The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1961-07-07

because all was in order. l babe
Lee farewell and pointed ahead.
1t was about Z am. when the
head Of the col u m n began
swinging to the southwest. My
face felt flush as I pulled the
visor of my cap down over my
eyes.
l did not force the march to
the limit Of the sol d Ter S
strength, but l sought to keep
them at my standard-a mile in
twenty five minutes with ten
minutes rest every two m ! e 5.
The roads were not difficult for
the troops, the only discomfort
being the lack of water as the
sun rose higher. Few streams or
farm wells were passed.
The first trouble point on the
march was where the road an
elevation on the nearer side OF
LeWis'S Greek, close to the fur
mace. We got out of that, and
marched past the furnace and
southWestWard
Down the Brock Road toward
the head of the column came a
bearded officer on a galloplng
horse-Fitz Lee. FiZ hurried on
till he pulled his horse at stop
beside me.
General, if you will ride with
me, hating your columns here
cut of sight, l will show you the
enemy's right. You will perceive
the great advantage Of attack
ing down the old turnpike, in
stead of the Plank Road, the
enemy's lines being taken in re-
verse. Bring only one courier,
as you will be in view from the
top Of the hill"
He had good news, but it was
entirely too much for a Brig
adler in the cavalry to be tell
ing a Corps Commander. who
was quite capable of deciding
by VIII c h road he would adj
vance. However, I overlooked
Fits excess of counsel. The
ung trooper evidently was
very excited over seeing the
enemy. With few words in re-
ply. sent word for the infantry
to be halted under arms in the
road. Then 1 told one of my
couriers to come with Fitz and
me.
In a few movements. Fitz Lee
drew rein and with a broad ges-
ture babe me to see for myself
Spread out before my eyes. neal
enough for the movement Of in
dividuals to be observed, were
long lines of Federals. Arms
were stacked. The men were al
ease. In the distance, beeves
were being slaughtered. The
smoke of campfires already
were rising. A few cannons were
in position, some earthWorks hac
been thrown up, but the enemy
manifestly was not expecting at
tack. No warning whatever ha6
reached them that | had three
Divisions Of the Army Of North
ern Virginia ready to move OF
them. AS I saw this, it set my
battle blood boiling.
Eagerly l was measuring the
Federal line and was trying t
find exactly where, in the fores
to my left, the right flank nigh
be. In the air it was, precisel,
as we had hoped, and vulner
able it must be, but where stoot
the flank guards? How mucl
farther must the Second Corp
proceed before it would be be
yond the Federal right? From
my left, l turned my gaze t
the front again to open groun'
around a farm house near tn
turnpike. Talley's Farm, thi
was. Half a mile farther east
ward beyond Tale VS. wa
another farm clearing where b
noculars showed some earth
works that seemed to be facin
southwark on good ground. Thi
was Melzi Chancellor place
Apparently the Federals ir
tended to stand there. The fiv
minutes had been on the hill
top, l had seen enough to justif
my decision.
I turned to my courier an
said. Tell General Rodes t
move across the Plank Road
halt when he gets to the oil
turnpike, and I will join hin
there"
l went down the hill and the
wrote a letter to General Lee
Getting the forces moving a
rapidly as the men could. l OF
dered them to cover the mil
and half between the Plan
Road and the old turnpik
Rodes's Brigade tramped north
ward through the brilliant Ma
sunshine. h aiding eastWar
when they reached the turnpike
Unopposed. even unobserved
Rodes led them almost a mil
to a long, low ridge. I instructe
Rodes that when the bugle
sounded the advance. the Who'll
line was to advance. The roa
was to be their guide. Talley'
Farm was to be their first oh
;oofiva IF uroc tn ha opo,,pio