18

GEN. JAS. J. ARCHER.

CAPT. F. S. HARRIS, NASHVILLE, TENN.

The December VETERAN, containing picture and sketch of Gen. Archer, has a few inaccuracies concerning this very remarkable

man.

Gen. Archer was born at Belair, Maryland, about the year 1825. After finishing his collegiate education he read law, but upon the passage of the Tenth Regiment bill by Congress, he accepted a commission as captain from Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of War, and was assigned to duty in Oregon, where he remained until his resignation to enter the Confederate Army. Mail facilities in this new country at that time were not good, there being but one mail every three months. Considerable progress had been made by the South in preparing for the war when he first definitely learned of it. He immediately resigned but awaited its acceptance before he started South. He was so bold and outspoken that he experienced great difficulty in reaching Louisville. He came on to Gallatin, Tennessee, where he accidentally became the guest of Col. Bailey Peyton, who, although a Union man, entertained him courteously, offering every facility to reach the South.

He tendered his services to President Davis and was at once appointed colonel of the Fifth Texas infantry.

When Gen. Hatton fell in the lead of his brigade at the battle of Seven Pines, Col. Archer was apPointed Brigadier-General to succeed him. From this on he became practically a Tennessean, and his heart was with the Tennessee boys. The old brigade, known ever afterward as "Archer's Tennesseans," was composed of the following regiments of infantry: First Tennessee, Col. Peter Turney; Seventh Tennessee, Col. John F. Goodner; Fourteenth Tennessee, Col. Wm. T. Forbes; Nineteenth Georgia, Col. W. W. Boza; and the Fifth Alabama Battalion, Maj. Smith. Later on the Nineteenth Georgia was transferred and the Thirteenth Alabama (Col. Fry) substituted. And later still, that glorious little band of Marylanders, the Second Maryland Battalion was added, than whom no better soldiers ever lived.

In a little over a month after assuming command, Gen. Archer had led his brigade through the seven days' battles around Richmond, commencing on the 27th of June, 1862, at Mechanicsville. Then, in rapid succession, Cold Harbor, Frazier's Farm, Turkey-neck Bend, and Malvern Hill. He led them at Cedar Run, the three days' hard fighting at Manassas, also Chantilla and Ox Hill; then to Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, and Shepardstown, beside innumerable smaller engagements, and wound up the memorable year of

1862 at Fredericksburg, when his brigade held the extreme right of old Stonewall's Corps, and with the assistance of Pelham's horse artillery, met and repulsed the fearful onset of Gen. Meade. It was in this battle that Col. Peter Turney received the fearful wound, at the head of his "Hog Drivers," from which he has never recovered.

He again led them at Chancellorsville, and was at their head when his brigade led the advance of Lee's army at Gettysburg. While developing the enemy's strength, Gen. Reynolds, of the Federal army (who was killed that day by the Tennesseans), flanked him on both wings, capturing a number of prisoners including Gen. Archer himself. He effected an exchange from Johnson's Island and assumed command of his old brigade in the summer of 1864, in front of Petersburg. The rigors of a northern prison were too much for him, his health rapidly declined and he died in Richmond a few months later, and now sleeps in beautiful Hollywood, near his great commander, Gen. A. P. Hill, the worthy successor of old Stonewall.

The make up of Gen. Archer was enigmatical. His exterior was rough and unattractive, small of stature and angular of feature, his temper was irrascible, and so cold was his manner that we thought him at first a Martinet. Very noncommunicative, and the bearing and extreme reserve of the old army officer made him, for a time, one of the most intensely hated of men.

No sooner, however, had he led his brigade through the first Richmond campaign, than quite a revolution took place in sentiment. The estimate of a soldier is invariably gauged by his conduct in battle. Beneath his rough exterior beat a warm heart. But his estimate of men was always from the standard of a soldier. His judgment of them was infallible. For some officers he had a contempt, while there were privates for whom he never failed a warm hand-shake. He had none of the politician or aristocrat, but he never lost the dignity or bearing of an officer. While in battle he seemed the very God of War, and every inch a soldier according to its strictest rules, but when the humblest private approached his quarters he was courteous.

