The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-10-12

1t had made good and strong it's posi-
tion, TOO much so for Lees feeble
force to assault. Still Lee believed
the plan possible.
Col. Henderson, in his most inter
esting "Life Of Stonewall Jackson
tells how Lee urged his plan and di-
rected Jackson to take so pieces of ar
tillerv and annihilate McClellan's
right. jackson demurred, as the price
was too costly.
Taking Col. S. u. Lee with him they
rods to favorable point Of observa-
tion and carefully sorutinized the stu
alton. After thorough survey jack
son said /:
Colonel, if I give you SO pieces Of
artillery can you destroy them ?"
After pause, Col. Lee replied am
biguously. Again Jackson said:
Colonel, If I give you SO pieces Of
artillery can you destroy them ?"
Again Col. Lee replied unsatisfac-
torily. Then third time, with de.
liberate emphasis, the great Stonewall
repeated:
Colonel, if 1 give you so pieces of
i artillery can you destroy them ?"
Col. Lee realized that no evasion
would suit Jackson. Under great men
tai strain he answered:
"No, Gen. Jackson, I cannot"
"That is all. We will now ride"
responded Jackson.
A great revulaion came over Lee.
Shaking with emotion he exclaimed
"Gen. jackson, give me those so
pieces. If any man can do it viii i"
"Thst's ell right, Colonel" answer
ed jackson "let US ride on"
Stephen D. Lee, who had at Second
Manassas, less than three weeks be-
fore, covered himself and his regiment
Of artillery with imperishsble fame,
conceiving the idea that Jackson
doubted his men and courage, again
pleaded for the privilege OF the at
tempt, and on Jackson declining the
gallant artilleryman burst into tears,
so greatly was he wrought up.
On returning from the Memphis re-
union in 1901 the writer, for part Of
the way, was seat mate Of Gen. SD.
Lee, and asked him if he had read
Henderson's Life Of Stonewall jack
son." Gen. Lee replied he had not.
The incident was then related, and
just as the writer was concluding the
narrative Gen. Lee exclaimed:
II remember the incident as if it
had occurred yesterday. I broke down
and cried like child.''
He was told that was the exact re.
cord.
Few battles in history parallel
Sharpsburg. Mcclellan had present
for duty 81, 1854 men, his army we'll in
hand, and himself in possession of the
now famous especial Orders No. 1871"
Lee, with his army scattered over miles
Of territory, rashly awaited battle, his
army coming into action by p;eoemeal,
and OF all arms but 81, ,255 weary sol
diers. He put every command into
action. He had absolutely no reserves.
It is one Of the striking instances of
his rare audsoity. That he was able
to preserve intact his battle line that
memorable September 17th is one of
the mysteries OF war. According to
the rules Of war, his army should have
been defeated and destroyed. But Lee
did not fight under the old red tape
plans. His genius created plans as
conditions permitted, and Sharpsburg
mus. always halo his name with heroic
glory.
The four years of force carnage,
that embraced over 1900 combsts of
greater or lesr magnitude, never dis
played to better advantage the peer.
less qualities Of the Confederate SOL
der, nor did any battlefield exhibit
more markedly the great genius Of
Robert E. Lee.
This fierce battle takes rank as one
Of the bloodiest Of modern times. In.
Guiding the heavy attacks upon the
slopes and in the gaps Of South and
Catocton mountains, McC Clellan expe.
rienoed the loss Of 14,794 men. To
these should be added the loss OF the
garriaon Of Harner'a Ferry, II 900
killed, wounded and captured, and you
have an aggregate Of 1874.
In the same encounters the Army of
Northern Virginia suffered losses
amounting to 10, 1925, 900 Of these
upon the CORY field of Sharpsburg. E5
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