,
Hume 8, Aliens and Buffers. Hamp-
vton led Buffers division, who in less
than minute had driven my men
Saok, taking possession Of my head
quarters, capturing my aides, and my
whole command was flying before the
noat formidable cavalry charge ever
witnessed. On foot, I succeeded in
reaching the command few hundred
yards in the rear. These were finally
driven back some 500 yards against an
impe netrable swamp to friend or foe.
Ehe enemy, eager for pluuder, failed
Ito eol!ow US up. We rallied and re-
cook our cavalry camp"
This statement bears much truth on
ITS face, only soldiers Of Hampton and
Butie- know nothing Of Hume and
-Allsn's division 10 the charge. Kill
spatrick had not met us before aud did
mot know our commands, but did know
%heeler. Now, I will give my YER
sion of this fight, and right here will
state as an uodisputed fact, that But
ler's division, composed of Buffers
esrigade Che being promotai) ard Gen.
q. NJ. R. Youpg's os Georgia, did the
charging unaided by any other force
e7hatever, and NO other troons but
these were on the ground.
Fitzpatrick was marching on the
Heeis Of Gen. Hardee and had picked
up many hundreds of his men. But.
Ler's and Young's brigade of seven
regiments, and they greatly reduced
in numbers, we're dogging his foot
.>-ste7s for "a or 36 hours. The Sixth
SIC of Buffers brigade, in Nhich
: hsdrfhe honor of serving as a private,
svas leading the column. Late in the
evening Of March 10, 1865, in cold,
, drizzliDg rain, the column was halted
&or 81 ort time at the forks of road,
%herc stwas house. l saw Gen.
Hampton iu conversation with its
Il wner. While standing there, Gen.
= Wh1t,cr's command fled OF by, tax.
ing the eight hand Fork and ours the
ieft. Abeut9 o'clock, possibly, We
came upou!kilpatrick' deserted camp,
! fires still burning. Not great dis
lance from here the command came to
D halt, when q company of Yankee
soldiers under guard passed on down
tho: i've TO ;the rear. Right here I