Virginia Free Press

GEN. LEE TO THE REAR.

A REMINISCENCE OF THE BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE.

At the recent re-union and banquet of the army of Northern Virginia, held during the State Fair in Richmond, Col. Jas. H. Skinner, in response to the toast in honor of "Our Infantry," gave an account of a memorable incident in the Battle of Spottsylvania Court House, which we are so sure will be interesting to our readers that we have sought the privilege of laying it before them in the following extract:

Our infantry not only encountered with cheerfulness all the trial and hardships of the camp and the march, but in the fierce encounters of battle displayed a proud self-reliance, to which the annals of other wars and other armies can scarce furnish a parallel. Let one notable instance, out of many, suffice for illustration. It was on the memorable morning of the 12th of May, '64, in the battle of Spottsylvania Court House. In the early dawn our army had suffered a fearful disaster. An assault by Hancock's corps had broken our lines and swallowed up almost a division, including the larger part of the famous Stonewall Brigade. Early's division was forthwith summoned to retrieve if possible our loss, and to re-establish our lines at the gap through which the enemy were pouring. It was an appalling crisis in our affairs, which called for the presence and direction of our noble Commander-in-Chief. He placed himself in front of the division, as though intending to lead the charge in person. Traces of anxiety could be read or at least fancied, on even his uniformly calm and imperturbable brow. Our own tried and trusted Chief of division was that day commanding a corps, but the mantle of an Early could not have fallen on worthier shoulders than those of the heroic John B. Gordon. The line divining Gen. Lee's purpose, insisted that he should abandon it, each heart felt that in his life the fortunes of the confederacy were, under God, bound up. This brave division, though it would have gloried to distinguish itself under the immediate leadership of its Commander-in-Chief, were unwilling to the unnecessary hazard of his valuable life. They knew that led by Gordon—as they frequently had done under Early they could and would accomplish all that lay in the power of men, and therefore from the ranks the cry arose, "Gen. Lee to the rear!" This is the incident to which Gen. Lee himself reluctantly referred, and locates in the battles around Spottsylvania Court House. He yielded to the demand of his men, who had no doubt by this time inspired him with the fullest confidence, and by the hand of General Gordon his horse was led through an opening made in Capt. James Bumgardner's company, the color company of the 52d Virginia infantry, the regiment which your speaker had the honor to command.—Gen. Gordon immediately thereafter gave to the division the order to charge, and with a wild yell it sprang forward. Hundreds of brave men fell in its onward rushing progress; but Hancock's corps driven before them like autumn leaves before a fierce winter's blast, they were forced far beyond our trenches, our line was substantially re-established, and the day saved to the army of Northern Virginia. We read how in the "terrible charge" at Lodi the veteran grenadiers of France, though flushed with many recent victories, faltered until their "Little Corporal," as they afterwards loved to call him, and several of their brave generals rushed to the lead, but the infantry of the army of Northern Virginia, in this more deadly and destructive charge, unselfishly denied themselves the privilege of being led by one who inspired them with an enthusiasm not inferior to that which the presence of Napoleon could awaken in the zenith of his fame.