The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-03-01

line from right to left. Thus the SPLEEN
did corps Of Longstreet moved forward
in grand charge out upon the high
and open ground in that vicinity On
ward it swept toward Bull Run, driving
tie enemy at a rapid pace before it,
and presenting to the view the most
beautiful battle scene | have ever be-
held. | was in conference, near the
Chinn House. with Gen. Jones and other
commanders as they arrived upon the
field, when the 5th Tex.-after col.
Robertson had been wounded i'm the
faithful discharge of his duty, and the
gallant, noble Upton had been killed =
slipped the bride and rushed forward.
breaking lose from its brigade. When
night approached, and the battle was
over. / found it far to the front, in the
vicinity of the Sudley Ford road.
Captured AmbuIances.
Whilst l lost many valuable officers
and men, as shown by the official re-
ports, my two brigades, true TO their
teaching, captured five guns in addi-
ton to IA stands Of colors, which they
bore off as trophies Of war and proof
of the noble work they had accom-
plished. During this engagement Maj.
w. II. Sellers, my Adjutant-General, led
the Texas Brigade. ] had ordered him
to assume direction when Gen. Long
street sent for me at the beginning OF
Tic movement lOTWdTu. 1H1S u1StlH-
guished soldier not only deserves great
credit for his conduct, but proved him
self, as | expressed my conviction in
my official report, competent to com
mand a brigade at that early period of
the war. Toward the close of the battle
/ pushed forward some of my reliable
Texas scouts, and captured a number of
new Federal ambulanceS. with view
to better the outfit of my troops. After
nightfall l reassembled my division and
rode back to the headquarters OF Gen
Lee.
l found him in an open field, near a
campfire of boards kindled for the pur-
pose of reading dispatches. He was in
high spirits. doubtless on account of the
brilliant and complete victory just
achieved by his army. He met me in
his usual manner. and asked what had
become of the enemy. l replied that
our forces had driven him almost at a
double-quick to and across Bull Run.
and that it was a beautiful sight to see
our little gatherings dancing after the
Federals, as they ran in full retreat.
lie instantly exclaimed, God forbid /
should ever live to see our cOlors NOV
ing in the opposite direction!"
The ambulances ] had captured we're
destined to cause me somewhat of an
noyance, which l had nOwiSe anticipat-
&c at the time l assigned them to my
troops for the use of their sick and
wounded. After the burial of the dead
on the following day. and the march
had been resumed, with orders to fol-
low Jackson's Corps in the direction of
Maryland, was instructed by Maj
Gen. Evans to turn over these ambu-
lances to his Carolina troops. Whereas
l would cheerfully have obeyed direc-
tons to deliver them to Gen. Lees
Quartermaster for the use of the army.
I did not consider 1t just that i should
be required to yield them to another
brigade Of the division, which was in
no manner entitled to them. / regard
ed the command, which had captured
them, as the rightful owners In this In
stance. and therefore refused to obey
the order. was. in consequence, placed
III arrest, and. on the march to
Frederick, Md, was ordered by Gen.
Longstreet to proceed to the rear
to Culpeper Court House, IL / remember
correctly, and there await the assem-
bly, of cOurt-martial for my trial. Gen.
Lee, however, became apprised of the
matter, and at once sent instructions
that l should remain with my COM
mand, though he did not release me
from arrest Longstreet's Corps was
finally massed near Hagerstown, and
by this time my division had become
FESTIVE and somewhat inclined to in
subordinatiOn on account Of my sus-
pension. l repressed all demonstrations
of feeling by assurances to the officers
that the affair would soon be settled,
and l shortly restored to command.
(TO be cOntinued.)