The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-23
TELLS INCIDENT
In TOOMBS' LIFE

An interesting incident in the mil
secretary of state of the Confederate
States of America, was related by Capt.
lJ. LawIer Darby, adjutant of Camp
Hardee, U. C. ". in his speech at the
veterans county reunion Saturday at
Bessemer.
Captain Darby spoke as follows'
"Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Com
rades-we have met here today wnere
we met five years ago to renew Old
ties and friendships and relate things
pertaining to the time of the civil
war that tried the patience and cour-
age of the southern people Some that
we're with us then are not here to-
day.
Let me speak moment about Lee
campaign against Pope in northern Vlr-
einia in August 1852. jackson made
a flank movement and got between
the federal army and Washington City.
For several days, like fox, he COM
pletely concealed his whereabouts from
his federal opponent. General Pope.
AS soon as General Lee ascertained
that the federals had started out with
the hope of crushing and capturing
Jackson's 10000 soldiers. he started
with the main army to reinforce him.
about o'clock in the afternoon Of
August %, as we approached Thor
oughfare Gap, in the Bull Run noun
tains. the gateway to Manassas, we
| 10 hell hu the fpdara s..
General Lee quickly addressed HIM
self to the situation and just as the
day closed Longstreet lead his COM
mand through the gap and encamped
that night on the east side or the
mountain. At dawn of day we left for
Groveton Heights, which embraced a
part of the battlefield. Upon hearing
Lees signal guns that morning jack
son exclaimed: I am SAFE
"When we reached the field Pope
had fallen with all his might on Jack
sons army. The battle lasted all day,
was renewed early the next morning
and when the sun went down on that
day the old battlefield had been twice
made glorious for the Confederates.
The beautiful old Virginia home,
Groyeton, the famous Henry house. and
the old Stone house, in which resided
| In years long ago the family of our
comrade Judge ]. #. Garretson, again
shook from the shock of battle.
| "One incident on this battlefield
we'll recollect Gen. Robert Toombs
of Georgia had, for some reason, been
removed early in the morning from the
command of his brigade, which was
Immediately in rear of Wilcoxs Ala
bama brigade during the day. At twi-
light when the battle ceased he re-
turned to his command We were still
standing in line of battle when Toombs
riding up and down our lines. ex-
claimed; Lie down. soldiers! Lie down
jeff Davis can make plenty such gen.
erals as I am, but 1t takes God AL
mighty to make such soldiers as you
are When he was making his escape
from the Confederate states he went
to Mobile and there he met with an
old Georgia friend. Mr.. Matt R. Ev-
ans, father of Mrs. Augusta Evans
| Wilson, who took him to his house,
where he remained until an opportunity
presented itself for taking flight on
a fruit vessel to Central America.
Comrades, we went down in defeat,
but 1t was an honorable defeat. The
Confederate armies have left a name
and a heritage that will shed glory
upon the southern people for ages 10
come.
AT Appomattox when we marched
In front of federal division AMI
| stacked our muskets a calm prevailed
| like the quiet of the City of the Dead.
Bronzed, starved and ragged veterans
who had seen four years of carnage
wept like children. That grand man.
Robert f. Lee. and our other great
military leaders will remain the won
ders of the world for their military
genius and generosity; and the Con-
federate soldiers memory will be re-
vered and cherished by all thoughtful
and patriotic people"