The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-12


terrific cannonnding followed. We Knew
there was hard work ahead for some
OF lis, and sure enough Just about sun.
rise there came an order for Mallone's
old Virginia Brigade to hold Itself In
readiness TO move at n moments no.
tice. and before we could get ready, here
came the order for us to fall into line.
without knowing what was ahead OF US.
After the line was formed, we were
ordered to divest ourselves of all bag
go ge, md to carry nothing but our arms
and ammunition and q canteen OF water
this being done, we headed towards the
cemetery, and when arrived at the mouth
OF tho covered way, used to protect our
men when relieving picket. We marched
ur that cover ed way until we reached
nm angle, we then left the ditch, flanEed
TO the right and marched short dis
tance down ravno until nearly oppo-
site the point where the mine was
sprung, and were ordered to lie down.
General Malone was ut Che angle In the
ditch. ana saw the brigade pass. Flo had
ordered the Georgia Brigade to form on
The right of the Virginia Brigade, but
falling to get there in time, he took
position in rear OF his old brigade. for
the purpose, as supposed, TO watch the
movements Of tho enemy, and well
enough did he, for they were getting
ready to charge us. as we heard as
tinctly the command "Fix bayonets ana
no quarters" Just at that juncture. Cen
crnl Malone hcing In renr OF the brigade
with General 1velsiger on the right. tho
order came from General Malone, as
have always thought, from TINT day, to
the present to charge the enemy.
It has been disputed question over
since tho war ms to who gave the COM
mnnd to charge the enemy. some clhim-
Ing the order came from General Weis,-
rer. while others say the order came from
General Malone. If General Weisiger
rave the order. did not hear him., as he
was on the right Of the line, and on
the left. ! did hear the order, however
md coming from tho rear, ns Thought,
and while would not say or do anything
teven II It WIS In my power) to wrest
frono General Weisigcr any OF the honors
to which he was entitled on that occn-
sion, nm still Of tho opinion the order
to charge came from General Malone In
a. moment we were up nnd started up hlllS
where we could see tho enemy IN mo-
and fortunately for us. tho first line were
negroes, who could not stand the. repei
yell and cold steel, and In order to get
out or the way, threw their. guns down and
broke for the rear. The next line were
white men, and SO great was their. oe-
sire to keep the negroes In front OF them
MS a sort of brcastworls. they lost siGht
Of us until wo were only n short distance
from them. and I believe every shot tooK
effect, as they were rs thick In the breast
works as they could stand, and It was
almost impossible to miss a man; but the
Yanks were determined we should not
have It all our way, and before we reached
the breastworks they poured Volley INTO
us, and about one-half of our little bri-.
gade went down. Notwithstanding all
this. we pushed to the front, and reaching
the ditch, In we went with empty mus
kets, depending on the bayonet and breecn
of tho gun, and a regular hand TO hand
encounter took place. The scene tntC
follows beggars description; our men
would drive the bayonet into one man..
null it out, turn the butt and knock the
brains out OF another and ~ on until tho
ditch ran with the blood Of the dead and
DYING. So great was the slaughter that
Lieutennnt- Colonel william II. Stewart OF
the Sixty first Regiment in command and
myself, Of tho Forty-1rst, had to make
detail to pile up the dead on the side
Of the ditch to make room so we could
reinforce to the right or left, ns occasion
might require.
4 The Yanks fought bravely to maintain
the foothold they had gained, but the
prowess of the Southern soldier was too
much for them at that particular time,
Knowing rs we did, that If they succeed
ed in carrying out their designs, our
friends In the city would fare but COM
mon. and with us It was to do or die;
and in an incredibly short time the
breastworlss to the left of tho Crater
for some distance occupied by the enemy
were takon back and hostillties fora few
moments ceased. but the end, Is not yet,
the breastworls TO the right Of the
Crater were still in8the enemy's hands,
and General Lee sald they must be taken
back. About that time. tho Georgia Bril-
eade was on hand, and General Malone
called on them to perform that service,
the line was formed, and
when the command was given they
started as CALAMITY to tho front as any
set of men could, but by this time tho
enemy had filed the brcastworks as full
of men MS they could stand together and
rs soon us the Georginns got near enough
tho enemy opened fire on them, and they
fell like autumn leaves. They reformed,
and tried It n second time. but with no
better results. General Malone then
called on the Alabama Brigade; the limo
was formed. the command given, and
when they reached tho point where the
Georgians suffered 50 severely. they too
met with heavy loss. but. unlike tho
Georglans, as soon as they received tho
shock every man that was left standing
started In double quick, and before the
enemy could reload, the Alabamians were
on them, and as was the case on our
side OF tho Crater, q hand to hand fight
took place, and in q few minutes the
gallant Alabamians had driven out and
killed thosa who couldn't get out, and
We're masters of the situation, Tho loss
of life on both sides was heavy and I
have often said. II correct history Of
the late war IL ever wrltten. the fight
ut tho Crater will be second to none,
but tho battle OF Gettysburg, during the
war.
And now as you have requested mo
to do 10, ! Will give you n short history
of the part ! took In tho fight at the
Crater. When we made the charge and
reached the brenstworks ] WIS among
the first to jump in the ditch, whore tho
Ynnks were us thick us they could stand.
First sergeant of Company D jumped
In about the same time did, and was
killed Instantly, Where was there was