The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-05-28

the enemy for two days SO perilous was his
position that Pope was encouraged to say to bis
ohcers "there is no hope of escape for jack
son.. But the ubiquitous Jackson kept slipping
throuoh Pope's command, turning on his pur-
suers, Hooker and Kerney, and hitting them
some stunning blows, that made them more eau
tious than daring. As soon rs these were
checkmated he then turned ON King and swept
MIN out OF the way. Ricket thought discre-
ton was the better part of valor aud he, too,
got out of the way, aud our march from the gap
7" Manassas was unobstructed.
On the afternoon Of that day; the Goth, Long
street hrmed on Jacksons right, and Pope's
chances for marshal glory faded out of history.
Longstreets men went to sleep some time dur
| ing the night Of 29,h, with an inward conviction
that with the mornings dawn the battle would
DO renewed. The confidence in Lees ability to
oeae the Federal commander was shared by
every soldier in the army. Some may have
made up their minds to shirk, but they had
faith in the staying qualities of those who would
do tho fighting, and was conscious that Lee
would win. What pity it was not renewed in
timc 10 reap the harvest after victory. II was
not renewed until late in the day. During the
morning hours before the fight Lee was busy
with his plans Of battle. He, Longstreet, Jack
son, Stewart and others were squatted on the
ground just in the rear of us bus,ly examining
map Of the country spread out on the ground
before them. As they rose Lee and Jackson
stepped aside from the group Of officers, Lee
looking at his watch, and after few minutes
whispered conversation Jackson mounted his
old claybsnk horse and made off to ioin his
command to the left of the pike, as leisure!y as
II he was going to church, and looking more
like nm ungainly farmer than the great soldier
he was. These mapeuverings were interpreted
to mean fight, and supposed Jackson was re-
turning to bring it on. He had scarcely reached
his position before the hills were reverberating
with one continuous roar Of musketry. All
eyes, as we'll as the Federal soldiers, were con-
centrated on Jackson's hard pressed but reso-
Lutte men. The storm Of battle was beating and
raging about them in its fury, and in full view
OF our position. It was the grandest aud most
inspirieg exhibition of we'll ordered attack and
heroic defense l ever beheld. The Federal
armies Of the Potomac and Virginia had been
united under the leadership of Pope and were
crush Jackson. His plan Of battle eliminated
Longstreet, but that old soldier had NO thoughts
of remaining passive while Fope was battering
>s'-rs nj --s.y-~---lt1--a -si.- Aha na,-..-
Of the concentrated effort to crush him. Lee
saw it and was anxious, and Longstreet was in
the right place to break its force. Longstreet
says $50 terrible was the onslaught that Jack
SON sent to mo and begged for reinforcements.
About the same time 1 received an order from
General Lee to the same effect. To retire from
my advanced position in front of tho FederaIs
and get to Jackson would have taken ono. hour
and half 1 had discovered q prominent DO
sition that commanded q view Of the great
struggle, and realizing the opportunity quick
iy ordered out three batteries, making twelve
guns They were placed in position to rake the
Federal ranks that seemed to break through
Jackson's line. In a few moments crash after
crash of shot and she'll was being poured into
the thick raaks of the Federals. In ten min
utes the stubborn Foderals began to waver and
give back. For moment the mass was chaoss
then order returned aud they reformed, appar-
emily to renew tho attack. Again from the crest
Of my little hill the FIRE Of the twelve guns cut
them down. AS the cannons thundered the
ranks broke only to be formed again with dog
ged determination. A third time the batteries
tore the Federals to pieces, and as they fell
back under this terrible FIRE sprung everything
| to the charge" 1t was due to History, to pos.
terity, and the batteries that saved Jackson's
line, that their names should have been given
to the pu blic propose to show the Macbeth
| was one of them. Seeing thst the chances were
asa thousand to one against giving Jackson
the reinforcement he needed in time, and recog-
mixing the supreme necessity Of prompt action,
Longstreet acting on the impulse of the mo-
ment and with the discretion Of an experienced
officer hurried twelve guns into position and
in less than ten minutes broke the furious on
slaugh of the charging Federals. While we
were standing on our gun and caisson carriages,
| watching with intense interest and great admi-
| ration tire heroic effort Of Jackson's men 10
beat back the ever increasing numbers of the
Federal soldiers, q courier was seen emerging
| from piece Of woodland TO tho right aud well
in front Of Jacksons line, urging his hol So to-
wards us with all the speed that the enc
gency Of the occasion could impel him. John
| Lyles, from Camden, then in his teens, said
would rather see shell coming. In answer N
the summons we moved forward at q sweeping
gallop and took our position on the crest Of o
hill to left Of the pike, and well in Jackson's
right front. In three minutes afser we re eslvsd
our order We were in position hurting shot and
shell into the double columns Of the Federal
soldiers sweeping down In tremenduous odds
against Jacksous struggling heroes. The enemy
were approaching Jacksons position BY left
oblique march, for the purpose of turning Jack
sons right flank. The move exposed theiy Iefs
! flank 10 m inflade FIRE from our sunss We