The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-04-19

N"-""Si'hiCi ioi q IduyaTu. i saw
circle of smoke rise, at the bursting
Of the she'll from the midst of the
crowd which opened and then quickly
closed
What was the effect Of the shell
can never know, but was at the time
much delighted at having hit upon the
range so well and it was the only op,
portunity I had during the war Of
pointing and firing q cannon.
The pursuit soon became general
and our men pressed on after the
routed army, when a courier, in hot
haste, rode up to Gen. Beaureguard
with message that the enemy had
crossed Bull Run at Union Mills,
turned our right flank and were
marching to Manassas junction.
was ordered to ride as rapidly as
possible down the pike towards Cen
treville, stop the pursuit along that
road, and order the troops back to
Bull Run.
had heard the dispatch read,
knew the Importance of executing my
orders as rapidly as possible, if it was
true, as l believed it, and 30 lost no
time on the way. 1t seemed to me
that never rode as slowly in my life,
for o barn, our wagons and guns block
ed the road and my steed very poor
one. 1t was an estray I had caught
on the field aftor my horse had been
killed by shell, ana almost gave out.
Finally | reached the front of the
pursuing column and delivered my Or
ders.
| have often wished that my poor
hors" had broken down completely be-
fore got there, for the report upon
1hich my orders were based proved to
be false. The Federals instead OF
turning our right flank we're retreatipg
from every position.
After the battle it was curious to
hear the claim made by number of
commands, that each had "rescued
the Hampton Legion" Exactly how
and where / could never ascertain, D,
though had this experience. When
the Legion was most hotly engaged at
the Henry house 1 had been sent by
Gen. Beaur sgard to hurry forward
to that point any commands / might
find. Executing this order, I found a
regiment halted, the men lying down
to avoid the bullets. I appealed to
the men to press forward, pointing to
the Palmetto flag, almost enveloped
in smoke close to the Henry house,
where Hampton was shot in the face.
Many of the men jumped up saying
that they were willing to push on,
but that their colonel had halted
there. To my inquiry where he was
they pointed to the right. I rode in
that direction, found him in ravine,
beyond the right Of MS regiment,
pretty we'll sheltered and there gave
him. in the generals name, preemp.
tory orders to advance. I afterwards
read in his official report how gallant.
ly he had rescued the Hampton Le.
gion."
uAt one period Of the battle, when
our line had been pressed back in
some confusion, I happened nea,
Gen. Jos. e. Johnston, who was busy
rallying aud reforming some troops,
and saw him, as thought, take the
oolotB ofa regiment and ride forward
with them, followed at once by the
regiment in handsome manner. 55.li. II.
Some days after the battle Gen.
Johnston end BesuTsgaTd rode over
the field with their staff and general
officers, comparing notes, etc., before
making their official reports Of the en-
Eassmsnt. On reaching the spot oii i
the above incident, ] remarked to
Gen. Johnston: a.a5
"Here. you took the colors Of the
4th Alabama and carried them for
ward" b.
| He replied: "You are mistaken, sir
did not take them. I rode up tc
the colors and reached for them, whom
the color bearer said:
"'Don't take them from me-, gen.
erall Op!y tell me where you wish
them aud I will carry them Then
rode forward aud he marched alongside
of me-" !, 4:
! realized then that the general &
horse between me and the brave color
bearer, had prevented me from seeing
the latter; but nothing save the gem
eral'e own word would have convin.
ced me that he had not actually taken
the oolors. It was q gallant sigh. and