Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/18

 12 Southern Historical Society Fa'pers.

But it was not until the great struggle in front of Richmond, in June, '62, that the battery came into marked prominence. At Me- chanicsville it held the post of honor, and paid the price which the post of honor ever exacts. Here, first to the army, the young cap- tain gave proof of that stubborn courage and literal obedience to orders which all men thereafter looked for in him. Exposed to a biting fire of infantry, to the convergent fire of five six-gun batteries, long after night came down the thunder of his guns told that he was tenaciously holding his ground. But there was surprise mingled with admiration when it became known to the army on the next day that of his six guns four had been disabled before nightfall, that one of his officers had been killed and two badly wounded, and that of the ninety dashing cannoneers, who had on yesterday galloped into action, more than fifty lay killed and wounded on the field.

During that night he thoroughly equipped the two guns which had not been disabled, and at daylight rode to General Hill's field head-quarters and applied to hold the advance. The request was granted, and everywhere during the "Seven Days" that olucky section and its young captain found a place where the combat raged hottest.

Richmond in her joy of triumph, a joy chastened by the sorrow which victory ever brings, was not unmindful of her youthful hero. The town rang with his praises — praises closest to a soldier's heart — from the lips of wounded men, who had seen him in the dust and sweat of battle, and who spoke of him as only brave men can speak of each other. His name was introduced into the play by one of the actors at the theatre, and elicited the most tumultuous applause. The player declared that the boy- captain fought at such close quar- ters because he was too near-sighted to see a dozen yards, and would never open fire until he saw the enemy. At this, the bronzed vete- rans in the pit, with bandaged heads and arms in slings, rose and cheered lustily.

But Pegram remained the while modestly in his camp, riding Into the city but rarely to see his immediate family, blushing furiously when any one spoke to him of the attention his gallantry had excited.

Three weeks of rest, and his battery, newly equipped and recruited, was on the march to Cedar Mountain with Jackson's flying column. Here again his guns, pushed up to within eighty yards of the enemy, were served with such rapidity and precision as won a nod of approval from the great leader so chary of his praise. For two hours this single battery fought eighteen guns of the enemy, and as the latter