The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-03


 the line of march in the direction of the river. We found that the rumors were true. The federals had crossed to our side in considerable force, and were us- ing their artillery planted on the hills on the further side to protect their in- fantry. The day passed. however, with out any fighting save with long range artillery. At or about midnight our (Rodes) brigade was formed in line and started on the march, we privates knew not whithen but 1t proved to be the be- ginning of that wonderful flank move- ment the grandest and boldest move ex- ecuted by Jackson during his wonderful military career, which resulted so favor ably for Confederate arms and so dis astrously to the federals on the field of Chancellorsville.
 We marched all the remainder of the night, a dark one 1t was, and we knew from our orders that the movement was critical one, as we marched with load ed guns and untitled canteens, the strict est quiet being observed to avoid being heard by the enemy. We moved rapidly all next day. taking blind roads at diff ferent times, and at one time going through the woods without any road for some distance. We quickly discovered that we were marching right down the enemys front and that our whole corps was moving We were frequently so near the enemy's line that we could hear them
 talking, and they appeared to be very jubilant, as if they had received good news. They were certainly giving vent to loud and prolonged huzzas. In pass
 ing small iron furnace our line of march approached so near the enemy's line that they sent out a small detach- ment and attacked us but were driven back by Georgia regiment and did not repeat the attack, thinking, we after | at-d 1oa ,,ad hat cf General Stewards cavalry dismounted. In this famous flank movement to turn Rockers right flank, Rodes' brigade was at the head of Jackson's column, and the Third Alabama was the front regi- ment of the brigade During the rapid marching on that memorable occasion, the date being Saturday, May ?, 1863, our, men suffered severely. The weather was warm and sutry, water was scarce along our route. and the country was wilder ness region, the principal growth being stunted Black Jack oak and other scrub by timber, and 1t was the first marching we had done that spring. Numbers of our boys, some of the stoutest among us, fell fainting by the wayside. At 8 D.. m. our column was halted, having reached point on the old Plank Road" (better known In that section as the Catharpin road) almost in sight of Chancellor House or Characteristic. The line of battle was immediately formed. the Third Alabama forming on the right of the road. and the line of the division being formed on our brigade line.
 It took just one hour to form the line of battle. At o'clock the order was given to advance four hundred yards, but before going half that distance we struck the enemy, Towards corps, and the battle was on. We began driving them pell mell before us, killing, cap turing and wounding numbers of them, with comparatively small loss on our part. The surprise was complete and the astonishment of the Yankees was indeed great. We struck at some points their cooking details preparing supper. and our boys helped themselves to hot coffee. cooked and raw beef and other eatables, as they pursued the fleeing "Yanks." The part of our line that l was with came upon quite a large number of "Yanks' around and behind a large tree. As we came out of the thick undergrowth right upon them, we drew our guns upon them and ordered them to surrender They promptly threw down their guns and surrendered. We told them to go to the rear. A big Dutchman spoke up and said: 'Mien Gott, where is de rear? We thought we was in de rear" The Third and Sixth regiments being side by side
 in line they advanced rapidly through the thick woods and undergrowth, the men became mixed together almost as one body, and the< two color bearers got together and moved onward side by side.
 After we had driven the enemy some distance, we came in sight of a Yankee battery located on a slightly rising ground in our immediate front, which was pouring shot and shell into us at a lively rate. We immediately quickened our pace to a run, charging this battery and capturing it. In this charge the col ors of the Third borne by Sergeant H. A. Hardy. and the colors of the Sixth, borne by Sergeant Dennis Matagon, moved forward together almost side by side and both reached the battery about the same time. our color bearer planting