By Robert Hope
“Young Guns” dish it out to Yankee’s
Readers will recall that a certain northern newspaper recently ran a “little” story about us rebels “running short of volunteers”. The photogenic drawing accompanying the article implied that our new recruits had a lot of growing up to do.
Well it appears that this was just the spur that these southern boys required. Being young and small in stature does not appear to be a handicap when it comes to firing a rife as the young cadets of Innes brigade proved during the first two day of the Battle of the Wilderness: North of the Orange Plank Road.
On day one of the battle, in a one hour period just after mid-day, they dished out some 9 casualties against the heavy steps of the newly formed “Dutch” Brigade. In so doing they succeeded in blunting the Union advance. On day two of the Great Contest, as the battle continued to rage with immense severity and obstinacy they repeated this feat twice during an uninterrupted two hour period in mid afternoon.
Most of the casualties being inflicted against the Vermont Brigade who decided to remain in column. We have no hesitation in reporting the innumerable acts of heroism that these "young guns" performed within the “Marine Redoubt” and their strong devotion to their inspirational brigadier: Horatio Innes and their divisional commander: General Green. Such “esprit de corps” will be studied and written about by countless historians for many years to come.
After day two of the Great Contest, General Green said to our reporter:
“Boys like these are definitely short in supply. We are proud to have them fighting alongside our campaign hardened troops of Green’s Division. They have proven themselves in the harshest of conditions. True, most of the boys in Innes brigade are so short they can swing their legs when sitting on a stool. However, revenge is a dish best served cold. They may be young but they sure know how to load and fire a gun.”
