Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-04
WITHDRAWAL OF LEE
TO VIRGINIA DESCRIBED
Confederate Veteran Writes OF Incl
dents Following Battle of
Gettysburg.
FIGHT AT "FAILING WATERS
Commander of Army OF Northern
Virginia, I'm Camp Near Orange
Courthouse, Handed in Rcsignn-
ton, but 1t Was Not Accepted.
Continued from Last Sunday.

Owing to the extent OF Genera
Heth'e lines. some of his men most re
mote from the pontoon bridge were
cut off before they could reach the
bridge, but the creator part OF those
taken by the enemy during the move
ment lretreaD supposed 70 amount IL
all to about SEQ. consisted OF men from
various commands who fingered be-
hind. overcome by previous laoors and
hardships and fatigue OF most trying
nights march.
There was no loss Q: material eN-
cept few broken wagons and tive
pieces OF artillery which the horses
were unable TO draw ihrouch the deer
mud. The Gwo pieces 81 artillery cap
tured belonged 70 the battery com
manded by Captain John ". Lewis. OF
Halifax County. Va, aud my iownsman
and friend. +. L. Walker. was ser
Eeant OF :h!s battery. We have often
talked OF the battle o: Failing Wa
tcrs" and its happenings.
Now, dear reader. ] am going 70 tell
you one particular incident. While
cid not witness the event, Yet | VIII
rouch for the statement. As ! have
stated, our line OF battle ran through
road leading TO the pontocn bridge. Tc
the left OF the road our line ran
through a stable lot. the farm house
being only = short distance n Our
front. During the battle several Y an
kee officers rode up into this farm
house yard. The owner of the farm,
presume he was. was pointing out the
location OF our lines 20 the enemy. One
Of our men who was III our line Of bat
tie inside the stable LOT. said. You
see that farmer pointing out to those
Yankee officers the location of our
line~' YES was the reply. Now
watch me-" and i,e dropped 10 his
knees and rested his rifle on his hand
and knee and took aim and fired. The
farmer was seen TO fall Vow. dear
reader, / couldn't have done that. but
would have selected one of the Yankee
officers In preference. The above In
cident was told me more than once ny
n Confederate veteran who was In this
battle who said he was an eyewitness
to the shooting
HALT IN EFFORT TO SAVE
TWO PIECES Of ARTILLERY
General Heth had ample time 10 have
put every one of his men across me
pontoon bridge. but halted his com
mand to try and save the two pieces
of artillery stalled In the mud. Our
company (G) lost several men, and
our first lieutenant was captured.
When 1 arrived at tho pontoon
bridge the engineering force had com
menced to take UP the flooring and
had to walk for some distance on the
cross beams. When l arrived on the
Virginia side of the Potomac i looked
back across the river and tho whole
country on tho Maryland side was
lined with Yankees, but our artillery
had lined UP on the Virginia heights
OF the Potomac and was giving their
advanced forces a very warm recep-
ton.
After crossing the Potomac, GEN
eral Lee allowed his army To rest for
some days at Bunker Hill" His
purpose was to have moved into Lou
coun County. but he was prevented by
high water in the Shenandoah. While
waiting for that 10 subsidc tho enemy
crossed into Virginia, east Of the Blue
Ridge and seized the passes that he
would have used. lie. therefore. or
dered Genera! boncStrect, on July ia
to proceed to Culpcper Courthouse by
way OF Front Royal General Long
street, delayed somewhat by high
water, reached Culpcpcr Courthouse on
July "a. General a. y. HIN followed
immediately with his corps. GENERAL
Ewell, after some skirmishng with the
encmy's advance. reached Madison
Courthouse on July %. with tho divi-
stons of General RoGcs and johnson.
leaving General Early in the Valley.
with orders 10 move up to Newmarket.
The Yankee army then was nus..d
near Warrent6A. Vat
On July sra Sarge force Of IN. e,.-
my's cavalry and Infantry crossed the
Pappahannock and advanced toward
brandy station Genera! IL. ,h.- d.
term'ned 20 p!ac" his army alorr mo
line Of the Kapiaan River General
LoHes'rset and General = r H!n
moved or August Z. Leaving ~. re"airv
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