Headquarters, Gary's Brigade

Oct. 16, 1864

Editor Daily South Carolinian:

In the fight of 7 Oct, Lt. Munnerlyn, acting adjutant of the 7 S. C. CAV, came upon the led horses of Kautz. The 7 S. C. CAV charged down the line, stopping the riders and shooting those who refused to surrender or tried to escape. LT Munnerlyn, riding beside a Federal trooper who refused to surrender, snapped his pistol three times, without it firing. He then drew his sabre, and hit the Federal across the back. The trooper then drew his pistol, and handed it to Munnerlyn, grip foremost, saying, "This will shoot, I think." The Federal trooper then surrendered. The author was an eyewitness but could not explain the actions of the trooper.

W."

Source: [Columbia] Daily South Carolinian, 22 Oct 64, p. 2, c. 2, 3.

2.

"GARY'S CAVALRY BRIGADE, October 30. …..

Here on the North side, the purpose of the enemy was, evidently, by the superiority of his numbers, to extend his right beyond our ability to follow him, and so flank us out of our position. Skirmishing steadily and threatening along the whole line, he at the same time pushed a heavy column rapidly to our left, and advanced whenever and wherever he supposed himself beyond our line. This forced Gary's brigade to defend a front fully five miles in length, and by rapid movements up and down the line, to do the work of several brigades. To determine the points about to be assailed and to hurry troops there in time to meet the attempt, required, owing to the smallness of our force, great sagacity and energy; but those were insured by the presence of Lieut. Gen. Longstreet, and consequently but little uneasiness was felt during the day, and the defence was conducted with great coolness and confidence.

The fiercest fighting occurred at a point where our line crosses the Williamsburg Road. Here, about 1 o'clock p.m., the 24th Virginia Cavalry, under the command of their gallant Col. Robins, alone and unaided, by a steady and accurate fire, repulsed an unusually heavy line of skirmishers. Shortly afterwards, when a portion of Field's Division, mainly the Texans, had reached and occupied this position, a very determined assault was made by a heavy column. The brave Texans, however, with their customary spirit and resolution, bloodily repulsed the attack, and when the column broke, Gen. Field, sending skirmishers to the right and left, succeeded in capturing over four hundred prisoners and eight stand of colors; some of these flags are new and very handsome. The number taken indicates plainly the heavy force engaged, and their demoralization when repulsed.

Just before dark, the enemy having moved still further to our left, rapidly pushed forward three brigades of Negroes up the Nine Mile Road; our brigade hurried to the point, and arrived barely in time to whip back the enemy's centre and left; but not soon enough to prevent his right from overwhelming the few scattered men in its front, and reaching the breastworks. Their triumph, however, was only momentary, for finding themselves unsupported, receiving an enfilade fire and hearing the yells of the 24th Virginia as it rushed forward at a charge, they broke and fled as only affrighted cuffees can flee. Our loss was so insignificant as scarcely to deserve mention. Col. Robins, of the 24th, was slightly wounded in the foot, and Corp. Strohecker, of the Hampton Legion – a gallant fellow – was killed with a bayonet. Could the brigade have reached the ground five minutes sooner, and met fairly the assault, Butler's pets would have been greatly diminished in numbers. As it was, though, the fight lasted but a few minutes, thirty-six bodies were buried in our front, and, including the wounded, thirty or forty prisoners captured. These Negroes told the usual story of white troops being in their rear to shoot all who returned. After all, however, it must be confessed that the Negro troops come forward with considerable dash and boldness, and of late have invariably approached nearer the breastworks than Grant's white troops. This ought not to excite surprise among those familiar with the excitable temperament of the Negro. The rapid motion and the wild yells madden him, and, for the time being, drown his fears. Having, however, to come forward with a rush, if at all, he fires but little, and that so inaccurately, that our men are enabled, undisturbed by the whistling of balls, to fire coolly and deliberately. This accounts for the great carnage that usually attends a charge of Negro troops. When their advance is checked and their line once broken, there is no rally in them, and their flight is in utter confusion, and winged by terror. One of the wounded said, "If you meet my captain, I hope you will kill him. When I got wounded, he stoop down and take all my money out of my pocket. Dat's de way our officers always do us." Another – a likely young fellow, from Ohio – declared that he was tired of fighting, and begged hard to be permitted to remain with the brigade as waiting boy to one of the men. All asserted that they had been forced into the army against their consent. The men had many hearty laughs over the photographs of colored "ladies and gemmen" found on the bodies of the slain. It would, no doubt, have saved our Government from much serious embarrassment, had our soldiers, from the first, refused to take negro prisoners, and persisted in shooting all who approached; but it is not surprising that this was not done. When a Negro soldier throws down his arms, one of three things must be done. He must be permitted to run off unharmed, must be killed on the spot, or must be received as a prisoner of war. The first course would be sheer folly; the second is found impracticable, from the fact that but few among even the roughest of our soldiers can be found who, much as they may approve and justify the act in theory, have hearts sufficiently hardened to enable them, in cold blood, to shoot down a defenceless man; and so the third course comes to be adopted.

Our scouts have lately done splendid service – dismounting cavalry, shooting videttes, running in picket parties, and stampeding Negro escorts. These deeds, however, well deserve a separate letter.

I estimate the loss of the enemy on the North side in the recent fight as at least two thousand.

W."

Source: [Columbia] Daily South Carolinian, 4 Nov 64, p. 2, c. 2, 3; also in the [Columbia] Tri-Weekly South Carolinian, 4 Nov 64, p. 2, c. 2, 3.