The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-22

bloody fshtinE MS occurred at the battle
Of the Crater" where the loss on tho
Federal side was 5000 and on the Con-
feteratc side 1900, out Of the small nu,n-
Der engaged and all OF about two acres
Of land For quite awhile after the ex-5
ploson GIL was quiet, but then COM
menced n severe cnnnonade blythe Yam
KEGS. which was promptly replied to by
the Confederate artillery.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE COUNTER
ATTACK.
Soon orders were received for two of
our brigadcs to move to the point OF at
tack. The Virginia and Georgia brl-
gades, being on the right of the divi-
sion, were withdrawn from the works In
such n manner as not to be seen by the
enemy who were intrenched in strong
force imnediatelyThl our front, and dis
patched as directed. This occurred about
S or 0 o'clock, About II O'Clock orders
came for tho Alabama (Wilcox's) bril-
gade, then commanded by General j. c.
c. Saunders This order was delivered
by the gallant officer, r. n. Henry, Of
NIahone's staff. We Nere then quietly
Withdrawn from the works, thus leaving
the space which the three brlgades had
covered unoccupied, except by a few
slsirmishers Zone man every twenty
paccs), commanded by Major j. NJ Crow,
.
officer. $s3 @ III VI
BY a circutous route we arrived Mt
Blanford Cemetery and then entered a
k.'zig-zag'' or circuitous covered way
through which we had to pass in single
file In order to shield ourselves from the
fire of tho enemy. We came out Of the
covered way into ravine which ran
parallel with the enemy's line Of forth
fications, and also of our own lin which
was the fort subsequently called u the
ls"Crater and then occupied by the
enemy.
A1AHoNE GIVES HIS ORDERS FOR
RETAINING THE FORT AT THE s5 sss
CRATER. gj
AS we came out Of the covered way
we were met by, General Malone, hlm-4
self on foot, who called the officers to-
him and explained the situation and gave
us orders for the fight Ele Informed us
that the brigades OF Virginians and Geor:-s
CLANS had successfully CHARGED and taken
the works on the left Of the fort, but
that the fort was still in possession Of
the enemy, as was also part Of the
works on the right Of it. and that we of
the Alabama brigade were expected to-
storm and capture the fort, as We were
tho last OF the reserves He directed
us to move up the 5ravine as far as we
could walk unseen by. the enemy, and
then to get down and crawl stu further
up until we were Immediately In front
Of the fort, then to order the men to lie
down on the ground until our artillery
In our rear could draw the fire of the
enen,y's artillery, which was posted on
q ridge beyond their. main line ana COW
tering the fort. at$s3 8S6
When this was accomplished our ar
tillery would cease firing, and then we
should rise up and move forward in a
STOPPING posture ut trail arms" with
bayonets fixed, and should not yell or
fire a gun until we drew the fire Of the
infantry in the fort and the cnemys
main lines, and then we should charge
at double quick SO as TO get under
the walls Of the fort before the enemy
could fire their park Of some fifty pieces
OF artillery, stationed on the hill beyond
their works He further Informed us
that he had ordered our men who then
occupied tho works on either side Of the
fort to fire at the enemy when they
should show themselves above the top
of the fort or along their main line so
rs to shield us as much as possible from
their fire. AS we were leaving him, he
said: General Lee Is watching the re-
suit OF your charge.
LOAD, FIX BAYONETs!'
The officers then returned to their
places in line and ordered the men to
load and Fix bayonets. Immediately tho
brigade moved up the ravlne as ordered
AS wo started. soldier. worse dsfigured
by dirt, powder and smoke than any I
had before seen, came up by my side and
said Captain, can I go in this charge
with YOU 2" replied, Yes. Who arc
you ~ lie said:"I AMI have forgotten
his nane) and belong to--South Car
soline Regiment-was blown up In that
fort and T want to even up with them.
Please tnke my name and II I get killed
INFORM by officers Of It," ! said: II have
no time now for writing How high
I'D did they blow you?" lie said e"-'I
don't know but as I was going UP |
met the company commissary coming
down and he said, II VIII try to have
breakfast ready by the time you get
down."
have often since wished had taken
his name and regiment, for lie was truly
!, trough diamond" a brave fellow. He
went in the charge with us, but ! do
not know whether he survived 1t or
not, never saw him again.
BTIlIll ALABAMA BRIGADE.
This brigade was composed of tho
Eighth Alabama, Captain NJ. w.
Mordecal, commanding; Ninth Alabama
Colonel j. H. King commanding: Tenth
Alnloama. Captain ny. L. Brewster, COM
,nandng: Eleventh Alabama. Lieutenant
Colonel George p. Tayloe, commanding;
lrourteentl. Alabama, Captain Elias Folk,
com manding E,5
This (Nicoxs old brigade was CONS
! mnnded and led In this battle by the
| gallant and intrepid Brigader-General T.
| C. @. Saunders, with Captain George
| Clark, assistant Acknowledgement, another
\ brave officer 34ss
The Ninth Alabama being OH the right
/ of the brigade was In front MS we as
1 cendeh the ravine or depression to form
| tine OF battle, ] copy from the 'Peters-
| burg Express the names of Tho OIL
/ GERS who commanded the companies 81
| this regiment, end would do tho same for
/ the other regiments but for tho unfor-
tunata fact that they We're not gwen
| They were as follows: ISL
Company a, Captain Hays command
1 ing: Company G, Sergeant r. Simmons