There was no deception in him and he spoke his mind freely, but always with the severest dignity. He won the hearts of his men by his wonderful judgment and conduct on the field, and they had the most implicit confidence in him. He was dubbed "The Little Game Cock." He was held in the highest regard by Generals Harry Heth, A. P. Hill, and Stonewall Jackson. He was devoted to his brigade, and refused a major-general's commission rather than be separated from this brigade.

He estimated the officers and men with unerring judgment and he had recommended as his successor, in case of his own death or removal, Geo. A. Howard, whose rank at that time was a first lieutenant. He had the highest regard for Capt. John Allen and Lieut. J. H. Moore, and great confidence in Col. S. G. Shepard and a number of others, not only of the Seventh, but the other regiments of his command.

He told me once, when on the picket line in front of Petersburg, that if he had the power to officer his brigade as his judgment dictated he could duplicate Balaklava.

When in trouble before him his men-knew equal and exact justice would be given them. The old brigade loved him devotedly.

Gen. Archer was never married, and in the presence of ladies was timid and retiring.

W. M. McCal!, Esq., who was a Lieutenant Company E., Seventh Tennessee, now of Humbolt, Tenn., writes as follows:

I was much gratified at seeing photograph in last VETERAN of Brig. Gen. James J. Archer, (of blessed memory), who commanded the now famous Tennessee Brigade in Lee's Army.

Your correspondent is in error in some details. Archer was Colonel of the Fifth At the Texas Infantry, not the Fourth.

date of his taking charge of the Brigade it was composed, as I now remember of the First, Seventh, and Fourteenth Tennessee Infantry, Nineteenth Georgia, and Fifth Alabama Battalion. The Thirteenth Alabama Infantry was attached to our Brigade in place of the Georgia Regiment after Fredericksburg.

On the first day at Gettysburgh, Archer's and Jo Davis', Mississippi Brigades, brought on the fight. They were sent in to "feel" of the Federals, and they "felt" of us a little. They had concealed a Brigade in the tall, uncut wheat at right angles with Archer's right, and, swinging around, captured Archer and nearly the entire right wing of the Seventh Regiment.

We did not "drive the Federals into the town," it taking all of A. P. Hill's corps to do that. After the capture of Archer, the Seventh Regiment, and, as I now remember, the entire Brigade, was sent over to the extreme right of Lee's Army to watch the Federal cavalry, threatening that point, and remained there all day and that night.

Archer was sent to Johnson's Island after Gettysburgh, where he remained until the summer or fall of 1864, when he

and other Confederate officers were sent by order of the War Department at Washington, to Charleston harbor, and put under fire of our own guns. He remained there until exchanged at that point a few months thereafter; but he contracted the disease there that ended his life a short while after his exchange. I was at Johnson's Island, a guest of the Federals myself at that time.

While Archer was there he gave his gold watch and $150.00 to a yankee soldier to permit his escape. The fellow let him out, but had notified the authorities, who, having placed a skirmish line out about a mile from the shore on the ice, recaptured him and brought him back. But the yankee kept the money and the watch-A "yankee trick," sure enough.

Archer was one of the bravest, truest of men. He had no sense of fear in battle.

I see him now at Fredericksburg. The Federals, four lines deep, had broken our lines, and as I went

STATE OFFICERS TENNESSEE SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS.

out (making about thirty miles an hour) I met Archer going in with that band of heroes, the Fifth Alabama Battallion, numbering about one hundred. and fifty men. In attempting to rally my company on the hill, I saw Archer and the Fifth Battalion surrounded by Federals; yet standing like a rock they held the yankees at bay until D. H. Hill's division. came up. The last thing that I saw of Archer at that time, he was on his little black, a Federal sol-. dier had the mare by the bridle-bit, the mare was rearing straight up, and Archer's heavy cavalry sabre was poised over his head. I never learned what the fate of that one yankee was, only surmised. Peace to the ashes of James J. Archer.

