Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-05-25


could reach SpottsyIvania G. H., and be
had imperative orders TO hold it. We
held our own, but with great difficulty,
keeping back Torbett's division OF earai-
ry and the 9Th Army corps. Mr.. Alsx.
Hunter, Of Washington, ID. c., during
the war a member Of Co. III, 4th Va,
BLACK Horse cavalry,) and an eye wit
ness Of the action, describes the part the
battery played in this game:
'sOn the morning Of the 7th the attack
on the Confederate right at Todd's Tav-
ern was heavy and persistent. The cav
airy was dismounted and fighting ar in
fantry. The men were lying behind a
hastily thrown up breastwork and sue
eessfully beat OF every attack. In the
afternoon the attacks ceased, and the
cavalry brigade Of Wickham was order
ed TO charge on foot. About half mile
the line advanced, brushing away the
skirmishers opposing them until they
struck the enemy's line OF battle, and the
Confederates found hornets nest, and
got back as quickly as possible. Reform
ing, they awaited the attack with every
available man i'm the ranks and no re-
serves. About an hour before sundown
it came with a vengeance. Two solid
lines Of blue coats, both cavalry and in
fantry, struck us, and after few min
utes OF deadly work drove US back In dis
order. We retreated to the woods and
made a stout resistance there, but front
and flank attack sent US reeling out into
the open and we went flying through the
field, the hurrahs of the Federals rising
high aboye the rattling Of the guns. All
at once from the SpOttsylvania turnpike
there emerged a number of guns almost
hid by tire dust. Straight to the foe they
advanced, dashing Through the running
cavalry as if they were stalks of corn.
heard a mounted officer, who was trying
to rally our men, say: My God Jim
Breathed must be mad. 1t seemed so.
The idea of artillery charging serried
line of battle was absurd, but Breathed
knew what he was about. Within hun
dred yards of the Federal line he gave the
command to halt, and in less time than
it takes to tell it the guns were in posi-
tion pouring canister into the blue line.
In an instant it was stopped, and with
shout the flying cavalrymen turned right
about face, and the rebel yell was heard,
and we rushed forward. 1t was a pref
ty fight, give and take. / happened to
be near the guns, and saw Major Breath
ed standing there serene and cool as II
on a parade. Lord how he did work
those guns. They flashed, they roared,
and when the Federals charged he gave
some orders and was silent. The scene
was indelibly impressed upon my memo
~. There stood Jim Breathed holding
his horse by the bride, his boyish face
flushed, his eyes shining like fire; there
stood the cannoneers with the lanyards
in their hands, while prone on the earth
without any line or formation lay the
cavalrymen. The shock came, the blue
line reeled back, broken and harmless.
fell seriously wounded. and in the lines
of Brete Harte's poem, the subsequent
proceedings interested me no more. There
was no soldier in the Army Of Northern
Virginia more popular than Jim Breath
ed. The cavalrymen would swear by
him and cheer him whenever his battery
went by. There was no braver man, NO
ts1sr soldier, no finer artilleryman than
glorious Jim Rreathed.'
This description of Breafhed is fully en-
dorsed by Gen. Fitz Lee In an article that ap-
peared In the kichmond News April, 1904.
This was one of the nercest aghts that Fitz
Lees division was ever engaged. He deploy-
ed his whole command. dismounted. and pre-
sented such a solid front to the enemy that
they found it dificult 20 move him. Torbett
was reinforced by the 9Th corps. They then
pressed US slowly back, as were still in the
timber. Cannister was freely used. At last
we were forced into the open. where we went
into position and awaited the charge OF the en-
emy from the woods. II came ~ last. but the
old battery never quailed. Three times they
came and met death before those 3-inch rifies
was led by Col. Charles Phelps tnow Judge OF
the City Court OF Baltimore) who commanded
a brigade in warren's corps. Our last posi-
ton was close to spotssylvania G. II. and inn.
medately In front of q portion Of Andersont
| corps. which was drawn up In line OF battle
behind cover aud concealed from view Of the
enemy by the crest Of the bill held By the bat
terry. A strong line OF battle soon appeared
a., a..
no support 20 the battery. pressed forward Il
acpture It. The IRE was maintained as Ions
rs possible. AS they began TO enveiop oul
tanks Breathed ordered Johnston TO retire th,
left section (Cosgrovel Breathed taking chars,
OF the LIST section &sanksl. Johnston declined
TO leave as long as there was any part OF tn,
battery engaged. but retired three guns-on.
at a time-when he Uohnstonl was shot In tn,
shoulder and had to retire. Before any Of tn.
guns had left their position the enemy had ap
preached 80 near that they were certain o
capturing the battery. and the demand 70
surrender was heard on all sides Breathe.
was now alone with the last gun. The gun
had been limbered up, but before the gun
could be moved the driver Of the lead horse
was wounded and the driver OF the wheel team
/ had his arm shattered By a bullet. As IL un
conscious of an enemy 50 near. Breathe.
| jumped from his horse, ens l0ose the lead team
that was struggling on the ground. mounte.
/ one ofsfhe wheel horses and brought on tn
piece as By miracle. The enemy pressed ol
| with loud cheering. As they crossed the cres
of the hill they met the IRE OF Anderson's mel
at short range. Staggered by II they fell bacl
and did not renew the charge. Up 90 thi
time only . portion OF Anderson's division
was engaged. A few moments later Stuart M
rived with the remainder Of them. at AndeE
sons reQuezs Stuart extended tie left Of tn
infantry with bis dlsmouated cavalry and re
manned In command Of Anderson's left unit
i tho Arrival nf the rnaf nf thu arrnw fnlnr,n