Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-01-19
GEORGE CORNWELL.

To LAwsoN-BALL CAMP, LANCASTER,
Fellow Comrades:-I have learned
with profound sorrow of the death
of George Cornwell, Color Sergeant of
the doth Virginia Regiment, familiarly
known as ''Me Lad" l had the honor
to command this Regiment as senior
Captain for the last II months or more
of the war, our field officers having
been killed or captured at Falling
Water, and it gives me pleasure to say
l never knew drawer man than George
Ccrnwell in the army Of Northern Vir-
ginia. never knew him to fail to place
his battle flag on the enemy's works on
first charge when directed to do so ex-
cept once, and that was the second day at
Charlottesville. Our Brigade, known as
Fields, Hills, Heath's, Brokenbrough's.
Walkers, Mayo's and Archer's, in the
advance of A. p. Hills corps, struck
the enemy about two miles from Chan
cellorsville on Saturday evening about
two hours from sun down May first, and
drove them from their camp, capturing
their outfit and nice supper which was
in process of preparation. We poor
devils had had nothing to eat since the
day before, and it was fun to see us
grab the hot camp kettles as we ran
through their camp in pursuit. We
fought them until 8 or 10 o'clock that
night, when Gen. jackson called halt,
nm fr,,er 60, -
night Gems. Jackson, Hill, Pender,
and others, were wounded, and our
corps was left entirely without COM
mander until Gen. Stuart arrived next
morning about day, after forced
march all night. Our troops were in a
state of demoralization, having lost our
beloved Generals that night, wounded
in the darkness by our own men, many
of them. Genl. Stuart assumed COM
mand, and fought us the next day.
Our Brigade, which had fought the
evening before as advance of A. p.
Hills corps, was put upon the reserve
line the next morning with our left
touching the right of the old Stone Wall
Brigade, with two North Carolina
Brigades in front of us. During the
night the enemy had taken advantage
of the cessation of hostilities, and forti-
fed themselves strongly with three lines
of formidable entertainments. When
the battle commenced the next morn
ing these North Carolina Brigades were
ordered forward, one after the other,
and they both stampeded, coming back
over US in quick succession. We tried
our hardest to rally them to our sup
port; but could not succeed. We asked
them for Gods sake what were they run
ing for? The answer came back be-
cause we cannot fly Soon our Brigade.
with the 40th Regt. in front, supported
by the old Stonewall Brigade with
fGenl. Walker their commander in charge
of both Brigades, was ordered forward,
and it seemed to me, as Sherman says,
like storming he'll, such was the terrible
fire. We could not make it on the first
charge, but did not stampede as our
tar heel friends. By order of Genl
Walker, and natural instinct, we dropped
under little hill in front of US on on,
stomachs for about ten minutes, anC
when the fire had lulled a little we
swept rapidly across the field, anc
George Cornwell of the 40th Va. Regt.
placed the first flag on the ramparts of the
enemy. The gallant Pegram and Brax
ton with their batteries came to oul
support, and with Stuart s Cavalry anc
horse Artillery on their left flank w.
soon put them to inglorious flight. L
was here on this fieldof glory and earn
age in drenching rain storm that
George Cornwell received his first rec
ognition from Genl. r. E. Lee, which h,
priced and honored as long as he lived
was also recognized and recommended
for promotion to Major; but alas
owing to the bad condition at the Wa
Department at the time did not get M,
commission which would have prize,
above all earthly honors. Lest / tir
you must close. May we emulate th
bravery of ''Me Lad" and hope tina
he may be now defending the battle
flag of his Maker as he so nobly defend
ed the battle flag of the Confederate
States. (CoMRADE) H. f. COLES.
Lillian, Va, January, 8, 1906.