Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/15

 14 Southern Historical Society Papers.

of war. Arrived at Centreville, we breakfasted on such of the sup- plies as we had brought away with us from the junction, and rested there awhile from our night's watch. Then again we were up and on the march ; now back in the direction of the old battle-field, we moved down the Warrenton turnpike. After crossing Bull Run, at the stone bridge, we filed to the right and made our way across the country to Sudley's ford, and were placed in position behind the railroad cut, which was to be our rampart and de- fence the next day. It was now late in the afternoon. Pope was hurrying up his troops "in pursuit of Jackson," as he had tele- graphed to Washington; and King's Division of McDowell's corps, without a thought of their proximity to us, were marching quietly along the Warrenton turnpike, which we had just left and by which we had just come from Centreville, when, without note of warning, a quick and rapid fire of artillery sent bursting shells within their ranks.

So far from retreating, Jackson had thrown his corps directly upon the flank of the columns Pope had ordered to press forward in our "pursuit." Jackson was fully aware of Pope's movements, and to meet King he had at noon sent forward Taliaferro and Ewell through the woods along the deep cuts and steep embankments of the un- finished railway towards the Centreville pike. Here he formed his line in a wood on the brow of a hill, with Groveton on his left, and awaited King's approach, and King, all unconscious, marched to his destruction. You recollect, my comrades, how the noise of this bat- tle on our right burst upon us :

'' death shots falling thick and fast As lightnings from the mountain cloud."

Our brigade was hurried to the scene of action, and ordered to report to General Ewell, who was directing the battle ; but we were not engaged that afternoon, and as I have much to say of the next day's work, which concerns us so much more nearly, I must hasten on without dwelling upon the brilliant commencement of the three days' struggle. Suffice it to say, that it was a short but most terrific con- test, in which both sides suffered very heavily, the Federals leaving more than one-third of their forces engaged dead or wounded on the field, while we suffered heavily, and lost both of the division commanders engaged Generals Ewell and Taliaferro who were wounded.

We lay that night on the hard and rocky sides of the railroad cut,