Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 7.djvu/450

Rh professor in a military school at Yorkville, and in 1860 removed to Macon county, Ala., where he taught school while studying law. On the 11th of January Alabama seceded, and shortly afterward he took a company of State troops to Pensacola, Fla., where he remained two months. Entering the Confederate service as captain he was elected lieutenant-colonel of the Fourth Alabama, one of the commands greatly distinguished in the first battle of Manassas, where Law was severely wounded. In October, 1861, he was elected colonel of this regiment and commissioned on the 28th of the month. He led this regiment at Seven Pines, and at the battle of Gaines' Mill commanded Whiting's old brigade, consisting of the Second and Eleventh Mississippi, the Fourth Alabama and the Sixth North Carolina. This brigade, in company with Hood's of the same division, made the first break in the Union lines on that day of triumph for the Confederates. He had the same command through the rest of the Seven Days' battles, including Malvern Hill, also at Second Manassas and at Sharpsburg. On October 3, 1862, he received his commission as brigadier-general. In January, 1863, his brigade was reorganized and was henceforth composed of the Fourth, Fifteenth, Forty-fourth, Forty-seventh and Forty-eighth Alabama regiments. Early on the second day of the battle at Gettysburg, when General Hood was wounded, General Law took command of the division in the famous assault on the Federal position on Round Top, a movement which he protested against before it was ordered, but carried out with a skillful handling of his valiant men, who lost 2,000 of their number. On the third day his prompt dispositions defeated the flank attack of Federal cavalry. At Chickamauga Hood was again wounded, losing a leg, and again the command of the division fell upon Law, who led it with such intrepidity that General Longstreet sent a note expressing his admiration and satisfaction. At the Wilderness Law again commanded his brave Alabamians, also at Spottsylvania