The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-09-20
Al Interesting Wa. Story.


, descriptive of his delightful visit 70 th'
historic planes OF Manassas and OF hi
participating il the claspIng OF !:apd
between the old heroes who wore the
grey aud tbosc who wore the blue, lnl
who illustrated upon that field fit,
wears before the chivalry and indomit
able courage of the American soldier
What calls forth this letter from me, il
his statement that upon the hill at The
Henry house. he observed a nIonumeo
on whct. was inscribed The 1th Geo.
Regiment who upon this hill captured
Capt. Ricketts, battery. If the Georg
ians ever captured that battery the,
generously lent their guns to Capt
Ricketts, to finish the fight for as the
2na and Sth S. G. Regiments command
ed respectively by Coils. kershaw anc
Cash we're approaching the field anc
were u mile distant, Il body OF cavalry
passed around our left 1T high speed
and the iron clad heel Of their horse:
tore the turf and threw up clouds OF dust
which the wind swep. high above the
tree tops plainly discernabie to the
enemy who naturally surmised it was
caused By the ADVANTAGE of heavy bodies
OF infantry coming into action. and that
identical battery from that Identical
hill opened upon us q terrible tire OF
| shell and solid shot cutting down limbs
from the big trees which fell upon The
soldiers, and seriously iniurlng them,
one limb striking down Elliotts two files
in front of me and number Of Palmetto
guards from Beaufort, still living. This
firing continued for the enemy knew
there were large bodies OF troops in
these woods just in their front, but we
had got two near to be hurt by the
shells, as we crossed, Early Branch. the
2nd regiment which was leading, turn
ed up stream, and the Sth headed down
stream. and was rapidly formed upon us
and Col. kershaw taking his position at
the hankS of the town regiments as SEN
ior officer. and his splendid voice rang
out with the command attention bat
talon fix bayonets forward guide center
march,, when half way TO 2. belt of
young pines in which Col. Ellsworth's S
fine Souaves of New York were deploy-
ed. thin line and rot wanting US to
engage them but to reserve our foe
for .he heavy line OF battle which he
felt sure was just in front of Rick
ettS battery. one the Henry house hill
aud just as we broke through this belt
of pines, we would be upon them, he or
oered double quick, charge bayonets''
h., had taught us on drills to raise the
rebe! yell, whenever We charged bayo-
nets. This yell originated with him,
and was used that day for the first
time. 1t had very demoralizing
effect upon the enemy, for as we burst
into the field yelling like Dervishes.
and poured volley from two thousand
muskets into their dense ranks they
broke in wild confusion up the hill
through and over and around Ricketts,
battery turning west they ran across
and unfinished railroad and formed
upon large body OF regulars about
5000, their rock of Gibralter, the hope
of the day: but, the combined assault of
Kershaw's victorious troops on the East,
and Gen. Kirby Smith who debauched
upon the field with five splendid Vir-
ginia regiments in their rear disintre-
gated the rock, and it mingled with the
masses OF fleeing volunteers overlowed
the turnpike, and over Stone Bridge.
On breaking that line OF battle we rush
ed upon the battery: the living mem
bers dasked off with the fleeing infantry
hut could not move gun. their horses
were destroyed, most of the pieces were
left loaded. many persons from South
Carolina rushed to the army on the 18th
and Manassas on the 2lst, among them
were some Of Capt Cathbert Palmetto
Guards, college mates; viii give their
names as they are material witnesses in
this battery business. Capt. Green, of
the Columbia Artillery; Prot. Venable,
of the South Carolina College: Mr..
Whalev, OF Charleston; Congressman
Dihbie, OF Orangeburg. They threw
down their rifles and assisted by many
of the regiment fired their guns with
great effect. Now have been rather
lengthy and I fear tedious, but it was
essential to prove that there was con-
tinual intercourse from the firing Of the
first shell by the aforesaid Ricketts,
battery at the Henry house, and our two
regiments to the monument; We dellv-
cred into their ranks shot and shell from
their own pieces.
Ifmy account OF the part taken by the
End South Carolina Regiment IS cor
rect. and it is from individual exper-
ience, then I want some one to explain
what part did the 7th Georgia have in
the taking of the battery and what did
it consist in. The survivors owe it to
the truth OF history to correct such gross
Measurements. In this instance il grew
out OF the reports of Gen. Beaucegard
and Johnson. not mentioning the des-
perate fighting Of these two regiments
the only troop that charged that day
and captured the only battery that was
captured President Davis telegraphed
to the Secretary of War Of the utter
route of the enemy and that the cavalry
were pursuing ard hewing them DOVE
with their sabreS. not cavalry popped