ALABAMIANS IN THE CRATER BATTLE.

HON. GEORGE CLARK, WACO, TEXAS.

I have read with much interest and pleasure the article in your January number by Col. Geo. T. Rogers, entitled "The Crater Battle, 30th July, 1864," and as I was a participant in said battle, I deem it due to history that some inaccuracies which have crept unintentionally into Col. Rogers' account should be corrected. I do this with the feeling of an old comrade for the Colonel, whom I knew and highly respected in those historic days. Doubtless the long time which has intervened since the occurrences he relates, added to the fact that a regimental line officer could not know particulars relating to the movements of other commands than his own, must account for the injustice he does "Wilcox's old Brigade," from Alabama, then commanded by the brave young Saunders.

I was a Captain in the Eleventh Alabama Regiment, and at the date of this battle was serving temporarily on the staff of Brig.-Gen. Saunders, as assistant adjutant general. I was also flag of truce officer after the battle, and with Col. Jas. F. Doran, Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry (dismounted), who was the Federal truce officer, had charge of the burial of the dead on the morning of August 1st, 1864. My opportunities for knowing the movements of the brigade were therefore excellent, and the nature of the work before us on that day so strongly impressed itself upon me that I retain until this day a most vivid recollection of all incidents which came under my observation.

The regular position of the brigade at that time. was a short distance west of the right angle in our defensive works, near the plank road. On the morning of the explosion, about three o'clock, the Brigadier-General was aroused by an order from Division Headquarters to get his men up and man the works. This was immediately done. As our regular battalion of sharpshooters (under command of Major James M. Crow, of Florence, Ala.) had been relieved from skirmish duty on the night before, Gen. Saunders became anxious as to his skirmish line, and directed me to see that Maj. Crow went to the front with his battalion relieving our pickets. This was done. The General and staff were sitting on the gallery of a little house which constituted our headquarters when the explosion occurred. Immediately a tremendous bombardment opened from the enemy along the whole front. We galloped to the works, and took position in the rear of the center of the brigade, near a company of Washington Artillery. The bombardment was kept up an hour or two, perhaps longer, when Gen. Lee came to where we were and held a short talk with our brigade commander. About an hour, or perhaps two hours, after this, and after the bombardment had slackened, we were ordered to quietly leave the works, retire to a ravine in the rear, and form. This was done, and nothing but the artillery was left in the line we abandoned. From Col. Rogers' description of the route pursued by his brigade to the scene of the explosion, we must have traveled the same route. On our way there, the general and staff having abandoned their

horses, we met Col. Weisiger, of the Twelfth Virginia, wounded in the side, and supported by a soldier. The Colonel who was then in command of Mahone's Brigade, told us of the charge of the VirWhen we ginians, which had already occurred. reached the scene, we were met by Gen. Mahone, accompanied by Gen. Bushrod Johnson, and Gen. Mahone gave directions as to how he wished the brigade formed. It was then about eleven a.m. The rifle pits to the left of the crater (enemy's right) were then held by the Virginia brigade, their right resting at the crater. I was sent by Gen. Saunders to look over the ground, and went forward to the rim of the crater. I there met and talked with Lieut. Col. W. H. Stewart, and other acquaintances in the Virginia brigade, including Col. Rogers, if my memory is correct, both of whom I knew well, having served with them upon General Court Martial the preceding winter. I found that while the Virginians had done their part of the job thoroughly, and were holding their positions heroically, Wright's Georgia brigade had failed to carry the trenches on the right of the crater (enemy's left), and the crater itself was still in possession of the enemy, filled not only with negro troops, but also with a much larger per cent of white troops, as was demonstrated after the capture. I returned and reported the situation to Gen. Saunders. At this time our brigade was resting on their arms just east of a little branch or marsh under the hill. I was instructed by Gen. Saunders to pass along the line, count the men, and inform them, as well as company commanders, that our attack would begin at two o'clock, upon the firing of two signal guns from the batteries in our rear-that every man must be ready to rise and go forward at the signal, slowly at first, and then at a doublequick as soon as we rose the hill-that our object was to recapture the rifle pits on right as well as the crater, and for this purpose the brigade would be compelled to right oblique after starting so as to cover the points of attack--no man was to fire a shot until we reached the works, and arms must be carried at a rightshoulder shift. I was also instructed by Gen. Saunders to inform the men that Gen. Lee had notified him that there were no other troops at hand to recapture the works, and if this brigade did not succeed in the first attempt, they would be formed again and renew the assault, and that if it was necessary, he (Gen. Lee) would lead them. matter of fact, a large portion of the army was on that day east of the James river. These directions of Gen. Saunders were communicated at once to every officer and man, and by actual count made by me the brigade had in line 632 muskets.

