Perry-Calhoun County AlArchives News.....Lieutenatn's Letter Told How 4th Ala Stood Firm (Civil War) February 12, 1961 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Shirley Mellon Dewberry dewberry@cableone.net July 27, 2010, 5:01 pm The Anniston Star, Anniston, Alabama February 12, 1961 Source: The Anniston Star, Anniston, Alabama Date: Sunday, February 12, 1961 Subject: James William Hornbuckle Lieutenant's Letter Told How 4th Ala. Stood Firm Tells of Bitter, Brutal Battles Uncertain life, brutal death, compassion and a love of the home which would never again be the same as it was when he left to fight in the Civil War are revealed in a letter home from near the Manassas Battlefield. The writer was James W. Hornbuckle, lieutenant in Company G of the 4th Ala bama and the recipient was a sister in their hometown of Marion, Eliza Hornbuckle. After the war, Miss Hornbuckle, married R. G. Roberts, a former Cleburne Countian who moved to Oxford in 1861 and later was editor of the Oxford Tribune. The Robertses' daughters, Mrs. Jim Orr, Mrs. W. F. Mellon and Mrs. Sam Mellon still reside in Oxford and Mrs. W. F. Mellon still holds the original of Lt. Hornbuckle's letter and other mementoes of the war. Young Lt. Hornbuckle was a student at Howard College, then located at Marion, when the Civil War started. The school awarded him and other studen ts who enlisted their diplomas after the hostilities. Posted to Virginia, the 4th Alabama was assigned to the brigade command ed by Brig. Gen Bernard Bee, the man who gave Stonewall Jackson his immortal nickname. Rallying his own men, Bee observed Jackson and his Virginians battling the Federal forces and called to all to see "Jackson standing like a stone wall!" Bee was mortally wounded a few minutes later. Hornbuckle's letter and a postscript were written several days after the battle: "My dear little sister: "I wrote to Dr. England last week just before leaving Winchester and intended answering your letter which I received about two weeks ago, the same day that orders came for us to prepare for a two days' march and it was impossible for me to write sooner. "We left Winchester last Thursday (18th inst.) about sun down making a forced march and arrived here (at the Junction) Saturday morning. We were allowed to rest there until Sunday morning. "After eating breakfast, we took up the line of march for the battlefield, being warned all the way by the booming of artillery that a battle was surely coming, and that the 4th Ala. Reg. would be compelled to have a hand in the fight. "After marching about 8 miles (in double quick time most of the way) with knapsacks on our back we had hardly time to throw off our loads, get our guns loaded and form in line of battle before the Yankee shots were poured into our ranks - we were posted 50 yards of their line in an open field without the least protection, exposed to danger on all sides. "Their line was formed behind a hill immediately about us, having a battery about 200 yards from us on the same hill. In this position we remained 1 1/2 hours, exposed to their fire all the time, not being able to return it. "The right of our regiment were in a better place and fought very hard but they suffered greatly as well as the Yankees. After holding back abo ut 13 times our number that length of times, we were ordered to retreat; and if it had been 15 minutes later every man in the regiment would have been killed. They had almost surrounded us and would have succeeded had we stayed there 10 minutes longer. "The Fourth Alabama Reg. have won a name that will never die. Their praise is in the mouth of every man we meet. Gen. Johnson say himself that such a stand has never been recorded in history, and if it had not been for us, the day would have been lost. "Our Reg. has suffered greatly - out of 750 men engaged in the fight, abo ut 200 men were killed and wounded besides having all of our field officers wounded - our company came out with a loss less than any other - we, having about 13 or 14 wounded and not a man killed. I will give a list in another place. "Ira Tarrant was the first man wounded. He was shot through the throat while we were waiting for the enemy to come over the hill. The surgeons say that with proper attention he will recover in short time. "Felix Butler also received a severe wound - his thigh was broken when we retreated, and he fell in their hands as a prisoner. They took him, and attended to his wound and gave him every attention, but they had to leave him. "The fight commenced about 6 o'clock in the