The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-07
+. II. Stewart, Youngster Then,
Tells of Six Great
Battles.
IL FOUGHT IN SPOTSYLVANIA
tIc Was on the Scene, and Has
Vivid Recollection of
Conflict.


boy I'm the South that took as much in
t'rcst in II rs did. and as six battles
were fought In Spotsylvania. my ma
tivc county, ! had better opportuni-
ties of seeing practical demonstra
tons OF war than most boys. The six
battles were AS follows: TWO at Fred
ericlSSburg. In December. 1852 and May
1853. one each at Salem Church and
Charlottesville In May. 1863. and one
each at the Wilderness and Spotsyl-
vania Courthouse in May. 1864.
The estimated loss In killed and
wounded on the TWO sides in the six
battles was 10000.
/ was on the scene at Frcdericks-
burg. In December. 1852. when they be-
gan buryiug the dead. and at Chan
Ccllorsvilic, before the wounded were
all removed. and assisted in carrying
water to them before the minnie balls
ceased whistling. and saw still more
of warfare during the lighting around
Spotsylvania Courthouse. AZ VIII he
seen u little later.
The winter OF 1863 and 1864 was
spent by tho army Of Northern Vir-
elnia. COMMANDED by General Robert
J.. Lee, on the south side OF the Rapi-
dan River, in Orange County; while
its opponent the Army of the Potomac.
under General Grant. spent the winter
on tho north side OF tho said river. In
Culpeper County; and IL was generally
thought that = battle would be Tough,
south OF the said river In the spring.
y young companion and l bad planned
TO be at the frat battle that would be
fought within our reach, that We might
to able to get ammunition TO hunt
with, as none could he bought at that
time.
on May ., General Grant began his
march southwark. with Richmond rs
his objective point. but on the 5th lie
81 49,.
the battle OF the Wilderness was
foiight. Failing 10 drive General Leo
from his front. he decided to continue
his march by n sidcward journey via
Courthouse; and with
that end IN view. sent Warrens corps
In advance TO seize and hold the roads
beading to that point. General Lee.
in anticipation OF this movement. sent
|Gencral Fitahugh Lee. with divi-
|son Of cavalry TO occupy and hold
lihe said roads. on the 9th or eth.
the troops of Warren and Fitzhugh
Ice locked horns at Todd'a Tavern.
about SIX miles west of the courthouse.
General Lee. confronted by largely
superior force OF Infantry and artillery,
IT, handled his small force OF cavalry
land a few pieces OF light artillery that
H. prevented Warren from making
Iluore than four miles in two days.
|whlch brought him OH the morning Of
Iwest Of the courthouse.
vas ~ school near there, and on
3tha .th our teacher was Informed that
1hc armies wcr" fighting near his
house, and his wife wanted him 10
come home Al once. nc dismissed
school, telling us 10 go To our homes:
Several OF us fingered around until
ie was out OF sight. when we started
n the direction OF the hghting. and
Soon came In sight OF a portion OF our
| Inc OF battle In the woods. but In
] ew minutes a courier dashed up ana
ordered our troops to fall back TO the
fcft and rear. as the enemy had
urned our right and was coming up
8n their right and rear. The men
jbcyed this order in hurry, and so
i I!d We. our men, however. held the
Dad leading 10 the courthouse, which
vas the objective po!n; OF the enemy.
= The next morning. May Sth. in com
I,auY with my said companion
turted again for the scene OF combat
he men aght. and OF getting ammu-
itiOn TO hunt with. Just before reach
- M our line OF battle. a courier pass
d us, ana told some men near us. that
AudersOn's Division OF Infantry was
3oning to the assistance OF our cavalry,
nd III = few minutes the head OF the
olumn was in sight; Il went into
woods on the Spindle farm. the cavalry
alling back 10 the rear, the enemy
coupled position in the woods on
y he opposite side OF this field. from
which they soon made charge. led
y Maryland brigade of infantry,
Commanded by It's senior colonel.
harles Il. Phelps, who was slightly
:ounded and his horse killed. The
re OF Andcrson's Infantry at close
ange was so deadly, that the enemy
Noon beat h3sty retreat 10 the woods
rpm which they had come, and when
tic firing had ceased, our men began
looking after the wounded. Colonel
helpss dead horse was pulled off
him, and being attracted by his
lie appearance / went to where he
vas, and found some Of our men cx
i mining his clothing, through which
even bullets had passed, and only one
ad struck him, and that In the wrist.
ic complained of a wound in one of
- is legs, but upon examination 1t was
ound that the injury to his leg was
4Used by the falling OF his horse on
i'm.
Later in the day n charge was made
n our lines about half mile west OF
MS point. and our men were driven
the rear, but the line was soon re-
forced. countcrcharge made, and
ne enemy driven back through a large
ody OF pines to their main line. our
mpanion and l, and we had not gone
cry far, when the enemy opened with
cir artillery, ana we found ourselves
I Sht in the line OF their fire. the shells
urtsinG over and around us in a man
er THAT made US wish we were at
ONE. We laid down on the ground.
aking ourselves as fiat as possible.
at the shells. which at first were
8ursting some distance above u.s. soon
,calnc lower and lower, until they got
ear the ground where we were. when
i e peat hasty retreat. not To the rear,
Ut TO one side, which enabled us TO
e out of the line of fire When this
ring began we felt quite rich In the
rye quantity of powder we had got
: IN, but in our hasty retreat we forgot
take 1t with us. We. however, went
o tck 10 where the enemy had broken
i n lines. and where the fighting was
'ry heavy We counted here thirteen
'ad mon on a space about fifteen feet
luarci they were said TO have been
He'd In nGhtins over flag. At this
'int we loaded ourselves with pow
r., which we put in haVcrsacks, sus-
'ndcd from our shoulders, the weight
which made our shoulders so sore
at for some time thereafter we had
carry our trophies in our hands. We
mined our operations to the gather
OF powder and caps rs long as any
GRO to DO had. as tho first rain would
OIL them, while tho lead could be