Our

As a

At the boom of the signal guns the Alabama brigade rose at a "right-shoulder shift," and moved forward in perfect aleignment-slowly at first, until we came in sight of the enemy and received his first fire, and then with a dash to the works. For a moment or two the enemy overshot us and did no damage, but as we reached the works many were struck down and the gaps were apparent, but the alignment remained perfect. It was as handsome a charge as was ever made on any field, and could

not have been excelled by the "Guard" at Waterloo, under Ney.

On reaching the works the real fight began. Our men poured over into the crater and the ring of steel and bayonet in hand-to-hand fight began. Men were brained by butts of guns, and run through with bayonets. The brave Saunders (who sleeps in Hollywood) had a regular duel with a big buck negro, and both proved bad marksmen. Adjutant Fonville, of the Fourteenth Alabama (the bravest soldier ever under fire), was killed by a negro soldier. So was Lieut. John W. Cole, of the Eleventh Alabama, and many other brave officers and men. This melee kept up for at least fifteen minutes, the enemy fighting with desperation because they were impressed with the idea that no quarter would be given. The credit of capturing the crater and all its contents belongs to Morgan Smith Cleveland, then Adjutant of the Eighth Alabama Regiment, who now fills a patriot's grave at Selma, Alabama. I am told that his grave is unmarked, if not unknown, and that he was buried by charity; and I hang my head in humiliation if this information is true. Morgan Cleveland was as humane and tender as he was brave. Standing in the crater, in the midst of the horrid carnage, with almost bursting heart he said to a Federal colonel who was near him, "Why in the h-- don't you fellows surrender?" and he put the accent on the cussword. yankee replied quickly, "Why in the h- don't you let us?" A wink being as good as a nod, either to a blind horse or a brave soldier, the effect was instantaneous. The enemy threw down their arms, marched out as prisoners, some being killed or wounded by their own cannon as they filed past where I stood, and the day was saved as a glorious heritage for the Southern soldier and those who come after him. I remember helping Gen. Bartlett, of Boston (I think Bartlett was his name), who was trying to get out on two muskets inverted and used as crutches. I could see no evidence of physical pain in his face, and remarked to him that he must have nerves of steel, as his leg was shot away. He smiled and replied that he had lost his real leg at Williamsburg two years before, and the leg he had just had shattered was a cork leg.

The

This is a brief account of the Alabama Brigade on that day-too brief and imperfect to do even partial justice to my old comrades, most of whom have already passed over the river." It was a gallant band, and many of them sleep their last sleep in the soil of old Virginia, having given their lives in defense of its firesides. I am sure the gallant Col. Rogers, himself a brave Virginian, would not intentionally do them the slightest injustice if he knew it. And yet his article, without so intending perhaps, minimizes its services in these particulars: 1. Mahone's Brigade did not take charge of the line between the Appomattox and the James a little after the battle of the crater, but the whole of Mahone's division, including Forney's Alabama Brigade (Wilcox's old Brigade), Harris' Mississippi Brigade, Finnigan's Florida Brigade, Sorrell's Wright's) Georgia Brigade, and Mahone's Virginia Brigade, took charge of that line in February, 1865; the Alabama Brigade occupying the extreme left of the line, its left resting at the Howlett Bat

teries on James river. We withdrew from this position on the night Richmond was evacuated.

2. The Alabama Brigade came up at the "Mine" and did the work of capturing the crater, which was the purpose of the movement, but it was not a "walk-over," as the Colonel terms it. It was one of the hardest fought fields of the war, and brilliant success was wrenched by valor from serious danger.

Doubtless our friends, the Virginians and the Georgians peppered away at the enemy during the charge, but their fire did not "keep down all heads," as our lists of killed and wounded attest, nor did they go down into the crater like the Alabamians did. With a handful of men more than treble its numbers were captured, the lines re-established, and what promised at early dawn the closing victory of the war for the enemy, was turned into disastrous defeat by a few ragged Alabamians. I once asked a prominent officer on Gen. Grant's staff, what the General thought ought to have been done with Burnside for this failure at the Mine. He replied without hesitating, "He ought to have been shot."

of Fort Sumter he joined the Eleventh Alabama Regiment (Col. Sydenham Moore) as a lieutenant in Company B. He went with his regiment to Virginia, which joined Gen. Johnston at Winchester in the early part of July, 1861. Went across the mountains on July 18th to the relief of Beauregard, but reached the battlefield too late to participate in the engagement of July 21st. Served with his regiment in continuous service until the close of the war at Appomattox, taking part in the defense of Yorktown, and the battles of Seven Pines, Gaines' Mill, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania C. H., Hanover Junction and Cold Harbor, the siege of Petersburg, and numerous engagements. He was wounded at Gaines' Mill, at Gettysburg, and again at Reaves' Station, and escaped from Appomattox in company with Gen. Gary, of South Carolina. They broke through Sheridan's lines on the morning of the surrender.