Other friends have written about the brief article referred to, but the points have been fully expressed in the foregoing.

LAST BATTLES OF THE WAR.

B. L. Ridley, Esq., Murfreesboro, Tenn.:

*

I commenced keeping a journal a short time before the surrender. Was quite young, an aid of Lieut. Gen'l A. P. Stewart. * * Headquarters Army of Tennessee, Smithfield, N. C., March 16th, 1865. I have just reached camp from Oxford, N. C., where I went on two days' leave of absence to visit my father's mother. Found Lieut. Gen'l A. P. Stewart Commanding the Army of Tennessee by order of Gen'l J. E. Johnston, who took command yesterday of the army of the South-Hardee's, Bragg's and Stewart's (formerly Hood's army) consolidated, make the Army of the South.

March 17th, conducted Gen'l Johnston to our headquarters, near Swift Creek, found him surprisingly social, and endeavors to conceal his greatness, rather than to impress you with it. I expressed to him the joy the Army of Tennessee manifested, on hearing of his restoration to command. He said that he was equally as much gratified to be with them as they were his coming, but he feared it "too late to make it the same army." * * * He said that never in his life had he seen such generous, freehearted people as the Middle Tennesseans. "Take out that little spot which you know is infested with Union men, and it is the most loyal part of the Confederacy." Received orders this evening to march toward Bentonville, 15 miles distant, to meet Sherman, who has taken an easterly course from Aversboro to effect a junction with Schofield, at Goldsboro. March 18th, struck tents this morning and arrived here at 5 o'clock P. M. One mile beyond Bentonville where we bivouac. Enemy camps eight miles on same road. Our army in high spirits and ready to brave the coming storm.

March 19th both armies commence the march. Three miles beyond Bentonville, at Coles' Farm, we meet, skirmishing heavily for a short time. Armies going into position. Bragg commands left wing, Stewart the center, and Hardee the right. At 1 o'clock enemy charges Clayton's division and is repulsed handsomely, leaving fifty dead on the field. Brig. Gen. Reynolds, of Arkansas, upon entering the field had his leg so mutilated by a solid shot as to necessitate amputation. His loss is much lamented. He is the idol of his brigade. Gen. Johnston now orders that Stewart and Hardee confer with each other and advance. The hour for attack was agreed upon, fifteen minutes to 3 o'clock. Gen, Stewart directed me to acquaint the corps commander of this, Loring commanding, Stewart's corps, Bate's, Hardee's old corps, and D. H. Hill Lee's corps, in connection with Hardee's army, all advanced, and with a rebel shout, drove the enemy nearly a mile and routed them from two lines of breastworks, capturing eight pieces of artillery and four hundred and seventeen prisoners. The excitement of the occasion and the many ravines we had to cross broke our line to such an extent that we halted and reformed. While doing this, the enemy rallied, reinforced, and charged repeatedly upon our lines until nightfall, but with no effect. The brunt of this battle was on the Army of Tennessee, and the more praise should

March 20th Gen. Loring goes to the rear from sickness, and Walthall succeeds to command. Enemy seem remarkably quiet in our front, but demonstrating heavily on Gen. Bragg, evidently trying to find a weak point. One division of Hardee's, sent to support the left. Skirmishers on our side have advanced to still find a force confronting us.

March 21st, enemy has made several charges on Bragg this morning. Evening, serious demonstrations being made on our rear, Gen. Johnston sends three brigades of our reserves at double-quick to report to Hardee, near Bentonsville. Before their arrival Cumming's Brigade, commanded by Col. Henderson, of Forty-second Georgia, charged the enemy in front. Eighth Texas Cavalry strike the two divisions of Seventeenth Army Corps in flank and route them. As a precautionary step, Walthall's Corps was sent there, and remained until 2 o'clock P.M., when the army retired six miles this side of Bentonsville, near Hannak Creek.

