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ooooooooooo opo o O o'o Battle At Sharpsburg o o ooooooooooooooooIBy Jon. I). Pinson, Co. I, Hampton Legion.)It was my fortune during the war to bo with Gen. Lee in his Maryland campaign opposing Gen. McClelland, who was the most able general that Gen Lee ever fought against. After our stay In Maryland for several weeks. Gen. Leo saw that he could not transport rations for his army and not wanting to forage on the country for rations for his army, he decided to return to Virginia, crossing the Potomac river.When he commenced his return to Virginia. Hie Yankees were in close pursuit and aa we marched In column. men were frequently wounded wliH in line. Gen. Lee not wanting to 1 pushed 011 too hard decided to giv«* . hem buttle, then making uh u short speech said: ‘Soldiers wo will have to give them battle again and I hope you will treat them as you have always done.Then there was a detail of men from each company for the skirmish line. As the orderly of ray Company was calling over the named alphabetically the captain said to me: Pinson you had us well volunteer they are sure to get you anyway. Then we weVo on I ml to report to Lieut. Fields in front. This we did. hut were told to wait until ihe others came, then we were ordered to deploy saying now moil hump yoursalves.nnd go at double quick with trail arms and get to that rock fence In front. *We gained the fence and gave u whoop as much as to say we mean to stay here. Now Gen. Lee had formed his Hue of battle as he supposed facing the* enemy, hut wub mistaken, then had to reform »iIs lines unother way that was facing them.Then the battle commenced. Lee with his 40.000 men and 'McClellan with his splendid army of K7.000 The fighting was desperate and the grandeur of the sight, was beyond description. as our pickets gazed upon the Beene, we looked over the plain and could see the pickets 011 the Yankee side were doing the same as well as I can remember Lee's line foil back some fifty yards, then they faced about, reformed and fought on.4 in the mean time I was uneasy forbear that they might force Lee Jiack. i began to think of myself, just how 1 wouia got away In safety irom that picket line. When the light had commenced the men on the picket line quit firing at each other and stood gazing at the battlo as It was going.on. This fight •was a drawn battle and many killed on both sides.Then the battlo closed for the night, both armies lying on their arms. AH this was near the Potomac river.General Lee that night called his generals together and consulted as best what to do. Gen. Jackson advised him to cross the river that night, but Gen. Lee replied Nd. we will Jhfht them agalh^CrthorbW?^ Everything was quiet) next morning. Gen. Lee cent Gen. Jackson lt;*uu his chief onugincer. Cot. Leo to a certain place, lddian Mound, teliug them they couldride.so fur and they would have to dismount, walk and crawl to reach this place, then took observations with tholr field glasses Leo remarking to Jackson: Why Generul Jackson a chicken rooster could not live in front of that line, meaning the Infantry and Artillery being so well located and covering the entire front The next day 4he two armies lay fronting each other all day. no fight log at ail that nlgfhLGen. Lee had moved a part of his artillery across tho river to use !o case the enemy followed bun in crossing the river. After we crossed the soldiers seemed as game as ever. Glad to get back Into Virginia, glad to rest a vrhlle, but still willing to do our best. Willing yea. more than willing to do anything on the face of the eariii thai Marse Kobert would have us no.
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The Anderson Daily Intelligencer
Anderson, South Carolina, US
Tue, May 26, 1914
Page 68
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USA 19 Jul 2022
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