After the war he studied law under his father, was admitted to the bar in 1866, removed to Texas in 1867, located at Waco in 1868, where he has since resided. Was a member of the Democratic State Executive Committee in 1872, Secretary of State and Attorney General 1874-6, Commissioner to codify the laws of Texas 1876-8, Judge of Court of Appeals 1879-80, since which time he has practiced law at Waco. Judge Clark was married to Miss Mary Paul Johns, of Austin, and they have two lovely children, a boy and girl.

LAST BATTLES OF THE WAR.

B. L. Ridley's Journal-Continued. Smithfield, N. C., April 6, 1865.-It never rains but it pours, and still the bad news comes-Selma, Ala., we hear officially, has been given up to a raiding party. 'Tis said, too, that a column of nine thousand yanks have entered it. We heard to-day from Richmond that Lee lost all of his artillery but two battalions, supposed to have been about 500 pieces. Of his loss in men we have not yet heard. Gen. S. takes the death of his little boy at Auburn, Ala., very hard. Notwithstanding his stern military character he is a tender hearted man.

April 7.-I neglected to state that Gov. Vance and many ladies from Raleigh came down to the review of Hardee's corps. Everything went off well (aside from our decimated ranks). The ladies cheered Gen. Hoke's division of North Carolinians. We hear the report of the yankees being at Selma. contradicted, but the telegrams in yesterday's papers and reports heretofore are too true. President Davis issues an address to the people of the Confederacy imploring them to stand by him in reverses, and to be not disheartened, for he'll steer us safely through.

April 8.-Captain R. C. Stewart, A. D. C., ar rived to-day; reports the wagon train in ten miles. He has been on leave of absence and, in fact, all of the staff but Cols. Gale, Sevier and myself. Maj. Lauderdale, Qr. Mr., and Assistant A. & I. Gen. Minnick Williams also came to-day. Prisoners taken state that Sherman will commence his move

at Amelia C. H., since the evacuation of Richmond, in which he was successful. Nothing from the West except the confirmation of the fall of Selma, Ala.

April 9.--Captain R. C. Stewart and I went near Pikeville to-day to purchase horses. I obtained one. Saw Gen. Dibrell, Dr. McCord, and my brother, Dr. J. L. Ridley, with whom we spent the night.

April 10. This morning, before day, Dibrell's scouts came in with two or three officers prisoners, who stated that they had just received orders to march, and had gone to a house to bid some ladies good-bye when our scouts captured them. Returned to camp and found the consolidation had taken Raleigh. The army was divided into three corps, place and the different corps moving toward under Stewart, Hardee, and Stephen D. Lee. Stewart's corps now is composed of Loring's division, made up of his old division, Patton Anderson's and Walthall's. Walthall is now commanding McLaw's and Anderson's, what was known as Taliaferro's Division. Enemy advancing on us rapidly. Camp to-night west of Beaver Mill Bridge. ing and pitched tents three miles west of Raleigh April 11.-Started about seven o'clock this mornon Hillsboro road. Have heard nothing of enemy's progress. As we passed the female Seminary in Raleigh the beautiful schoolgirls greeted us warmEach one had a pitcher of water and goblet. We drank, took their addresses, and had a big time. It was a terrible task to get Terry Cahal, Caruthers, Stewart, and the other members of the staff away from them. On this march my faithful boy, Hannibal, gladdened us with a rich box of edibles from my old grandmother at Oxford.

1v.

April 12.-Started this morning at sunrise and landed this evening one mile east of Durham Depot, eighteen miles from Hillsboro. Gen. Johnston left Raleigh on the cars to meet President Davis at Greensboro, and placed Gen. Stewart in command of two corps, Lee's and his own, until his return. Rumors of Lee's capture in Virginia are rife, but not believed.

April 13.-Camped this evening two miles east of Hillsboro. Gen. Johnston returned from Greensboro. More rumors of Lee's capitulating, and some are led to believe.

April 14.---To-day we passed through Hillsboro. Saw a good many nice looking young ladies. Crossed Eno River this side two miles and Haw's River 16 miles. Camped near Squire Hoke's in a beautiful grove. Saw a Dr. Brown directly from the artillery in Lee's army. He says "that after thirty hours travel from Farmville about forty pieces of artillery halted at Appomattox Station to cook and feed. The yanks overtook them but were repulsed with grape and canister; that during the night Gen. Lawton received a dispatch from Lee stating that he could be of no more use to him if he could not join him by Sunday morning, and to cut down Caissons, bury the guns, divide the men into squads of four or five, and let them make their way out."

