Two hundred and fifty of
Young's men were there mounted, and under
Captain Eve were marched hastily to
Pocotaligo, and from Pocotoligo to Tullifini,
Coosawhatchie, Salkehatchie, Izard's Farm,
Argyle Island.
The crack of the rifles of
Young's men—for the remainder of his division had been hurried forward (being unable to mount them) by rail, under the command of ‘that hard old fighter,’ the gallant
Major Puckett, was heard in nearly all of ‘the bloody and obstinate fighting along the rice dams,’ during the seige of
Savannah.
A complimentary order from
Lieutenant-General Hardee ‘but for the gallant conduct of
General Young's command, I could not have held
Savannah so long’—was read by Adjutant—General Church before us at Heyward's Farm, soon after the evacuation.
He was without a peer as a cavalry officer from
Georgia, and was one of
Stuart's as well as
Hampton's, most trusted lieutenants.
That the choice should have fallen upon him, demonstrates what the War Department,
General Lee, aye,
President Davis, thought of him.
Hampton,
Butler,
Rosser, Young—think of that immortal quartette!
Of their commanding presence, as they rode at the head of your columns, of the imperishable glory they gained—and that you helped make.
Is it not a glorious legacy to bequeath your children?
Does any one think this fulsome praise?
Then let him or them search the records of the
War of the Rebellon, and see what
P. M. B. Young is accredited with during that war. We know the half has never been told, or ever will be.
