The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-10
Capture Of Edward Johnson
Division at Spotsylvania
Capt. Randoph's Report Of General Johnson's State
mnf.

me
The following article 10 taken from
correspondence which took place New
ember II. 1911. between JsAxe l. r
Watts, Of Portsmouth,, and Caseatn "
r. Randolph. Of Fauaater CsSnay. NTH
reference TO the capture q 0enefai Ed
ward Johnson's DiviA3e0 ~ the bottls
OF Epotsylvania. \
Judge watts. in the AD3iov4nE extract.
states his authorities for having re-
ferred 70 Hanccck's movement At this
battle a. a "surprass." He says:
II comply with Your request ~
understand 1t. with pleasure. an1 rsany
do not think there = Any doaet but
that this most bril1onnt DOsement Ct
Hanoock's was a sur1rtse. aDa this ex-
plains its disastrous resufts-
II have understood that some mis-
take was made in the matter OF the
movement Of the artillery. but this I
will not discuss. as am not sumcient-
~ advised in the premises. This move
ment of Hancock's was treated as
surprise, 1 think. by General Long. In
his Life Of General Lee: and also In
General FftzhuEh Lees Lite Of Lee L
however. quote you at some length
from General John b Gordon, who was
present. and as you thoroughly under
stand. led the charge OF the Georgians.
virGinians. and North Caroainians. who
recaptured the works and reformed
Lees broken line. General Gordon
says:
".At about 4:3e or A. NJ q soldier
stationed during the night at diff
ferent points to listen Tor any unusuaf
sounds. came hurriedly In from the
front and said to me: ~tseneraI. sn.nk
near where General Edward Johnsons
81 asked why. and remarked there
had been no unuS,1A1 nfinG- He replica
NO, sir, there's been very little nrsnS.
But I tell you. sir. there are some
mighty strange sounds down there
something Ike shicess Eivtns conn
mands and Q jun1bae Of veaees"
TN the next few .nfuutss. BEFORE
saddles could be strapped on the OF
Aeers' horses ard cartr40Ge-Soxes on
the men. report after report N qu,cA
succession reached me. Finauy
there came the positive statement that
the enemy had carried the outer angie
Of General JohnsSn's 'front.' ana seemed
to be moving In rear OF our VOL
6ischarees Of email arms mot . heavy
run had been nred) that 1t was difh-
cult 70 believe She yepoFts true. ONT
they were accn1Se.
..Dursng the nieAt Hancoek had
maeyed a large portion OF General
Grants army in front Of that salient.
and SO near to st. that, With quick
rush. hi. column had gone over the
breaetworks. capturing General I'd
ward johnson ana General Geerge
Steuart and the great body OF shsdr
men before these alert 0Ocers or their
movement. The surpsise vas complete.
ana the assault practically unresisted-
IN all IL. detAsls-sts planning. Its exc
cu,ion and rs fearful import to Lees
army-sh,s cAarRe Of Hancock was one
Of that CREST soldiers most brilliant
achievements"
In the following extract from Cap
tain Rsndcfph's reply TO Judge watts.
the CAPTAIN Gives his account OF per-
sonal Interview With General Johnson.
Who was his feIlow-prisoner at JoAu-
sons Island Captain Ran0oiph says:
TT xoe. without saying that you
Yourself a-~ in novice responsible Tor
ts. stasenens made IN yOur address.
that you could not do otherwise than
70 place entire confidence IN the state
ment made BY General Gordon IN his
"reminiscences. since that statemsnt has
rever been ecntradscted-
~Yov viii note that General Gordon
doe, not say in his account thAa he him
self was present On the G.oune. q the
time Of the disaster. OF the esWeSHry-
he hays N the quotations gwen. thas
before the saddles could he ssreppee
On the horses Of the esaeers are the
cartridge boxes on the men. JSnnssnr
Division had been capeure1 snd the
enemy were moving IN The rear ~ our
works SO thar he himself ee0to nSf
have been an eyewitness % the tracey.
but was only personally cogsnns oY
conditions existing after he hsmseii
came upon the s~ers.
general Edward johnson wss man
% the highest character. an o1eer ~
distinction and merit. and on seeovnt
% sNese known <Aaraeferssdo ~ss
plsoeA sn chases % peAssea ~ sveh
passDeunt i@porsseee. speo TIE hcsa-
sae a which 6spsN6s6. pcssseiy. Me
safety ~ Tee's army ssS che veTy es-
sstsnce % ne rbnSed~~a-y.
'Cnder these circumstances % nave
sytowed hSmseis TO he surpr:s>A -
have been Aeacsess IN viG1lsaep ano
olsrsneon vas M. only . Gyowe re1ser-
cen uppr Ms ability - seSeser. bot
oimeoe q crime.
TIE frvsh ". thev~ was ~ ssFprsse,
NJ Arsunns strategy. no magnificent
movement, upon TIE part % the v~oersf
rcmraaode-. The attach vas se,y IN
line wfsh General Grants usual eDcsses.
70 mass an Immense SWree upoN some
par, ~ General tees frows WIN Tire
OBJECT % breaking through BY the mere
impact ~ ewmSers. sra seis vas the
only ,ssssscc tn which - ever met