The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-16
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THE BATTLE OF SALEM CHURCH.

were advancing up the road between thei canal and the river Hurying rapidly to, the canal, saw the enemy advancing on three regiments being seen, the leading one not more than 1000 yards distant.j Gathering in my pickets along the canal and at the dam above Taylor's-tn al1sf less than twenty men, they were deployed as slxlrmfshers on the crest of the hill In, front of Taylor's and near the canal. Two rified pieces of Frank Huger's bat-i tery, already prepared to move to Chan cellorsvil1e, were ordered into position in the battery across the road from Taylor'S.l
 And, this is the beginning of the days conflict to end at Salem Church. It was fortunate that Wilcox was sent to Bank s Ford. It was fortunate that the vigilant picket gave him timely notice of the ap-3 proach of the enemy before he began hisi return march to Chancellofsville. The rank and file of the brigade were familiar with every foot of the ground between fredericksburg and Banks Ford. for they had been encamped near by all the winter. And, knowing the topography Of the territory lying between the plank road and the Rappahannock, as they did, no; other command of equal numbers was SO we'll equipped to hold in check the ad-s vance of on enemy so vastly superior in numbers. fa
 It is necessary to Iengthen the story of
 
 counter-moves and skirmishes of the day. It is sufficient to know that General Will cox felt confident, If forced to retire along the plank road, he could do so without precipitancy, and that he could hold the enemy in check until endorsements could be obtained from Chancellorsville- He further believed. that if the enemy should determine to pursue, he could be attacked in rear by General Early, rein- forced by Generals Hayes and Barksdaie. He, therefore, employed all his skill as a. soldier and strategist to that end. He de-s layed the enemy by constant diversions and skirnishes. There was sharp skir- mish near the Stansbury house. He made a short stand near the toll-gate. The enc my pressed on, and halted when unex-s pectedly they came on our skirmishers. The brigade was then formed in rear of the toll gate nearer the church. Our ar tillery opened fire on the enemys adF- vancing lines, who, in turn, began brisls smelling of lines. At this juncture. Major Goggan, General McLaws adJu- tant-general rode up and reported to General Wilcox that General McI5aw had sent three brigades to his support and that they would soon arrive, These bri- gades, on arrival. were halted in rear of the church and out of sight of the enemy.
 Of the order and conduct of the battle of Salem Church, General Wilcox speaks plainly and modestly in his official report of that affair:
 "The conduct of my men during all this time was such as I knew it would be. leaving nothing to be desired. and I felt the utmost confidence in my ability to make a successful stand at the church with the three supporting brigadess At Salem Church line of battle was formed, crossing the road at right angles. Two regiments of my brigade, the Eleventh and Fourteenth Alabama were on the left a a or two; the Tenth Alabama on the right. next to the road, and the Eighth Alabamaf on the right of the Tenth. There was an interval of seventy-five or eighty yards between the left of the Tenth and right of the Eleventh. In this interval on theg road, four pieces of artillery were in bat tery. The Ninth Alabama was in rear of. the Tenth, one company of the Ninth be- ing stationed in the school-house, to the right of the church and In front some six- ty yards second company of this regf-s ment was placed in the church with or- ders to fire from the windows of the lowe CT floor and from the windows of the gallery Such was the format ton of my brigade for battle. I am thus particularz in giving details, for the reason that thea principal attack was made at the church. and it's immediate vicinity. Kershaw's brigade was on the right of my brigade.3 Semme's and Malone on the left. Ma hone to the left of Scenes. The brigade had not been in position long before the enemy were seen advancing up the plank road in line of battle Their line crossed the road at right angles. A field battery accompanied their advance. This was halted at the gate, about 1000 yards dis tant, and soon opened with a brisk fire of shells upon our battery near the, church. The two batteries fired some fif- teen or twenty minutes. when ours was withdrawn for want of amunition."
 'The enemy then threw shells to the right and left of the church, through the woods, endeavoring to reach our infantry. The infantry were well protected while lying down, and no casualties occurred from explosions of shells" A
 "The enemy's artillery ceased to fire near 5 D. m. Their slxirmishers then ad- vanced; spirited fire ensued between the skirmishers for some fifteen or twenty minutes. Ours then retired, firing as they fell back. The enemy's sl<irmishers pur- sued followed by two solid lines of in- fantry, and still a third in rear. Either side of the road as they advanced from the tol-gate, were open fields and the ground slightly ascending. These fields continued to within about 250 yards of the