Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/539

Rh division, nine regiments front, with no supports or reserves, and nothing between them and the Potomac, moved forward in splendid style. Up to that day that division had never known defeat. A part of it had made a glorious record at the First Manassas. The whole of it had taken part in the battle of Seven Pines; it was the first to successfully charge and carry the strong works at Gaines's Mill; it had made a splendid record at the Second Manassas, and demolished the Duryee Zouaves, who had requested that they might be pitted against the Texans to recover the honor lost at Gaines's Mill; it had held Fox's Gap, on South Mountain, against every attempt to carry it by Burnside's division; and on that day they moved forward in gallant style, making the air ring with the well-known "rebel yell," and soon met the on-coming tide of Federals, flushed with victory, and rolled it back like a wave is shattered and beat back when it strikes a rock. Soon the field was strewn with the flying fragments of the attacking force, and the ground covered thick with the wounded and dead. The pursuit was continued for about a quarter of a mile when the victorious Southrons were in turn met by a fresh corps of Federals. The regiments had become scattered by the long charge, and were now in a corn field, where a new allignment was impossible. Retreat became necessary, and the order was given to "fall back." There was no rout, no frantic rushing to the rear, though the fire of musketry and cannon was fearful. The men fell back in squads—often stopping to replenish their empty cartridge-boxes from those of the dead and the wounded, and then turning and returning the deadly fire of the overwhelming numbers before whom they were slowly and doggedly retiring. When they reached the woods from which they had debouched about two hours before 4,000 strong, only 700 could be mustered to form a new line, to hold the Northern hordes in check until McLaws could come up from Harper's Ferry. Out of nine regiments but one field officer besides Colonel Law, who bore a charmed life that day, reported for duty; he was a major of a Texas regiment. The following fatalities are known to the present writer: Colonel Liddell, of the Eleventh Mississippi, had been killed the night before, in a heavy skirmish on this same ground. The Lieutenant-Colonel, Butler, and the Major (name forgotten) both mortally wounded and left on the field. Colonel Stone, of the Second Mississippi, now governor of Mississippi, upper lip shot away, unable to talk, and yet only going to the rear under the positive orders of Colonel Law. Lieutenant-Colonel (name forgotten) left arm shattered, yet insisting on staying, until ordered to the rear. Major Blair shot in the throat, with a buckshot against the