The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-08-30
TWICE A WEEK. $3.50 A. YEAR

the command of BurnsideS, where n
sanguinary battle was fought on the
18th of December, 1862. The Union
army was defeated with Il loss of
about 1000 men. Our company was
IN this engagement aud after the enc
my fell back across the river held the
position around fredericksburg, un-
til sent for picket duty to Moss Neck
ON the Rapahannock river. for the
winter.
About the end Of January, 1863,
Gen. Burnside was relieved of his
command of the Yankee army and
was superseded by Gen. Jno. Hooker,
who moved his army about 20 miles
above Fredericksburg and thought by
taking Il new route to Richmond to
compel Gen. Lee to fight im the open
field away from the works he had
made in the winter. This forced Gen.
Leo I" move the most Of his forces
up the river to meet him, which re-
suited IN the great and bloody engage
mcnt around charlottesville, the hca-
West of which was fought on the I'd
AMI 3d of May, 'G3. In these battles
we inflicted terrible loss ON the Un-
ion army and Hooker was forced to
rc-croSS the Rappallannock ON the 5th
ct May. The North fcl, this diSas-
ter very much, for Hooker'S army was
nearly double that Confcdcratcs and
IT was the faircst contest Of actual
powers Of tn two armies during the
war. The Union loss was over l7,000
| Kill, wounded and missing, whilst ours
was comparatively v lighter. II was in
these bait that the famous Stone
wall jackson was moNally wounded.
through mistake. in the darkness by
one OF his own men. No doubt many
of YOU call I" mind the vollcy that in
fhctcd this fearful loss on our cause.
Gen. Lee now recruited his army
from every source possible to 10000
with the object Of carrying the wal
into the cnemy's country. We accord
ln"ly moved up the river and made
demonstration in that direction. Our
color-bearer gave me first notice of
the disaster that was soon to follow
on this march when the promise of
the beauty and booty as our watch,
word was echoed along the line. The
Union army fell back to Washington
where Gen. Meade succeeded to its
command. We crossed the Potomac
above Harpcr'S Ferry and pushed
north mp thr Cumberland valley
which gave us The granhcSt battle ot
the wan. that of Gettysburg. the frs
three days of July. Then we witness
"d the Sacreliyinus and unsuccessful
charges OF our men to take th'
heights The following two days. Yol
remember with horror the havoc an,
slaughter made on our company b,
one shell on their unsuccessful charg
3 to take the height, the terrific can
nonading the hardships incurred ol
the trip. This was the first positiv
downward step in the fate Of the Con
fcdcrary. Our army was rcpu'$cd am
lost about 10000 men killed ,Houn,l
ed and missing. The retreat wa
> dreadful. The attack on Gen. Heath
Brigade and fight around the barn
the pcrlllouS escapes from cavalry n
tackS and ;mbuscades and the re
> crossing Of the Potomac at Fallin
{ Water are incidents You arc fami'ia
g with. and were, perhaps. The dirrr
and most cXhauSting Of The war.
t Our army retrcated up the vale
< crossing the mountain and took posi-
. ton on the south side OF the Rap:da%
1 The northern army followed up an
\ confronted us on the north side. !
y this situation the two armies remain
{ ed for the remainder nr 'G3 withou
: anything Of importance 10 mar n
g dali r"ntinc Of camp life.
:. In lh,' beginning ,t The r;umnai.
V "l iSti.l. Gen. /. :. Grant was mad
= COMMUNICATIVE chief of all the Inin
i armies. H.. left Sherman in char"
z OF the western army and tranSfcrre
/. his ncadGuai ,rr> to ihc army Of Tin
= Potomac, and superseded Gen. Mead
t in command. Until the month Of Ma
@ Lees army was still guarding tn
It line Of the Rapidan. Grant : arm
l. crossed the Rapidan ON Nav 4th. an