The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-03-20
pond in, the northern suburbs.

pond in, the northern suburbs.
On the 7th inst. the conscript act
became a law by receiving the sigma
ture of President Davis, and our
hopes were dashed. April 18th took
steamer at for Yorktown
peninsular reached, camp, distant 8
miles from Kings Mill Landing of
the same evening. John Whilock and
Thos. |. Reeves Joined this company.
April 22d by order from Brig. Gen.
Anderson the remains of the 5th Reg.
S. c. V. (after the Volunteers had
withdrawn under Col. M. Jenkins on
the 18th under the name and style of
the Palmetto Sharpshooters) were
reorganized and company officers
elected. j. B. Steedman was elected
captain of the P. R. v. without op-
position. Ed. 1. McKissick, 1st Liept.,
Thomas Conner I'd and Jas. r. Farr,
Brew. End. Captain Scott and Lieut..
Little with privates Joe Hames were
dicharged on the 23rd and 25th inst.
April 23rd, 1862, the 5th S. C. Reg
iment was reorganized by the election
of the following field officers, viz, Col.
u. r. r. Giles, Lieut.. Col. Andrew
Jackson; Major VIM. Foster.
1t consisted of the following COM
panies: A, Capt. Wylie; B., Capt.
Beckham; c., Capt. Dunn; D., Capt.
Douglas; F., Capt. Meacham; F., Capt.
---; H., Capt. Steadman; l.,
Capt Cary; X, Capt. Hay-in all 8
companies.
April 18th this regiment went on
picket duty and remained two days
near Dam No. 2, May 3rd abandoned
camp and began at 7 p. M.
The Retreat From Yorktown.
Marched miles and halted till day
light at Lebanon church, marched at
IL O'Clock A. M. and made 10 miles
to Williamsburg, passed through this
venerable town and halted two miles
beyond but were recalled to the en-
trenchment 2 miles east of it at SUM-
set, the enemy having made his ap-
pearance on our rear. Lay all night
on our arms in the trenches watch
ing by turns.
May 5th was fought the Battle OF
Williamsburg.
| The 5th S. C. V. with Col. Jenkins
Sharpshooters were posted in Fort
McGruder and the redoubt to the left
and as the main fighting occurred
principally on the right of our line,
while we held the centre it did not
have very active part to perform
during the day. The 3 left compa-
MES, Steadman's Camp and Hays
were sent forward at very early
hour to hold a redoubt 400 yds. in
front to the left of the position Just
described, and though annoyed by
skirmishers occasionally had no ac-
tive part to play until about 2 o'clock
p. M. Meanwhile it enjoyed a rare
opportunity of witnessing the battle
occasionally raging on our right. oc-
cupying as it were a central position
and between the two armies. The
enemy made furious but unsuccess-
ful efforts to storm the redoubts and
other works on the right, sharly en-
gaglng the centre meanwhile with ar
tillery and skirmishers. They were
driven back each time and their loss
In the attempt, must have been very
great. At about 2 o'clock P. M. heavy
columns were seen advancing through
open fields on our extreme left bear
| ing the Stars and Stripes above them
Lieut.. McKissick of Comp. H. was
sent to announce their approach to
Gen. Anderson; the enemy took pos
session of large fort on our left
unoccupied by our forces and immedi-
ately opened battery upon our left
invading our lines. Maj. Foster or
dered return of the 8 left compa-
MES of 5th regiment detailed as
aforesaid to within shelter of the
main works and finding Col. Bratton's
5th S. G. V. drawn up in line of bat
tie to face this new attack, our COM
panies fored with him and on the
left of this regiment. We were now
ordered to advance in line and take
position further to the left, this was
done under severe artillery fire, but
without heavy loss. Our companies
moved by the left flank into wood
and took position to resist an ad-
vance of the enemy. Reinforcements
arriving about one hour afterwards
under Gen. Hill and Early, 4th Regi-
ments of this command charged across
the open fields upon the fort and bat
terry occupied by the enemy and with
out orders from Col. Bratton. Repi-
ment and our 3 companies formed in
the rear and charged ALSO This
charge was not successful; the Regi-
ments in front suffered severely and
were repulsed before those in their
rear, could come to their support. We
were ordered out of fire to cover the
retreat of our Regiments and soon
after returned to our position within
our lines. In this charge Mr.. Davis
of our company was wounded in the
arm and Thomas johnson was hit
upon the hand. Capt. Dunn of Com
pany &C" was wounded in the abdo-
men and his wound pronounced NOR
tai. While the fight had thus COM
menced upon the left of our position,
the enemy were making vigorous
movement again upon our right, but
they were again beaten back at this
point and pursued some distance with
loss of some pieces of artillery and
many small arms