Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/375

 The " Stoneivall Brigade" at Chancellor sville. 369

General Sheridan. The armies were constantly in motion. 1 will not go into details of this service. Those who desire full and accu- rate information are referred to histories on the subject. Although in the same corps, it so happened that I did not meet General Ramseur from 4th May, 1864, until the evening of iSth October, 1864. At that time General Sheridan was on the left of Cedar creek, that emp- ties into the Shenandoah a short distance below Strasburg. General Early, who was then at Fisher's Hill, determined to attack. Prepara- tory to the movement, all the general officers were summoned to headquarters on the evening of the i8th of October. After the busi- ness for which we had been summoned had been disposed of, I spoke to General Ramseur of his report of the battle of Chancellorsville, so far as it concerned the Stonewall brigade. At this time I was in com- mand of it. He said the campaign nad been so active since May that he had not been able to correct his report, but that he would certainly do so as soon as the exigencies of the service would permit. I never saw General Ramseur again. The battle of Cedar Creek was fought the next day, and General Ramseur was killed. Had he lived there would never have been any occasion for this article.

General Ramseur's papers may be in the bands of some person, if so they will do me a favor if they will try to find the original of the certificates that I have copied above in relation to the battle of Chan- cellorsville.

In writing this article I have but one object in view, viz : to vindi- cate the " Stonewall Brigade " against most unjust aspersion. And under the circumstances, without for a moment even suggesting an invidious comparison, I hope I may be permitted to say, that after lour years of service with them, having seen many troops under fire, I never saw a braver, better body of men than the " Stonewall Bri- gade." I will not say more, I cannot say less.

This statement is submitted to the public.

In corroboration of the ioregoing, the following extract is taken from the report of General Rodes of the battle of Chancellorsville. General Grimes's brigade was a part of Rodes' s division:

" Ramseur, after vainly urging the troops in possession of the first line of entrenchments to move forward, obtained permission to pass them, and, dashing over the works, charged the second entrenched line in the most brilliant style. The struggle at this point was long and obstinate, but the charge on the left of the plank road at this time caused the enemy to give way on his left ; and this, combined