March 22nd, retired to Turner's Bridge, near Smithfield, and Sherman, it is supposed, has gone to Goldsboro.

March 23d, it is a treat that we are permitted today to wash up and put on clean clothes. Reports of casualties of the last five or six days: killed, 102; wounded, 820; missing, 305; total, 1,227. This loss is from the Army of Tennessee only. Have not heard from Bragg nor Hardee.

March 24th, ordered to go to-day two miles beyond Smithfield depot, on Lewisburg road. Soldiering in these piny woods is more disagreeable than any I have yet experienced. The smoke tans your skin, soils your clothes, and one presents a spectacle like that of an engineer who has worked sometime on his engine without change.

March 25th has been one of unusual quiet. Gen. Johnston busying himself with the doings of detailed men. General S. depressed. Gen. Bate made the soldiers a little speech to-night, preparing their minds for the consolidation of companies, battalions, etc. An episode connected with Bentonsville: The Eighteenth and Forty-fifth Tennessee Regiments, Col. Searcy commanding, about nightfall charged through the yankee lines and we gave them up as captured. Several days afterward we were surprised to find them report back, having wandered for miles in getting back. In Bate's speech to his troops I remember, as a boy, this little piece of humor. Says he: "Fellow soldiers, when I was at Nashville, Govan's Brigade chanced to pass my brigade. Govan's men hallooed out: 'Lie down, Mr. Bate, Mr. Govan is gwine to pop a cap.' The other day at Bentonville my brigade chanced to pass Govan. I made my men halloo out: 'Lie down, Mr. Govan, Mr. Bate is now gwine to pop a cap!'"

W. P. Gresham, of Simpsonville, S. C., is representative for the VETERAN in his section.

MY FIRST EXPERIENCE AT THE FRONT.

J. W. MCKINNEY, Greenwood, S. C.: After leaving the camp of instructions we were ordered to Sullivan's Island, near Charleston. Our regiment had no number, but was called the Orr Rifles, as it was organized by James L. Orr, our first colonel. He was elected to the Confederate Congress, and Foster Marshall was promoted to his place. Our regiment numbered 1,400 as fine looking men as could be found in any country. We remained on the islaud nine months, and some of us were so anxious to get to the front that we got up a petition asking the colonel to resign and let us get a colonel who would carry us to the front. I was one of the committee appointed to present the petition. "Old Forty," as we called him, looked at it, and told us if we did not get back to our quarters he would have us bucked and gagged, so we all sneaked back.

The long-looked for orders came at last, about the last of April, 1862. The colonel had the orders read at dress parade, and made a speech in which he said. he had been trying to get to the front ever since he had been colonel, but he was a subordinate and had to obey his superior officers, and all he asked of his regiment now (when they got to the front) was to follow Foster Marshall. We gave him three cheers, and moving commenced. We had been quartered in We had been quartered in good houses and had everything usually kept in a well-regulated family, and as we tried to take all with us, it took four big wagon loads to move our company to the boat, and the other companies had about the same. When we landed in Richmond and moved up on Main street the citizens would ask what brigade it was, and judging from the amount of bag. gage you would have thought it was a division. We had not been there long before a little officer, dressed in artillery uniform, with patent leather boots, came around. He reminded me of one of those little bantam roosters more than anything I can think of just now. He curtailed our baggage to one oven and gave one wall tent to ten men. My hat box, paper collars, teapot, looking glass, blacking brush, and all the rest of my things were sent to the rear. came very near rebelling, but "Old Forty" said we must be quiet, we were at the front now.

