Year: 1862

killed one or two, and wounded three others.
I cannot speak with certainty as to this, bun
know that the General is not very polite to
his soldiers at any time, is quite profane at
others and under such Circumstances as those
which surrounded him on Saturday afternoon,
he would do many things that in normal
condition of affairs would be called cruel and
inhuman. He was very angry on Saturday
He was angry before he arrived and the pros
pect of affairs when he reached the battle
field was not calculated to appease his wrath.


Whoever may have formed the third line
of battle, Gen Nelson directed all the move
ments after it was formed, and the result of
the engagement shows that a master hand
was at the helm. Under his management,
1900 Federal troops did more execution in a
space of time not much larger than is fire.
quently occupied in a skirmish, than 5000
had done in two battles of several hours du-
ration And amid all the danger and expos
ure none were more exposed than he. He
rode along the lines giving words Of encour-
agement to his men, while the bullets few
thicker than at any other time during the
day, and he was a conspicuous mark at which
shots were fred. keep it up, men-the
devils are running. That's it Let them
have it Fire low. Take good aim. Wen
whip them yet and similar expressions he
used to make victory, already certain, as
dearly bought as possible for the enemy. He
frequently said, " Reinforcements viii be here
right away"-and, Of course, it is not for me
to say that they were not on the road, though
I must say they never came. The rebels had,
evidently, resolved on finishing the work this
time. They were reinforced and fought with
desperation. They used but little artillery,
relying, principally, upon their unerring
rifles"


should have mentioned before now that
the ground selected for the third stand was
slight elevation about three quarters Of
mile from town, and included the Richmond
cemetery, whose beautiful obelis1s new bear
many marks of the bloody struggle. Many
Of the monuments are very much defaeed by
the bullets which were poured in among them
form two different quarters. In that little
city of the dead no less than sevetty-fve
rebels fell in half an hour. They had sought
refuge behind the marble, the more efTectua,r
ly to destroy our men and insure their own
safety. Gen. Nelson discovered them, and
manoeuvered his troops SO a. to bring them
under cross fire, which made terrible havoc
among them.


This was hotly contested engagement,
though Of short duration, and one in which
our men, though outnumbered punished the
enemy very severely. Had all the fighting
of the day been proportiOnately favorable to
our side, the sun would not have set upon a
vanquished Federal army.


But, notwithstanding General Nelson's ef-
forts he could not prevent break in his lines.
The men felt convinced that the day was not
theirs, and could not be kept from fleeing
Still third stampede occurred, and then the
question of victory was decided The rebels
pushed our troops into the streets Of Rich
nond, and killed many during the pursuit
A few determined ones attempted another
rally. but failed. Napoleon himself could not
have rallied men 80 thoroughly imbued viii.
the belief that their only safety was in flight