The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-14

LlCuICIdIIEA CIIlIIlt
give my resollections Of the fight
on Boydton Plank Road. near or at
Dinwiddie Courthouse, March 81. 1865.
The division belonged to was
) Picketts. We were ordered from
Hewlett House and marched to a
church near Boydton Plank Road; went
into camp next day; were marched
down towards run before you get
TO Boydton Plank Road.
Our Observation-Disclosures Virginia In
f1antry--was thrown out as skirmishers
IN front OF corse's Brigade. We went
Sheridans cavalry. we had passed
many wounded OF our cavalry, and
majors and other Officers were being
brought out OF the fight hanging over
the saddles OF their horses. Ny recol-
lection Is II was North Carolina regi-
ment. Well. we went through the
woods on the far side OF the run mem
toned. and in our front in the woods
the enemy's cavalry had gone into
camp and were In the act OF cooking.
We found them In force on our right,
and opened fire on them The rest OF
our brigade came up and we laid down
TO let them pass US. and Joined on
their right and went until we were
stopped By orders. We had right
smart fight with Shertdan's cavalry
and drove away those who were on
our left when we reached the Plank
Road and in our front. and when our
brigade came up they wheeled to the
right and fought almost hand to hand.
Ny cousin. hobert F. Knox. captain of
company In Colonel Arthur Herberts
Seventeenth Virginia Infantry. was
wounded standing or fighting in the
road, and the enemy standing up above
. and shooting down, and Robert was
shot through, the bau passing out
under his shoulder blades: SO you can
see we were close up and hotly en-
gagged. My brother Alexander was
shot as we reached the Plank Road.
He was shot through the leg and was
taken to a hospital. We whipped the
cavalry and could see ambulances.
wagons and artillery dying heller
SHELTER downfthe road near the court
house. which never saw, but we saw
tho rout OF the cavalry as they fed.
We remained there In the field all
night. Next morning we were ordered
down to Five Forks. on Hatcher's Run.
All OF Jackson's old corps-I remember
zJohnson's sDivision@-passed us. and we
asked II they were not going to help
tls-and. believe. three OF Picketts
abrigades went OF. passing behind u.s..
They said they were obeying orders.
Well, company was sent out from
each regiment to our front about one
half mile perhaps in front and directly
in rear OF Glihams house. we could
see Sheridan's whole corps massed in
fields In front OF Gilham's house. There
were two regiments OF ". H. Fitzhugh
Lees cavalry on our right. The
Ninth Virginia and Thirteenth Vir-
ginia. think. were on our right at
right angles to our skirmish line
Soon Sheridan sent two or moro
squadrons to charge us. There were
a goodly number. We fell back. to
the road. where our regiment was.
They emptied some saddles and drove
the others OFF. and we were ordered to
take our old position in the field.
said: Lieutenant, look back at the
road where our regiment was" And
there they were on this side the fence
with their backs to my skirmish limo
lighting Claiborne's Division. Infantry.
and fought them so Rtoutly and with
such determination they tell back.
& Our brigade resumed their first POI
3sition. Then Morgan said again:
.'Lieutenant, look down on our left;
can you make out what that is?.
looked. and shortly saw 1t was an
other division OF infantry. and came
steadily through the woods, ordered
my nSn to fall back tcsour line. BY
this time General Corse had joined his
line on the cavalry regiments on our
left. SO as to face not only Claiborne's
Division. but the whole Of them. This
was about 8 In the afternoon OF APRIL
], 1865.
y This infantry which came up on our
left was the other part OF General
Infantry Corps. There were
no troops there on our line but corse,s
Brigade and these two cavalry regi-
ments. that know OF. So there We
fought. They charged and charged,
but we drove them back three or four
times At one time some one had n
United States flag at the head Of the
charge and nearly reached the Gilhanl
house, but we're driven back, saw
Brigadier General steuart, OF Nary
land, calmly sitting on, his horse
the fight, His brigade haa
gone. He was In charge of n brigade
In Pickett's division Il that time.
IT was behind our regiment that
Colonel William Pegrnm was killed.
MY brother, Captain James s. Knox.
said to him: Willie, you cannot du
any good there;s now, get on your
horse-you are too good q markand
come here with us, He said ''knox. I
am not going to stay here long II
have other artillery e)s6where," What
was there was captured later: horses
all gone or killed sor captured whans
Claiborne's Division Of Infantryl
charged our brig lie from the rear; but
all our men had been drilled at camp.
Lee In Fredericksburg,S by differently
officers and men OF COMPANY F (among
them Willie Pegranl drilled us) at the
old Fair Grounds right under Willis
and darye's III. IIesswas as brape
and gallant as any Confederate sol,
dter,S He d lad II be ind our re giment.|
Most Of Y he 9 old lers Swh O first came out
knew hln.' He s8 used to- elong TO
Brigadter-G eneral Il, Lindsay WI lker's
Artillery, Long ION and Big Charlie.
taptured at first battle of Manassas;
NV there we Il roma med ghtlng|