The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-07-03
HOW HASKELL LOST HIS ARM.
His Gallant Conduct Mt the Battle OF
Gaines Mill.

A"0 oAtSAo hoAo IepIouuceu WIS
written by Gen. r. r. Hemphill in the
Abbeville Medium in 1889. Col. Has
kell died at his home In Columbia on
Saturday morning, as reported In The
Sunday News. Of yesterday:
"The Democratic State executive
committee met In Columbia last week
to elect a member of the National
Democratic Exective committee to fill
the vacancy occasioned by the death
Of the late lamented Capt. F. w. Daw-
son. The Hon. John c. Haskell was
unanimously chosen for the honorable
and important position. No better se-
lection could have been made, He is
In the full yigor Of his intellectual
powers. has fine exective talent, and
il devoted party man.
"Col. Haskell is q native of this
county. and Abbeville Is proud of her
son. Whatever station he has filled,
and whatever duty he has been called
upon to perform. he has always re-
fiected credit upon the place Of his
nativity and gained honor for himself.
During the war he commanded q bat
talon Of artillery, and upon nearly ev-
cry memorable battlefield of Virginia
the roar Of his well-directed cannon
emphasized his love OF South Carolina
and his devotion to the cause of con-
stitutional government. He was with
Longstreet. and we fought under a.
p. HILL. Once when we were hard
pressed the war horse came to our
relief. We still have In our memory
q vivid picture OF John c. Haskell as
he came upon the field. He rode a
fine horse. whose arching neck and
diiated nostrils showed that he was at
home amid the noise Of battle. Coll
HaskelI's slouched hat. encircled by
handsome golden cord, and the cape
OF his military cloak brought out In
bold relief his soldiery figure. The
earth trembled beneath his hurrying
guns as they wheeled into position ard
uplimbersd. In a moment his blazing
Napoleons had thrown the advancine
hosts Of the enemy into confusion ard
turned the tide OF victory.
''Col. Haskell has but one arms lie
lost the other at the battle of Gaines
Mn on June "a. 1881. How 1t was
lost may interest our readers. Gen.
Lee had crossed the Chickahominy
and was advancing on Mcclellan. The
Ihaitlss nionul11 111uuhaa heep
fought on the 2eth. Jackson was
coming on the f,eld. having made con-
'nection with Lees force. Haskell was
serving on the stan Of Gen. r. D..
Jones. but being indisposed remainee
at headquarters for some time after
Gen. Jones had gone towards the rive,
TO observe the enemy. This did not
suit him, and although scarcely IN
condition for any exertion at all, he
mounted his horse and rode forward.
He found Gen. Jones and Gen. Nc
Gruder on high ground on the south
side OF the Chickahominy. Beyond
the river In plain view the enemy
were hurrying forward In dense col
umns to overwhelm our forces. From
recent heavy rains the river was ou,
OF Its banks. There was no bridge t.
cross. but 1t was necessary to conve,
information as to the movement Of
the enemy to Gen. Lee. Col. Haskell
rode a remarkably fine horse. once the
property Of Gen. Turner Ashby, an(
he undertook to deliver the message.
He quickly made his way to the river,
and soon the noble horse and its gal
liant rider were breasting the rushin,
waters. A line of the enemy's cav
olry pickets caught sight Of the DARN.
rider and opened fire upon him, and
continued to 90 SO until he reached
the north side of the river and disap
pcared In a body Of timber. The mes
sage was delivered. and Col. Haskell
remained with Longstret until late In.
the evening. He was directed by
Longstreet to order r. H. Anderson's
Brigade forward. He did so. and GO
Ing to the front he found many men
scattered and broken. He collected
about two hundred Of these, and
forming on the right of Writings
division with a stand of colors in his
nand. advanced with them to within
ABOUT fifty yards of the enemy's