Have passed old Chapel Hill University, sacred to me as my father's alma mater, and now Graham, and camp to-night at Smith's Store. The farther we go the worse the news we get from Lee's army. Gen. S. succeeds in having a barrel of peach brandy and a half box of tobacco given him by a Mr. Vaughn. Yum! yum! ha! ha! we are taking it along for medical purposes. Dr. Smepton invited the General and staff to his house this morning to partake of a mint-julep. To our surprise, we found he had sugar, coffee and ice, things scarce in these times. Every time we get into a drive of this kind Gen. S. destroys Cahal's, Caruthers (his sons) and my prospects by telling these fellows that, and "sometimes the older members of my staff partake of a julep, but the younger members never touch it." We just had to look at that julep and "sigh" for a smile." Dibrell's Cavalry has been suddenly transferred to rear. They say he has gone to Greensboro to repel a raid. It turned out that they were to escort Jefferson Davis farther south.

April 16-March eight miles and camp in four miles of Greensboro. Have just heard Lee's farewell address, he and his army were captured. He says that greatly outnumbered as he was, contending against such wonderful force, he was bound to yield without further loss of blood. What next?

Judge G. K. Miller, who was captain of Company A. Eighth Confederate Cavalry: Talladega, Ala., March 7, 1895. Having read the account of the repulse of the Federals on our left at Bentonville on the afternoon of March 21st, 1865, as given by Capt. Ridley in the January number of the VETERAN, and that of Capt. Guild in the February number, as an observer of the whole movement that probably saved our army from disastrous defeat, permit me to say that both are partly correct in the accounts given. Each tells a portion of the story, but not all. Johnston's lines at Bentonville described a semicircle, with each wing resting on a small but deep and nonfordable stream, spanned by but one bridge located some three or four hundred yards from our extreme left. Temporary entrenchments had been thrown up by our infantry, covering all of the left wing with the exception of about one quarter mile nearest the river. This space was open woods, and on the afternoon in question was occupied by a mere skirmish line of dismounted Cavalry. About 2 p. m., Anderson's Brigade of Allen's Cavalry division, composed of the 3rd, 8th, and 10th Confederate, and 5th Georgia regiments, came on the field and were dismounted and placed in position behind the entrenchments from which infantry had been withdrawn and moved to the right. That part of the line thus occupied by Anderson's Brigade was immediately to the right of the skirmish line mentioned, and, being on more elevated ground, afforded the writer a good opportunity to observe the movement to turn our left and capture the bridge.

About 3 p. m., in the midst of a pelting rain, a heavy column from the 17th Federal corps was hurled against our left, covering the front occupied by Anderson's Brigade and that of the unprotected

skirmish line. The enemy in Anderson's front was repulsed after a hot contest, but a glance to our left disclosed the fact that the serried ranks of blue had swept away the skirmish line and were approaching the bridge with rapid steps. It was at this critical juncture that Gen. Hardee dashed down the road in the direction of the bridge, followed by the 8th Texas and 4th Tennessee cavalry. These two regiments continned at a gallop in columns of four to very near the bridge, then faced to the right in line and with a yell bore down upon the advancing Federals in as brilliant a charge as the war furnished. They were too few in number to cover the entire front of the advancing Federals, but just as they gave an initial to the repulse, Cummings' Infantry Brigade, numbering about 800 muskets, coming on the field at a dead run, struck that part of the Federal column not covered by Baxter Smith's troopers, and with a timely enfilade from the 10th Confederate, occupying Anderson's extreme left, sent the attacking column back in beautiful confusion. A good number of prisoners were brought in by the different commands engaged. The writer had an interesting conversation with several of the prisoners, but being short on Dutch, while they were utter strangers to English, history will lose the result of the interview.

After the repulse our infantry occupied the exposed position and our army was withdrawn across the bridge about nighfall. At Bentonville, the last battle of the army of Tennessee, its halfchad, ragged, footsore, hungry veterans displayed all of the high soldierly qualities that had distinguished them from Belmont to Averysboro, and no part of it with more signal gallantry than the 8th Texas and 4th Tennessee Cavalry and the heroic remnant of Cummings' Brigade.

