The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-01

off. The impression made upon the troops
| passing at that point WAS not calculated
| 10 increase their courage, as it was sup
| posed that in the very near future we
| would again run up against Mcclellan ana
| might have some further trouble with
| him A short distance beyond Walnut
| Grove Church, l think, there was a large
| field On the far side of this field there
| was a large body OF woods, ami as We
| marched along the road we saw the CLINT
| from shining musbets and easily recognized
| large body uf troops gathered on the
| edge OF the woods. Our guns were i'm
tnadiately unmbereG, sIirmishers We're
| thrown forward, and the troops on the
| other side followed suit. Before any Fir
| Ing, however, begun the men recognized
| each other and we found that we mad
| struck the head OF Jackson'S column on
| its memorable march from me Valley TO
| help General Lee in his hour of dire need
Great were the shouts and cong1atula-
| lions from one to the other as we met,
| but we We're under rapid marching orders
| and had to leave Jackson's men, hoping TO
| see them later
| At last our battery reached Gaines MIL,
| and pulling up to the top OF the hiit' 1ouhd
| several batteries waiting for orders, among
| theni Pegram's, Crenshaws s, the Dixie
| Battery and others.
| The fehting in the woods to the right OF
| the road and about 100 feet theretron, was
terrific Fitz John Porter, as true and
| gallant a soldier as ever fought, was
| holding the right of MCClellan's line with
| some OF the hest troops in the army, among
/ them sykes Brigade OF Regulars Just
| after W.. halted General r. Z. Lee and
| staff rode up and stopped, evidently re-
| garding this point as the most critical
| along the whole line. Several efforts
| we're made to get General Lee to retire,
| as now and then one OF our men or horses
| would be SHOT. He refused, however, To
| leave and it was well ne did not, iof ABOUT
| that time South Carolina brigade COM
| snenccd coming out of the woods perfectly
| pa uic-striclzen. General Lee ordered our
| guns unlimbered, then turning to the men
| around him, among whom ] recall MAJOR
| Lindsay Walker and Captain Hampton
| Chamberlayne. his adjutant, remarked:
| Gentlemen, we must rally those men.
| Immediately gallopnS forward himself, he
| called on the South Carolinians to stop
and for the sake of their State go back
| to their. work The panic stopped and the
| men calamity rallied. and led by General
| Maxey Gregg and the equally gallant A.
| c. HASKELL the line was reversed ana the
| thunder of musketry grew as loud as ever
| At this time there was no cheerinS-eVery
| man was lighting with his mouth closed
| and standing his ground with all the cour-
| age he could G0mmand-and never anywhere
| do I recall heavier fire than the left
| Of our line. General 4. p. Hill, that maSni-
| fcent fighter of the Light Infantry Di-
! vision, showing himself the man he always
i VAS Just about that time very diStin-
| guished and we'll known lawyer of Rich
| m0nd one Of the most dignitied men in
| Virginia. man OF fine appearance and
| elegant manners, whose dignity would not
| on any occasion cause him to proceed out
| Of a slow walk rode up 10 our battery on
! a. little pony Captain Johnson. knowing
| him we'll called him by name and asked
| what he was doing at that place at thaE
| time: mis- reply was: 4 have always
centefl TO see a great battle. it has been
ne ambition of my life and now that |
| nave an opportunity / intend to witness
it, Captain Johnson begged him TO re-
| turn but could not induce him to alter MS
| mind Finding that the old gentleman was
| determined to sec the battle, ne adFiseu
/! him 10 take his position on the NH dpolll
| a quarter of a mile in front OF our pa
! tarI, aud IN the left side of the road just
| in front OF him there was an open space
| containing probably five or SIX hundE eS'
| acres beyond on the other SIDE OIL t.ie
| Greet, was posted General Porter aFtii-
| Iarv-son1e twenty-ore guns, Inc oid gen
| rfeTnan took his position. raised MS Steel
silk umbrella, and as IL WIS an - 60,
| ;1gfy hot day pushed MS tall SILK nat lroEii
| ri forehead in rather und!gnliled man
|
| - inst then CFrenshaw'S battery was
| rrsIa,ad forward to defend the lett OF our
!! Iira against a thanking movement ana
| oaiIantly they went in at q luAi sdliop'
! rrruing into the open space dpoSs
| toned and commencing TO ire as SUI -
they could get their guns uniiliioet e.u
| course the Yankees begun 10 IRE as Sooil
@ tho olIns appeared beyond the edSe Oh
| rba woods Our attention was caIied 20
| 80; s,.ir,e. ana before Crensnaw couto pc
| ,in Ia fire our dignified friend naa iet
| down his umbrella, cranlIned MS SIZE ia I
an fhe back Of mis- head and using tile
| ,I,,7breIla as a whip, was riding tis pottS
| down the hill towards the foau d. il'a -
| st- e,ead Considering the man anu t4ie
| airn,,,,ostances do not remenher ever 70
| -. s,.,, = more ludicrous sight he
| ar,1 o,,y battery at full saliop with MS
| 49, a,4 arms still flying: riding along
| -ha or,ns the men ridiculng hlm ana cStii-
! inc 1irn TO come back. that the naltie ,i.i|i
| iIst begun. Captain Johnson calteo 10 MN
| - old .sYolI seem to have been eaSity
s.Ffsfied sir. In the distance we couid
baar his reply: II think I have seen as
,r,,Icb nj a battle as I ever care 10 see
1 again in my life
| 0ur battery was then moved forward to
| ,nno1.t Csrenshaw's and as We reached the
aare of the woods we saw coming over
the hill to our left and rear tAe-ieSili'iS
| brigade OF JACKSON ; Hi.49t't
have no recollection previous to this
- ba,,i1o heard what afterwards became
- famous and what has carried with it
victory upon many hard-fousht field
then and now known as the rebel yell:
until these men of Jacksons, coming IN
=, : dc1ble-Guicb, passed TO the left OF
omr battery down into the woods, brigade
after brigade melting into the shadows OF
the dense Tickets that lined this creek
our guns began firing immediately.
and though the addition of this battery
md the whole of Jackson's division had
haan pushed against Fitz John Porter's
front so far as we could see. they did
not give back one inch, but fought like
true soldiers, an; except for the increased
/ roise of the musketry and cannon it
! would not have been known ,that auh'-
/ tinn,I stroops were engaged. I have no
/ idea how long we remained there, but
/ long enough to empty our Timber chests
and caissons. and finally to be ordered out