The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-07
own and Pegram's brigade, was forming for q

own and Pegram's brigade, was forming for o
charge,
GEN. LEE
rode out inl front Of the line, waved his hat IN
me direction q the enemy, thereby, indlcat-
ing his intention to lead them in the fight
Inc men called out to him to come back, but
| tne old hero moved not. AS he sat there on
MS splendid charger. Traveller" his form
erect, his gray locks uncovered, his eyes flash
| ing with excitement, he appeared imposing
and grand, and the men testified their admit
ration and love for him by lusty and hearty
cheers. 1t was not until Gen. Gordon had re-
] peatedly implOred him to retire that Gen.
| Lee moved off to another part Of the field,
where he and Gen. Ewell were conspicuously
engaged in rallying the fugitives from John
| sons division who had escaped capture.
There was q striking contrast In the de-
meanor OF these two Generals on this occa-
sion. Gen. Lee was calm, collected and dig
nified; he quietly exhorted the men not to
forget their manhood and their duty-to re-
turn to the field and strike one more blow for
the glorious cause In which they were en-
listed.
GEN. EwELII
was greatly excited and hurled terrible
yolley Of oaths at the stray glers from the
front. 1t Is scarcely necessary to say that
Gen. Lees course was by far the more effec-
tive of the two. Ewell's profanity at this
time caused q good deal of merriment after
the battle. He had formerly been noted as
one OF the hardest swearers in the army; but
having lOsta leg In battle, married and joined
the church, he had, of course, abandoned the
habit OF cursing. The excitement Of this oc-
casion was too much for his religious scru-
pies, and he swore with all Of his old-time We
hemenCe and vOlubility.
At s O. m. Ramseurs North Carolina Bril- |
gade came up on our right, and advanced at |
o charge; the steadiness with which they |
went forward, lighting at every step, was adj |
mirable, and elected repeated cheers from |
our men. After long and bloody contest the
gallant Ramseur rccaptured a portion of the |
works. On the extreme right Of these works,
captured by the enemy early In the morning, |
Pegram's Virginians had gained O foothOld,
having driven out the Federals after several |
desperate charges. The enemy still held the |
salient between Ramseur and Pegram, and
against this brave old "Dick Ewell" hurled
brigade after brigade; but the enemy were so
strongly posted that our attacking forces.
me after the other, we're driven back torn
md bleeding, to the inner line of fortfica-
ions.
The enemy had on this day brought to the
Ittack
THREE<FULb CORPS,
more than one-half of his army: his artillery
ntiladed our line from both TANKS, and at !
ne same time kept up an Internal fire on our
ront. Never before during this war had 50
many men fought within so contracted O
pace. Masses OF troops were thrown again 6
nd again against Ramseur and Pegram. but ,
t each onset those splendid fighting brigades =
ent them Keeling back with immense slaugh-
er: Though the floodgates of heaven opened
nd the rain descended for more than one
our, it did not cause the fire to slacken: the
eavy thunder Of the artillery and the con-
lnuOus roll of musketry rising high above I
he noise OF the storm. ,
Thus the battle ragged fiercely for eleven I
Ong hours BY 3 p. III. the Federals had been L
he morning, excepting small angle of about
ne hundred yards in length, which con-
lnued to be held by their sharpshooters.
,tsgusted and disheartened at the result of
he days bloody work, which had commenced i
0 prOmisingly, they ceased their attacks and
themselves with heavy skirmish- L
~. During the night Gen. Ewell retired his
orps to an interior and shorter line. Il
I'm my paper on "Hays Brigade in the
EMoCRAT. Of last Sunday, the types made
e speak of the brigade passing by the grave
Major Herris, who had been killed In q
Iiirmish the previous year, and buried on the
zen printed Major Aaron Davis This gentle
an was from Massachusetts, but had lived In
ew Orleans several years. He left this city
June, 1862, as q lieutenant in the "Contf-
'ntals, one Of the company's composing II
e Seventh Louisiana Regiment and was d
forwards promoted to be brigade commits
.ry AS soon as he had resolved TO enlist in
e cause Of the Confederacy, he made the
ct known to o wealthy uncle Of his living in
oston. The old gentleman, a violent Repub- q
an, was greatly inCensed at this and wrote
Davis that he had before resolved to make m
m the sole heir to his large fortune, said to
mount to over S1,00O,000; but that he had
anged his mind, and would not leave his !,
phew cent unless he should reconsider On
9 action and sever his connection with the
etested rebels" Young Davis wrote in re- &C
y that he believed the South had right and
5tice on its side, that he had enlisted as cc
ldier in its service after mature delibera-
IN, and that the allurements of promised
rtune could not shake his determination. ii
lis incident shows of what stuff Major
iron Davis was madel