Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/330

 324 Southern Historical Society Papers.

presented for the unlawful and cowardly purpose of withdrawing the troops from the dangerous position in which they found themselves. Had not this thing been done many must have been killed, as there was no possibility of escape until night came on.

About 2 o'clock P. M. the enemy were discovered to be forming in line of battle in the woods to the right and left, and in rear of Slaughter's field in front of Cieneral Beall's right, and about the same lime that a similar movement was going on in front of his centre in the vicinity of the Plains's store road. The former position of his line had been much weakened to support Steedman on the left. Colonel Miles was immediately called upon for assistance from the right, which was promptly responded to, his Legion reaching there just in time to meet the assault. The enemy came up in gallant stvle, their right wing resting on Slaughter's road, and thence stretch- ing across the field with four regimental colors flying, and a pioneer corps in advance, bearing plank to cross our ditches with. A heavy fire of artillery was opened upon them from every position of our line which commanded the ground, causing considerable confusion, but failing to arrest then;. When about two hundred yards of our lines we opened upon them a deadly fire of musketry and double charges of canister, which caused them to waver, and soon they broke in every direction. Again and again were they rallied, but were each time repulsed with heavy loss.

While the battle was raging on this part of the line, a New York regiment of zouaves came dashing out of the swamp on the extreme right of the field, making, with their red breeches and caps, a magnifi- cent spectacle. To meet this new danger our troops were thrown rapidly to the right and opened a hot fire upon the advancing zouaves, who, nevertheless, came dashing on, deploying from column into line, with the precision of veterans, as they neared our works, we mowing them down by scores, when they were ordered by their colonel to lie down, who, himself walked back and forward with as much appa- rent coolness, as if he were giving orders on parade. In a moment more he fell, and his men broke and fled for the woods, leaving a great many killed and wounded behind them. The color bearer is said to have planted his flag fifty yards in advance of his regiment, and was forced to leave it there temporarily, but afterwards regained it under a hot fire. The enemy must have lost on this portion of the line, in killed and wounded, from one thousand to fifteen hun- dred, while ours corresponding did not exceed twenty five or thirty.

Simultaneous with the assault upon his right was another upon