The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-11


ond charge, leading it himself, and he
recovered the entire works and all
the guns, capturing many prisoners
and killing more of the enemy than
the Brigade itself numbered. General
Lee himself rode down in person,
thanked the Brigade for it's gallantry,
telling them that they deserved the
thanks of the country and that they
| had saved his army General Daniel
having been MORALLY wounded on the
18th of May, Colonel Grimes was
placed in command of that Brigade,
and soon afterwards received his COM
mission of Brigadier General. On the
10Th Of May he led his Brigade on a
flank movement towards the rear of
Grants Army, which brought on a
heavy engagement in the open field,
without breastWorks on either side,
and both sides displaying the most
undaunted courage AS soon as that
battle was over General Rodes ap-
preached him and shaking him by the
hand said: You have saved Ewell's
corps and shall be promoted and your
.aIlnissi, II shall III fl m this lay.
and on the 9th of June he received
the commission dated on the 18th of
May. Taking charge of Daniel's
Brigade he continued in Rodes's Di-
vision, and about the middle of June
this division and all of Ewell's Corps
valley which ended with fluanting
their blood-stained banners in sight
of the very dome of the Federal Capt.
toll. In the Battle of Winchester on
the 18th of September General Grimes
again greatly distinguished himself,
his escape being indeed marvellous.
He was in the thickest of the fight, his
horse shot under him and nearly every
member of his staff severely wound
ed. A month later on the 18th of Oc-
tober, at Cedar Creek, Early's Army
was again defeated by overwhelming
numbers. General Grimes made des-
perate efforts to stem the tide, expos
ing himself With utter Indifference to
danger in his efforts to rally the
troops and having two horses shot
under him. Here Ramseur, who had
succeeded Rodes, was mortally wound
ed, and General Grimes succeeded to
the command of the Division of Major
General the following February. Tho
Division was composed of four Brig
AIDES, two from North Carolina, one
from Alabama and one from Georgia
The two North Carolina Brigades
Brigades were the ones formerly COM
manded by General Grimes, and the
other, formerly commanded by Ram
seur and later by General Cox. The
Division having been somewhat dis
organized by it's recent defeats, GEN
work to restore it's former efficiency,
which he did most effectively, and
with such good result that on the 22d
of November, it routed 1000 of
Sheridan's formidable cavalry.
Being ordered to rejoin General Lee,
General Grimes with his division went
into winter quarters about three miles
from Petersburg, the week before
Christmas. And on the 18th of Feb
w lnS
from Petersburg, protecting Lees
right wing, where it remained until
the middle of March, when it was as
signed to the trenches in front of Pc
tersburg. The line where it was post
ed extended from near the Crater on
the left to beyond Battery No. IS on
the right, a distance of at least three
and one-half miles. To hold this long
line General Grimes had only about
1900 men, one-third of whom was
constantly on picket duty. On the
18th of March General Lee determin-
ed to make a great effort to break |
through Grants army. At one pointl
near Hares Hill the two armies iayI
only about 100 yards apart, and Gen |
eral Lee determined to make a sudden |
sortie and .cpature the enemy'S line. /
Just before daybreak the Sharpshoot- |
ers of Grimess Division, about 800 |
men, with unloaded muskets and i'm /
profound silence, leaped over their |
breastworks and dashing across the i
open space surprised and captured the |
enemy's pickets before they could give |
the alarm, and mounted their breast |
works and We're upon the enemy be- |
fore they could realize their situation.
a Brigadier General and 500 men
were sent in as prisoners, and Grimes's |
Division following the sharpshooters,
occupied the enemy's works. Other |
tr00nS. Ransom q II
and Lewiss North Carolina Brigades.
had at the same time captured other
portions of the enemys works. But |
the expected reinforcements, Picket's
Division, failed to come to their sup
port, and the enemy. soon collecting a
force ten time sas large as ours, even
tually drove them back after a most
stubborn fight of two hours Again.
on the first of April General Grimes
and his Division and especially his old
brigade fought with great desperation |
but orders were then given to with
draw from Petersburg. On the 9Th
Grimes's Division was covering Lees
retreat and made a determined stano
at Sailors Creek and held the enemy
in check ustil both TANKS of the divi-
sion were turned by superior num-
bers. General Grimes remained with
his men until all had passed the creek
and the bridge was destroyed; and
IIeH pIuHSiIlS MS horse INTO the Wd-
ter himself crossed over under per
feet storm of bullets, and made his
escape. And on the next morning he
made a most brilliant charge, recap
turing the line from which General
Mahone's Division had just been driv-
en-. General Lee himself was near and
saw this charge and at once sent for
General Grimes, and in person thank
ed him for his service rendered by
him and his Division
About o'clock on the evening of
the Sth of April, heavy firing was
heard at the front, and the men were
ordered forward and marched most of
the night, passing through the town of
Appomattox Court House before day
Sunday morning. 1t was then asCer-
tanned that the enemy was in strong
in their immediate front. AT
a council held at General Lees head
that night it had been deter
mined that Gordon's corps and FitZ-
hugh Lees Cavalry were to attack the
enemy and cut a way through and the
other troops and wagon trains were
to follow. When General Grimes ar