M. S. Kahle, Adjutant Pat Cleburne Camp, No. 88, Cleburne, Texas, sends resolutions concerning the life and character of the late M. A. Otis of that camp: He was one of the true to honor, to truth and to the cause he loved so well, and his life was freely offered for its success. His hand was always ready to assist the fall; he was the friend of the

poor, and he was beloved by all men who knew him. We loved him living, we love him dead. But he

is not dead:

No watchers there, naught save the eyes of God, To watch this slumber long and still and deep. Then mourn him not as dead; he cannot die, And mourn him not as sleeping in that day, He wakes, he lives, not far in yonder sky, But near us, though unseen, he walks to-day." Resolved, That Pat Cleburne Camp, No. 88, of Confederate Veterans, extend to the bereaved loved ones our heartfelt sympathy in their loss of the devoted husband, the kind and affectionate father.

Resolved, That a copy of the above resolutions be sent to the family of deceased comrade, also that a copy be sent to the CONFEDERATE VETERAN and to our city papers. M. S. KAHLE, J. L. MORGAN.

WHAT A KENTUCKY WOMAN HAS DONE.

The VETERAN presents the picture and sketch of Mrs. Jennie Catherwood Bean, "Our Lady" of the Clark County Kentucky Confederate Veteran Association. She was born in Lexington fifty-six years ago, and soon after moved to Winchester, where she has ever since resided. Her father, John Cath

MRS. JENNIE CATHERWOOD BEAN.

erwood, was for many years clerk of the Clark County Court, and was one of its best citizens-a true Southerner in every sense of the word; he reared his children, boys and girls, in the pure Jacksonian school.

The war was no dream, but a true reality to her. She ardently believed in the sacred principles her father and friends fought for. She is a worshiper of the memories of our cause, of the valor of our brave soldiers and heroic leaders. To her loyalty to the living, we owe the organization of Clark County Veteran Association.

In 1871, grieved to see the graves of the seven brave comrades in the silent city so neglected, with that loving devotion that ever characterizes her, she prepared the garlands, and with a few school children as her companions, in the softened glow of a May evening, knelt at each grave, and lovingly and tenderly covered them with beautiful flowers. Every year since, through sunshine and rain, she goes on Memorial Day" with evergreen garlands and beautiful flowers to decorate every grave. And now her loving hands twine cypress, cedar, and flowers for thirty-two instead of seven. For years, with untiring zeal and devotion, she called upon

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the Confederates of the county to organize for such purposes, and she worked and toiled alone. Her efforts have been crowned with success in having the Clark County Confederate Veteran Association fully organized. She has also organized an association of their sons and daughters. She has a complete list of the Confederate dead buried in the Winchester Cemetery, and is perhaps the only person who knows where every brave fellow rests. She knew personally nearly every one, always attends the burial of a comrade, and marks the grave with a card and the colors.

She once said the only epitaph she desired was, "She never forgot the Confederate soldier on tented field, behind prison bars, nor under the sod."

INSIDE THE LINES AT FRANKLIN.

"Frances," a school girl of 1864, writes to the VETERAN of that awful battle at Franklin, which was fought late into the night:

I was a pupil in the old Franklin Female Institute the alma mater of so many brilliant women, the mothers and grandmothers of the present generation. Nashville owes a debt of gratitude to at least two of its graduates, Misses Fannie and Martha O'Bryan.

At the time of these reminiscences, Miss Walker (now Mrs. J. P. Hanner), was the principal. The pupils numbered about 175, and as wide awake set of Southern girls as could be found.

While we were trying to concentrate our minds on our books one ear was always open to the varied sounds of the fife and the rattle of drums, the clatter of horses' hoofs, and the electrifying notes of the bugle. We were allowed always to run to the front gate to see soldiers pass. If they were "our boys," we waved our bonnets and handkerchiefs-if they were yankees, and we watched Buell's army of thousands pass, we looked and felt dismayed.

On an ever memorable day, the 30th of November, we assembled at school as usual. Our teachers' faces looked unusually serious that morning. The Federal couriers were dashing hither and thither. The officers were gathering in squads, and the cavalry, with swords and sabres clanking, were driving their spurs into their horses' flanks and galloping out to first one picket post and then another on the roads leading south and southwest of town. The bell called us in the chapel. We were told to take our books and go home, as there was every indication that we would be in the midst of a battle that day.

At four o'clock that afternoon I stood in our front door and heard musketry in the neighborhood of Col. Carter's on the Columbia pike. To this day I can recall the feeling of sickening dread that came over me. As the evening wore on, the firing became more frequent, and nearer and louder; then the cannon began to roar from the fort.

My father realizing that we were in range of the guns from both armies told us to run down into the cellar. We hastily threw a change of clothing into a bundle and obeyed at once. My mother, who never knew what fear meant in her life, was a little reluctant to go and leave the upper part of the