Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-11
Misesllaneuus 8saains.
coNFEDERAcYs LAST STAND
Description Of Five Forks Pickett
Wrote to His Wife.

Description Of Five Forks Pickett
Wrote to Ills Wife.
The battle of Five Forks was practi-
cally the final gasp Of the dying Con-
federate cause. Hemmed in on all sides
by Union force that tripled their own,
they put up a fight that will go down
in the annals Of history as one Of the
most terrific battles ever fought Like
lions at bay, this remnant Of what had
been a Grand Army, carried on for
hours, an unequal combat until the
wearied Union forces permitted the
survivors to escape. General George E.
Pickett, the hero Of Gettysburg and
commander at Five Forks" describes
the battle in the following letter which
he wrote his wife In 1864 appearing in
the Pictorial Review.
Just after mailing my letter to you
at Five Forks, telling you Of our long,
continuous march Of eighteen hours
and of the strenuous hours following
these, where had, because OF exigent
circumstances, been induced to fall
back at daylight, / received dispatch
from the great "Tyee," telling me to
hold Five Forks at all hazards to pre-
vent the enemy from striking the
southside railroad" This dispatch was
L
porting the state OF affairs and that
the enemy were trying to get In between
the army and my command, and ask
ing that diversion be made at once or
I should be isolated
I had had all trains parked In the
rear Of Hatchers Run and much pre-
ferred that position, but from the gen.
erals dispatch, supposed that he In
tended sending reintorcements. ! i'm
mediately formed line Of battle upon
the White Oak road and set my men to
throwing up temporary breast works.
Pine trees were felled, a ditch dug and
the earth thrown up behind the logs.
Well, I made the best arrangements
Of which the nature OF the ground ad-
mitted, placing w. II. F. Lees cavalry
on the right, Ransom's and Wallaces
brigades acting as one and numbering
about 900, on the eft; then Corse,
Terry and Stuart, numbering about
5000. Six rifled pieces of artillery were
placed at wide intervals. Fitz Lees
cavalry was ordered to take position on
the left flank. About q o'clock In the
afternoon Sheridan hide heavy de-
monstration with his cavalry. Mean
time Warren's corps swept around the
left flank and rear Of the Infantry
line, attacking Ransom and Stuart be-
hind their breastwC ks. Ransom sent
word that the cavalry was not in pc ST.
ton, and Fitz Lee was again orderel to
cover the ground at once. suppo sed
II had been done, when suddenly me
enemy in heavy infantry column ap-
peared on our left, and the attack be-
came general. Raasom's horse was
killed, falling with his rider under him.
His assistant, Adjutant General Gee,
LIN 1I., hpo frianH
Willie Pegram was mortally wounded,
falling within q few yards Of me just
after we had exchanged "Kla-how-ya,
tik-egh" chow are you, love to you)
land good luck" The captain Of his,
Pegram's battery was killed.
I succeeded in getting a sergeant and
enough men to man one piece; but af-
ter firing eight rounds the axle broke.
Floweree's regiment fought hand to
hand after all their cartridges had
been used. The small cavalry force
which had gotten into place, gave way
and the enemy poured in on Wallace's
left. Charge after charge was made
and repulsed, and division after divi-
sion Of the enemy advanced upon us.
Our left was turned; we were COM
pletely entrapped. Their cavalry,
charging at a signal Of musketry from
this infantry, enveloped our front and
right, and, sweeping down upon our
rear held US in wise.
"Take this Marse---" said one Of my
boys earlier in the action, hastily
thrusting a battle flag into my hand.
took the flag, stained with his blood,
sacred to the cause for which he fell,
and, cheering as I waved 1t, called on
my men to get into line to meet the
next charge. Seeing this, part Of
the famous Old Glee Club, our dear old
Gentry leading, began singing, Rally
Round the Flag, Boys; Rally Once
Again. rode straight up to where
they were and Joined in singing, RAJ
ly Once Again" as waved the blood
stained flag. And, my darling, oVe'-
powered, defeated, cut to pieces as W.
were, those that were left Of US forme1
front and north and south and met with
sullen desperation their double onset
With the members Of my own staff anu
the general officers and their staff Of
ficers we compelled a rally and stand
Of Corse's brigade and w. H. F. Lees
cavalry, who made one of the most brill
liant cavalry fights Of the war, enabl-
ing many Of us to escape capture.
Our loss in killet and wounded was
heavy and yet my arling, with all the
odds against US we might possibly
have held out till night, which was fast
approaching, but that our ammunition
was exhausted. We yield to an over
whelming force. Sheridan's cavalry
alone numbered more than double my
whole command with Warren's 1nfan-
try corps to back them.
All, Chulita, the triumphs of might
are transient; but the sufferings and
crucifxions for the right can never be
forgotten. The sorrow and song Of my
glory crowned division nears its dox-
ology. May God pity those who wait
at home for the soldier who has report
ed to the great commander! God pity
them as the days 80 by and the sad
nights follow. The soldier is done with
tears and time, and to him a thousand
years are as one.
The birds were hushed in the woods
when / started to write, and now one
calls to it's mate, Cheer up-cheer up"
Let's listen and obey the birds. my
darling. Let's try to cheer up-cheer
up! l remember that Milton said:
Those who best bear His mild yoke,
they serve Him best" Let's bear and
serve Him best, my darling.
Faithfully and lovingly your