The National tribune., 1902-03-13

| from the 4tn -. u, which had suffered
such losses that it had been rcorganized
as battalion. fitted with my description
or with either of my names. | spent much
time in reading the books which passed
from man to man in the company.
AT this period of my service l was in
good health and somewhat more cheerful
than l had been previously. The woods
| had begun to show signs of Spring. The
snow had disappeared, and early in April
the weather became mild. To say that
| was content would be to say what is un-
true but l felt that my condition had
much of solace. | knew that | had a
friend in Capt Haskell-a man whom l
admired without reservation and whose Ia
yors were extended to me freely mean
! to say personal, not official, favOrs. The
more | learned of this high-minded man,
the more did the whole world seem to me
| brighter and less deserving of disregard
He was Il patriot. An heir to an estate
of many slaves he was at war for prin-
ciple of liberty; he was ready at any time
to scariticc personal interest to the fur
therauce of the cOmman cause of the
South In battle he was strong. calm, un-
utterably dignified. Battle. it seemed to
me, was considered by him as high:
religious service, which he performed
ccrcmonially. Nothing could equal the
vigorous gravity of his demeanOr when
leading his men in fight. His words were
few ut such times: he was the only officer
ever knew void absolutely of rant in
action Others w, uld shout and scream
and shrek their orders redundant and
unwholcsome: Haskells eye spoke better
battle English than all their dstemded
throats. He was merciful and he was
wise.
On April 90, 1863, we were ordered to
have three days cooked ratiOns i'll our
haversacks, and to be prepared to move
at q moments notice.
The next day at 10 o'clock the men
left their huts and fell into ranks. We
marched to Hamilton's Crossng-some
six mileS-and formed in line of battle,
and began to throw up breastwOrks. The
enemy was i'll our front, on our side of
the RappahannOck, and we learned that
he had crossed in strong force up the
river also. We faced the Yankees here
for two days, but did not fire a shot
Before dawn on Friday, May l, we
were in motion westward-up the river.
At noon we could hear skirmishinG and
cannon in our front. The sounds at first
went from us. but ut o'clock they in
creased in volume. We were pressed for
ward; again the noise of the fight began
to die away. The enemy were retiring
before our advanced troops. Night came
day to bring battle.
The morning brought Jackson's flank
march to the left of HOokers army. AT
first we moved southwark under a sharD
fire of artillery from which we seemed to
retreat; the men thought the movement
was retreat, and it is no wonder that
Hooker thought so; but suddenly our
march broke off toward the west. and the
men could not conceal their joy over what
they were now beginning to understand.
Frequently, on that day, Jackson was
seen riding past the marching lines to the
head of his column, or halted with his
staff to see his troops Fastening on.
Late in the afternoon our column was
halted on the turnpike. Our backs were
toward the sunset. Two other divisions
were i'll line Of battle i'll our front. We
moved along the road at supporting dis
tance.
Shots rang out in the woods in front,
and in another instant the roar of the
charging yell mingled with the crash of
continuous musketry. There was no pause
in the advance. Both lines ahead of us
had swept on We followed, still in col
umn of fours upon the road, which was
almost blocked by a battery Of artillery.
Soon we found the road full of the
signs of battle. On our right was open
ground-to the south; facing this open
space was breastwork from which the |
enemy had just been driven, leaving |
wounded and dead, their muskets, accou- |
termeGts, cooking utensils yet upon the
fires. blankets, napsacks-everything.
We continued to advance. Our first |
and second lines, having become inter
needed time to restore their
ranks Hills Division now formed the |
first line of battle.
1t was now dark, and no enemy could |
be seen. Their guns in the distance r"'d |
us, however, that they had made stand. |
We again went forward. Near the ell |
emy's second line of intrenchments we
were halted in the thick woods.
The battle seemed to have ended for |
the night. In our front rose moon, the |
like of which was never seen. Almost |
full and in a clOudless sky, |
she shonc calmly down on the men of two |
armies yet lingering in the last struggles |
OF life and death. Here and there a gun |
broke the silence, as if to warn us that |
all was not peace: now and then film |
Of cannon smoke drifted across the moon,
which seemed to become piteOus then.
There was silence in the ranks.
The line was lying down, ready. how
ever, and alert. At about 8 o'clock a
sharp rattle of rifles was heard at our
left-about where Lanes Brigade was
posted, as we thought-and soon mourn
full group of men passed by us, bearing
the outstretched form of one whom we
knew to be some high officer. Jackson
had been shot dangerously by one of
Lanes regiments-the Sth \. G..
Gen. A. =. Hill now commanded the
corps. Again all was silent. and the line
lay down, as it hoped, for the night. All
at once there came the noise of n gun,
and another, and of a whole battery, and
many batteries, and fields and woods We're
alive with shells and canister. More than
40 pieces of cannon had been massed in
our front. We lay and endured the fire.
Gen. Hill was wounded, and at midnight
Gen. Stuart, of the cavalry, took com
mand of the corps. At last the cannon
hushed. The terrible night passed away
without sleep.
At o'clock on Sunday morning the
Light Division, under command of Gen.
Pcnder, assaulted the intrenchments of
the enemy. Our brigade succeeded in get |
ting into the works; but on our right the |
encmy's line still held, and as it curved
far to the west it had us in flank and
rear \ new attack Mt this moment by |
the troops on our right would have car
ried the line; the attack was not made. |
We were compelled to abandon the breast |
works and run for the woods, where we |
formed again at once.
And now another brigade charged, and |
was driven back by an entlade fire.
At 10 o'clock a third and final charge |
was made along the whole line; the in
were ours, and Chancelors-
vile was won.
Co. III had lost many men; Pinckney |
Seabrook, most gallant officer had |
fallen dead, shot by some excited man far