morning and lasted until 5 in the evening. It is said to be the greatest battle ever foug ht on this continent. I am unable to give any account as to the loss on each side. "Some say that our loss was between 1000 and 1500 - and the enemy five tim es as many. We captured about 1200 prisoners and 60 or 70 pieces of cannon (the celebrated Sherman battery included) besides the wagons, arms, ammunition, horses and everything else that can be mentioned. "The cavalry followed them until 3 o'clock Monday morning and say that they ran them into Alexandria. I never saw as many wounded and dead men in my life, - our men are still at work burying the Yankees. "After the battle we were hurried back to the Junction, for fear of another attack that night; but since learning what a lost they sustained no one here fears another attack soon. After remaining at the Junction a day and a half we were ordered out on the battle field to camp, and we a re here now without tents, surrounded by dead horses and Yankees, and drinking water that is not fit for a hog. I don't know how long we will stay here and what we will do. We are without field officers and I suppose we will stay here until new ones are elected. "There are a good many soldiers stationed out here, five or six Alabama regiments being amount the number. Matt England is stationed about a quarter of a mile from here. He came over to see us today. He sends love to all of you. "The day of the battle all of us had to throw away our knapsacks, and n ot having time to get them that evening, we went back with the intention of sending for them the next day. And before the wagon got there someb ody had found them and plundered them, taking a good many. I got mine with part of my clothes, but lost both of my coats and many things that I value more than my clothes. "Most of the boys lost everything they had. I don't think the Yankees got them. It must have been some of our own men. It is impossible f or me to give you anything like a full account of the battle. I know that you have all heard a full statement by this time. We gained a great victory, but paid dearly for it. "Tell Mary that Felix is doing very well. I heard from him today - he is out in the country about five miles from the Junction. "Tell Mrs. Bolton that I saw Moses the day after the battle. He is with the 6th Louisiana Regiment. He looks very thin and says that he has been sick nearly ever since he enlisted. He has been out about three months - he send love to all. "Jesse Nave says tell his mother that he is well and escaped without any wounds. Billy S. sends his respects to Tommy and Frankie and says tell so me of his folks that he is well. Give my love to all and write as soon as you can. I haven't heard from any of you in a week or two. I am well and doing finely. Love to all. "Your affct Bro. J. W. H. (James William Hornbuckle) "A list of the wounded in the Marion Light Infantry, Company G, 5th Ala. R eg. "Sam McKenall - shot through the body, supposed to be mortally wounded. "Ira Tarrant - badly wounded, but will recover (died). "Felix Butler - thigh broken (he died from the wound). "W. D. Johnson - arm broken. "Jim Crowe - arm broken. "G. F. Stevens - shot through the body. "Steve Pleasants - wounded in the leg. "Allie Lockett, John Couch, Mac Shiver, M. M. Cook, slightly wounded, but are now in camp. "A. B. Downs - through the shoulder, slight. "Billy Fiquet - arm broken. "Causby - (from Perryville) not a member but fought with us. "All of the wounded are sent off where they will be attended to - Mr. Henry Stones of Magnolia Cadets (formerly of Marion) was shot dead. "Gen. Bee, Commander of our brigade, was killed; he died the day after the battle. "Tell Violet that I saw Charles Bell last week - he asked about her and all the family and wishes to be remembered to them. "I received Pay's (Lydia Hornbuckle) and Caroline's letters this evening and will write to them as soon as I can get some paper. "Love to all both white and black. Write soon and give me all the news. J. W. H. (James William Hornbuckle) "I will endeavor to give a better account of our movements in the battle when I write again. From the signs I think that another battle will be fou ght somewhere in this section of the country in less than a month. Tell Mrs. Tarrant that Jimmie acted his part well during the fight, and came out unhurt. He left the camp this morning to stay with Ira." File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/perry/newspapers/lieutena1766gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 9.5 Kb