The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-10-06

ing the w aI VI 0S<SSS"
cess;on."
The Sunday News.
I have just come into possession
of a copy OF an account written by
Brig. Gen. John Bratton, of what he
characterizes as the most conspicuous
feat of personal valor and skill that
came within his knowledge.
Gen Bratton's conspicuously active
and gallant military service to the
Confederacy, from Sumter to Apo
mattox, and from private to briga-
der general, and his high reputation
throughout South Carolina for pa
triotism and accuracy in statement,
give peculiar interest and value to the
paper.
The hero Of the incident related is
Captain Joseph Banks Lyles, now re-
siding in Caddo, Indian Territory.
He was born in 1929 near Winnsboro,
S. c., graduated A. B. from South
Carolina college in 1856, and has de-
voted mis- whole life to education, ex-
cept during his four years service to
the Confederacy; having been prln-
cipal and proprietor of the Limestone,
S. c., Male academy prior to, and sub
sequent to, the war of secession; in
1870 he removed to the west and con-
Quoted large. schools successively at
Paris, Texas, and Caddo, Indian Ter
ritory. He served on the staff Of
General Micah Jenkins and of Gen.
eral Bratton, was captain Of Company
C.. 9Th South Carolina volunteer in
fantry. He was nine times wounded
with balls, shell and sabre, once hav-
ing his skull broken. The rifle with
which he effected the capture of the
six hundred Yankees I have seen-a
seven shot repeating Spencer carbine,
with which the Federal cavalry was
armed. I thought the publication Of
this enclosed account by General
Bratton would be interesting to the
general public and preserve valu-
able historical document.
Respectfully,
D. H. Means.
White Oak, S. c., March 2o, 1906
The most conspicuous feat of valor
and skill (personal) that came within
my knowledge during the war Of Sc
cession was achieved by an officer of
my brigade on the 27th of October,
1864.
In the severe and constant fight.
ing of that campaign my staff, as we'll
as line, suffered, and it was neces-
sary to fill the places of the wounded
officers of thu line
To meet such demand CAPTAIN J.
Banks Lyle, Of h: 5sh South Caro-
lima regiment. was then. and had. been
for some time, rendering efficient SER
vice on the brigade staff. On the
morning of the above date the enemy
were in heavy force on the north
side of the James and assailed Our
works with more OF less vigor at va
rious points, extending their attacks
to and beyond the Charles City wood.
In the afternoon his cavalry assault
ed our works on the Williamsburg
road, held by our cavalry, and were
driven off. Fields division of infan-
try was promptly moved to the Will
1iamsburg road in anticipation Of the
assault by infantry, which followed,
pushing our cavalry farther to the
left, my brigade, under its senior,
Col. Walker, occupying the line across
the road and were in position to meet
and repulse it. In their retreat quite
number of them took refuge in a
wash or gully, which ran through a
depression in the field some 800 or
400 yards in front of our line, nearly
half way to the enemy's line. Captain
Lyles saw they were whipped and
would surrender if called on to do SO.
He so reported, and asked permission