Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/164

 158 Southern Historical Society Papers.

believed he had succeeded, for his nostril dilated, and his eye flashed its old fire, but it was only for a moment ; his face relaxed again, and presently he answered very feebly and sadly, " I don't know, I can't tell; say to General Stuart he must do what he thinks best." Soon after this he slept for several hours, and seemed to be doing well. The next morning he was free from pain, and expressed himself sanguine of recovery. He sent his aide-de-camp, Morrison, to in- form his wife of his injuries, and to bring her at once to see him. The following note from General Lee was read to him that morning by Captain Smith : "I have just received your note, informing me that you were wounded. I cannot express my regret at the occur- rence. Could I have directed events, I should have chosen, for the good of the country, to have been disabled in your stead. I con- gratulate you upon the victory, which is due to your skill and energy.' ' He replied : " General Lee should give the praise to God.' '

About ID o'clock his right side began to pain him so much that he asked me to examine it. He said he had injured it in falling from the litter the night before, and believed that he had struck it against a stone or the stump of a sapling. No evidence of injury could be discovered by examination. The skin was not broken or bruised, and the lung performed, as far as I could tell, its proper functions. Some simple application was recommended, in the beHef that the pain would soon disappear.

At this time the battle was raging fearfully, and the sound of the cannon and musketry could be distinctly heard at the hospital. The General's attention was attracted to it from the first, and when the noise was at its height, and indicated how fiercely the conflict was being carried on, he directed all of his attendants, except Captain Smith, to return to the battlefield and attend to their different duties. By 8 o'clock Sunday night the pain in his side had disappeared, and in all respects he seemed to be doing well. He inquired minutely about the battle and the different troops engaged, and his face would light up with enthusiasm and interest when told how this brigade acted, or that officer displayed conspicuous courage, and his head gave the peculiar shake from side to side, and he uttered his usual "Good, good," with unwonted energy when the gallant behavior of the "Stonewall brigade" was alluded to. He said "the men of that brigade will be some day proud to say to their children, ' I was one of the Stonewall brigade.'" He disclaimed any right of his own to the name Stonewall. " It belongs to the brigade, and not to me," This night he slept well, and was free from pain.