The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-07-18

oome "ccA6 aRo 6lOOu Dy tue open
grave Of one who had passed by more
than decade the psalmist's limit of
human life; a man whom had known
and honored and esteemed from my
early boyhood; a man whom for all
these years had held free and fire.
quent converse, and yet one 10 whose
record as Confederate soldier there
was an incident that came to rue only
when "ashes to ashes and "dust to
dust had broken the silence OF the
soft May air and .be earth lay fresh
upon his new-made grave. AS l
turned. away when the rites were end.
cd my friend Nose Murphy, who had
shared with me the last loving service
We could render to our long time
friend aud who had been his comrade
in the cd wsr days, said to me: "Few
men in the army ever knew positively
that any shot fred by them in battle
or skirmish line had been effective,
but the man we have just buried knew
beyond the shadow Of doubt, in one
instance, at least, not only that his
aim had been true, but that it had
found shining mark in the person of
q brigade commander in the federal
army" And then as We strolled
homeward under the shadow Of marble
and granite shaft and oenotaph, breath.
ing the fragrance Of the blooming
flowers that beautify the silent city,
he told me she story.
1twss May day in "a. Grants
overland campaign had met with fail.
ure both at the Wilderness and Spott-
sylvania. The long drawn agony Of
the 'Bloody Angle" had ended, and
and in the early hours Of the follow.
ing dsy, while the two armies, worn
out with oonstau: lighting, were rest.
ing in comparative quiet, brigade
from Haucock's corps was sent out on
reconnaissance to ascertain il Lee
was changing base. Crossing the
stream that lay between the hostile
lines, and passing through . lane that
Led Sp sro@ she feet Of the bridge,
they reached a stretch Of woodland
within whose shaded depths squad.
7oa from GIBBS Legion, On R;7kket.
line, was keeping watchful guard.
Two hundred yards or more in front
OF this line videtse post was manned
by Lieut.. Dial, Mr.. Elisha Rheuey,
and another soldier, whose name is
not recalled. The federal oomman.
der, suspecting that he was nearing
hostile ground, halted his brigade, de.
ployed skirmishers and, drawing bis
avord, prepared: :s lead thhem on.
Just then, from the little vidette
post, there Was single puff of smoke,
the ring Of q single oarbine, and the
gallant efioer fell flom his horse, and
was borna to the verands of dwelling
that stood near tbe roadside, not far
from where he fell. Ouly single
shot had been 6.ed. aud thas had
come from Mr. Rheney's hands, but
II lad counted. After o temporary
aelsy, caused by the loss Of this lead.
e=, che federal brigade advanced,
driving the Confederate skirmishers,
but on reaching the main line Of Gen.
G. j. Wright's aaismounted cavalry,
they were in turn driven back to their
own lines, With some loss. Cobb's
Legion in this engagement was com.
manded by Major Jones, the father Of
MIR. Allen w. Jones Of this county,
and brave and efficient officer Of
whose original company Mr.. Rheuey
was member. -. =.
or the essential accuracy Of the
s:ory told me felt assured, for DC T
had occasion once to say of my friend,
Ben ssago, I would believe any slate
ment Nose Murphy would make even
though I. Knew it to be untrne. Feel:
Ing come desire to knuw whether che
"of6cial records Of the var would
disclose the identity of the offioer who
had suffered from the seourasy OF Mr.
Rheney's aim, / have consulted the
official reports from Ranooek's corps
the day named, aud give below the re-
pors made By the wounded officer him.
self, Gen. Samuel 8. Carroll, and By
his division commander. Gen. John
r. Gibbon. =, I. :x,: .>':.z { s.i j: 4. sr: NJ
Gen. Carroll says: "hfsy IS, about
8 =. m. I was ordered By Gen. Glib.
bon, commanding diyision, 10 take tho
Second Brigsde (Gen. Owsn's) ind,
make reconunisssnes: in front Of ,ay z,,
right. I started 70 ssulfil the +, ictrdsI,
bus shortly aftef throuine .cnt .,k,r.