Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-29

In line OF battle to the front. We passed
out Of the field then through a piece or
woods to another field, and halted. We
saw about 200 yards In our front an OFF,
Ger riding to our left The rebel yell was
deafening, the officer dotted his cap, spur
red his horse and was quickly out OF
sight. II excited my curiosity to know
what officer could call forth such wild
cheering when We had orders to keep
perfectly quiet. 7 was told that 1t was
General T. ]. Jackson, the hero OF the
valley. General Thomas Jonathan jack
son proved to be the greatest military
genius produced by the civil war. His
campaign in the valley before his arrival
at. Mechanicsville. stamped him as one or
the greatest generals in modern times
The Federal government sent three differ
ent commands, either one outnumbering
his own, under Generals Fremont, Shields
and Banks, to take Stonewall in out OF
the wet Almost any other general would
have retreated or commenced fortifying.
Not so with Mars Tom. AS they were
marching on different roads and not in
supporting distance, Jackson advanced
and routed the first, then the second and
third, Bull Run stampede to get out Of
Virginia. The Federals never knew where
he was only by the sound of his guns.
When he struck the right flank of Nc
CIellan's army IL was supposed that he
was In the valley. We were then ordered
by the right flank and moved rapidly in
the direction of the James river. After
going about two miles we were ordered
by the right about and returned in the
direction from whence we came, with
flankers on both sides of the line Of
march. When within one and a half
miles OF Malvern Hill we filed to our
right down a small branch. The brigade
was marching left in front and General
Anderson gave the command, change
front by on the left by file into line The
Eighth filed in then the First. Seventh. and
Ninth. While the Eleventh was passing
the First a SIX pound rife shell from
Malvern Hill passed through both regi-
ments knocking out three men. One had
his thigh cut in two, another disembow-
eled and the third one the shell entered
his left shoulder and passed out at his
right thigh, then struck a IL inch tree, ex-
ploded and tore ii down. Quite a rum
pus for a small shell to cut up. About 8
o'clock the battle opened and in order to
better understand the battle that was
fought at Malvern Hill, I will. to the best
Of my recollection, describe the field.
DR.. Malvern's house and farm was on
the north bank OF the James river. His
house was built on a bluff at least 100
feet from the water, with his farm ex-
tending above and below It on the river
bank, and at least one mile in front to
heavy timbered. woods which was much
lower than the house. The field was bad
ly broken and interspersed with ravines.
Near the house. report said the enemy had
In position 20 pieces of cannon which could
rake any portion of the field, with his in
fantry in rear Of it.
General Anderson's brigade was order
ed In under the terrible fire of those
guns, but before we could get within mus
ket range were ordered back to the woods.
Sergeant Baldwin, our color bearer, re-
fused to turn back and had to be turned
at the point of an officers sword Ser
geant w. j. Garrett, of company NJ, adj
vanced on the batteries by himself until
near enough 70 pick Off the gunners, when
he was picked off by a musket ball
through his thigh. The hill was assaulted
by different lines Of battle during the
evening all to be hurled back to the
woods. Our batteries would dash. into
the field to be cut to pieces and retire
unable to Withstand the terrible storm
of iron from the guns on the hill
Just below the house a creek empties
into the river. On the bank was a piece
OF woods in which the most of the in
fantry fighting was done by Jacksons
men. To make matters worse the federal
gunboats were in the river and took an
active part in the fight, hurting eight
inch shells on the field In great numbers
The battle ragged in all its fury until 9 or
| 10 o'clock at night when the Confederates
retired from the field and encamped for
| the night. Little Mac had brought General
Lee to a stand still having everything
pretty much his own way, as fianking his