Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/504

492 Plank road to the support of General Colquitt's command, which was then nearly out of ammunition. The woods which we entered were on fire—the heat was excessive—the smoke arising from burning blankets, oilcloths, &c., very offensive—the dead and dying of the enemy could be seen on all sides enveloped in flames—the ground on which we formed was so hot as at first to be disagreeable to our feet. Nothing daunted, however, the men took their positions without a murmur, notwithstanding their previous hard marching, desperate fighting and sleepless nights, and remained under arms again the whole of Sunday night in the front line while heavy skirmishing was going on.

Never have I seen men fight more gallantly, and bear fatigue and hardship more cheerfully. I shall always feel proud of the noble bearing of my brigade in the battle of Chancellorsville, the bloodiest in which it has ever taken part, when the Thirty-third discharged its duties so well as skirmishers, and with the Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth gallantly repulsed two night attacks made by vastly superior numbers, and when the Seventh and Thirty-seventh vied with each other as to who should first drive the vandals from their works.

Its gallantry has cost it many noble sacrifices, and we are called upon to mourn the loss of some of our bravest spirits. The fearless Purdie was killed while urging forward his men—the gentle, but gallant Hill, after the works had been taken—and Johnnie Young, a mere boy, not yet eighteen, but a brave and efficient captain, fell at the head of his company. Captain Kerr, and Lieutenants Campbell, Bolick, Emack, Weaver, Bouchelle, Babb, Callais and Regan, all fell in the discharge of their duties, as also did J. Rooker Lane of company E, Fifth Virginia cavalry, who at the time was acting as my volunteer aid.

I cannot speak in too high terms of the behaviour of this brigade. Colonel Barbour, though wounded, was from time to time with his command, giving all the assistance he could. Major Morris, wounded in the foot, left the hospital on horseback, and assisted in reforming his regiment. Major Mayhew, after the left wing of the Thirty-third was withdrawn, and Lieutenant-Colonel Cowan was wounded, gallantly commanded the skirmishers in the night attack; was wounded in the charge next day, and is now thought to be in the hands of the enemy. Lieutenant-Colonel Speer was wounded in one of the night attacks, and Colonels Avery and Haywood, Lieutenant-Colonels George and Ashcraft, and Major Davidson in the charge Sunday morning.

After the loss of so many field officers, Major Barry and Captains Harris, Saunders, Brown and Nicholson, rendered me grentgreat [sic] assistance. Captain Saunders, in his official report, calls special attention to the