Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 7.djvu/413

392 hardest fighting of the war. In the following summer he was with Early in the Shenandoah valley. In the battle of Winchester, September 19th, his brigade was for a time held in reserve, but later sent into action with a result well described by Mr. Davis : "Just then Battle's brigade moved forward and swept through the woods, driving the enemy before it, while Evans' brigade was rallied and cooperated. Our advance was resumed, and the enemy's attacking columns were thrown into great confusion and fled from the field." General Early exclaimed: "It was a grand sight to see this immense mass hurled back in utter disorder by my two divisions, numbering very little over 5,000 men." Early addressed a congratulatory note to General Battle, giving him the credit of having saved the day in the enemy's first attack. Major-General Rodes, falling at this battle, Ramseur succeeded to the division command. General Battle led his brigade in the successful attack upon Sheridan's army at Cedar Creek, October 19th, but received a severe wound in the knee while General Ramseur was congratulating him upon his part in the fight. He was taken to the field hospital, where preparations for the amputation of his leg were suspended by the startling news that Ramseur was killed and the day was lost. After much suffering he reached the hospital at Richmond, and was confined there about three months. While on sick bed he was informed by Col. Lawson Clay, of the adjutant-general's department, that his commission as major-general, dating from the battle of Winchester, had been forwarded to the army, but General Battle was never able to take the field again. For two years he was upon crutches. Resuming the practice of law in Alabama, after the close of hostilities, he was elected to Congress, but was not permitted to take his seat. In 1870 his name was urged by his friends for nomination for United States senator, and he would perhaps have received that honor, but the legislature was advised from Washington not to elect any man who