We

We were put on the train to run down to Guiney Station, four miles above Fredericksburg, and camped in an old field, with not a stick of wood and no fire. It was getting warm on the Island at that season of the year, but that night the mercury in the thermometer went away down. Tom Puckett and I concluded that we would not sleep in the tent with the rest, as we were gentlemen and did not want to be crowded, so we got a pole and tied one end to a pine sapling and put a fork under the other, stretched a blanket over it and made down our bed. It was cloudy and the wind was blowing from the north, and it soon began to sleet. It was awful cold. I had to take the position of a person with a first class case of cramp colic, and by that means I could get my feet under the blanket. Tom was very tall and was not so fortunate. Do his best, there was about two feet of his legs outside. We had not made a ditch around our tent, and the water commenced running under, and our teeth began to rattle. I got

up and went to the wall tent and asked the boys to let me in. They said, "No, you have seceded from us, and set up on your own hook." I went back and sat up a while. Everything was still. I could not hear anything but the sleet and Tom's teeth rattling. After ruminating a while, I yelled out: "Oh Sullivan's Island, how I long for thee!" "Old Forty" was quartered just behind me, and I heard him ask who

was that. Lieutenant Colonel Ledbetter told him it was "that big-mouthed McKinney." Then he laughed and said, "I reckon he will sign another petition to go to the front."

My blood had been hot to get to the front, but that sleet had cooled it down, and right there and then I would have signed a contract to keep Cothran's old mill on Hard Labor Creek for the rest of my life.

THE TWO ARMIES.

BY HENRY TIMROD, IN 1862.

In kindly sending a written copy of the following poem Miss Claudine Rhett, of Charleston, states:

As the "Daughters of the Confederacy" are being organized all over the South, I think that it would be appropriate if the VETERAN would republish the enclosed poem. Henry Timrod was Charleston's best poetical writer during the war. His pieces have a grace and polish, added to poetic sentiment, which rank him very high among the sweet singers of the Confederacy.

Two armies stand enrolled beneath
The banner with the starry wreath;
One, facing battle, blight and blast,
Through twice a hundred fields had passed;
Its deeds against a ruthless foe,
Stream, valley, hill, and mountain know,
Till every wind that sweeps the land
Goes, glory laden from the strand.

The other with a narrower scope,
Yet led by not less grand a hope,
Hath won, perhaps, as proud a place,
And wears its fame with meeker grace.
Wives march beneath its glittering sign,
Fond mothers swell the lovely line,
And many a sweetheart hides her blush
In the young patriot's generous flush.
No breeze of battle ever fanned
The colors of that tender band;
Its office is beside the bed,

Where throbs some sick or wounded head.
It does not court the soldier's tomb,
But plies the needle and the loom;
And, by a thousand peaceful deeds.
Supplies a struggling nation's needs.

Nor is that army's gentle might
Unfelt amid the deadly fight;

It nerves the son's, the husband's hand,
It points the lover's fearless band;
It thrills the languid, warms the cold,
Gives e'en new courage to the bold;
And sometimes lifts the veriest clod
To its own lofty trust it God.

When Heaven shall blow the trump of peace,
And bid this weary warfare cease,

Their several missions nobly done,

The triumph grasped, and freedom won,
Both armies, from their toils at rest,
Alike may claim the victor's crest,
But each shall see its dearest prize
Gleam softly from the other's eyes.

A UNION VETERAN'S CHALLENGE.

of the 18th to 20th of July, and assignment to the extreme right of the battlefield.

Early on the 21st, the brigade was in line and

wrote the VETERAN, in October:

At the last three or four meetings of the G. A. R. "Old Army," games have been indulged in, and at Pittsburg we had a mile race for the championship of the G. A. R. The prize was an elegant silver trophy presented by the Pittsburg Dispatch newspaper.

I won the prize and am therefore the champion of our organization, and, like Alexander of old, I sigh for other worlds to conquer. I therefore challenge any man in your organization to meet me in a race of any distance from one to five miles for a trophy which shall represent the championship of both organizations.

You write me that you will probably refer to this in a humorous way. Suit yourself in regard to the way you put it, but the man who meets me in a race for the honor of the two organizations will need something besides humor to carry him to victory. He will need a little of the stuff used at Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Chickamauga, Franklin, and a hundred other great battlefields of the war.

Mr. Smith is Quarter Master Sergeant of Memorial Post, No. 141, of Cleveland.

The idea of a Veteran from either army boasting as a pedestrian suggested of humor, and reply was so made, to which he responds:

ing the smoke arising from the well-contested battle, and listening to the roar of musketry and artillery, about 10 o'clock, a.m., the brigade was massed in companies, and some one began singing, "Annie Laurie,” which readily united about 800 voices, with here a basso, and there a tenor, and everywhere a strong soprano, in a wonderful rendition, and followed by immense cheering throughout the brigade.

At 2 p. m. the third courier reached us-(the first having been disabled by a falling horse and a broken leg, and the second missed his way)-and the column moved rapidly to the extreme left in double quick for some six or seven miles, under fire from the Federal left wing, and forming in the rear of the Lewis House, was ordered forward, and from the high grounds watched the withdrawal of the Federal forces too far for musketry, while our artillery closed the last firing of the day, and added impetus and consternation to the enemy. The scene beautiful and historic, because of the presence of President Davis, and Gen. Beauregard, Johnston and others. For the effectiveness of Capt. Walker's firing, the celebrated gun "Long Tom," was presented to the brigade, for better service and execution on the Potomac.

was

Like to the movements on the chess-board, the concentration of forces at the stubbornly contested point contributed to demoralization, and the panic. that ensued, (see War Records, Vol. 2), assured victory to the Army of the Potomac, and hence "the

HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.)
MANASSAS, July 22, 1861,

General Orders, No. 147.

I. The President deems it important that Gen'l Holmes shall return with his command to his former position at an early moment, he will accordingly prepare to march in the morning.

II. The President regrets to be obliged at this juncture, to request this movement of General Holmes after his remarkable march to the support of this Army, at a critical juncture, a march for which the General Commanding has to express his sincere thanks, as also for the critical service rendered on the field of battle yesterday, by that portion of the brigade which was called to the immediate scene of action. By command of Gen. Beauregard. True Copy, THOMAS JORDAN,

W. W. WALKER, A. A. G. A. A. G. A clever correspondent who has done other valued. service for the VETERAN sends us an unpublished order of President Davis through Gen'l Beauregard the day after the battle of Manassas, which appro priately should have appeared in connection with the sketch of Gen'l W. B. Bate in the November issue.

The brigade of Gen. Holmes included the 2nd Tennessee Regiment (Col. W. B. Bate), 1st Arkansas (Col. Fagan), and Capt. Walker's battery of artillery -in all about 1,440 men, and "the critical juncture,' alluded to in General Order, No. 147, was the march from near Fredericksburg, Va., from the afternoon

Arkansas, and Walker's Artillery at Manassas.

MONUMENT TO SOUTHERN WOMEN.-Mrs. A. Trueheart Buck, Washington, D. C., after congratulations upon their good work of the VETERAN, writes:

An

I want to endorse the sentiments of our friend, Mrs. Halsey, in advocating a university for a memorial or monument to Southern woman. I think most Southern women would prefer something that, as Mrs. Davis says, "would be a constantly recurring benefit to mankind," to a marble shaft. The accomplishment, however, of this, would require years. enterprise like that cannot be completed in a short time, even if sufficient money was in hand. In the meantime, the steps of our veterans grow slower and feebler. Some of them are near the grave. Some have already reached the other shore of the dark river, leaving behind helpless and destitute families. The immediate relief and care of these weigh upon every true Southerner's heart. This is a glorious work, and there is plenty of it to do. "The Daughters of the Confederacy" are in the field. A Confederate Veteran or member of his family in the poorhouse! Alas, this has been, let it never occur again.

Let us feed, clothe and honor these now, and when they have all gone where there are neither wants nor tears, let the chivalry of the South proclaim the fact, that it is not dead, as some would have it. There would be no better way of proving that "there is life in the old land yet" than by building a grand South⚫rn university for the education of women.