Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/429

 Recollections of Fredericksburg. 423

my attention to Marye's Hill, and though I could only " go one eye on it," I saw enough to satisfy myself that I was cut off from the brigade, with the enemy on my right flank. I attempted to change front, and form on the plank road facing Marye's Hill, but soon found that road enfiladed by a battery near Mary Washington's monument, which forced us to retreat. Lieutenant Price Tappan, of Vicksburg, and Frank Ingraham, of Claiborne county, both accomplished sol- diers and gentlemen, were killed and left on the hill. Lieutenant Mills, of Leake county, lost his leg, and was captured. The third company of the Washington Artillery lost its gun and some of the men. The fourth company lost its two guns. Lieutenant De Russy was knocked down by a fragment of shell and badly contused. Pri- vates Lewis and Maury killed, and several captured.

The whole story of the 3d of May, 1863, at Marye's Hill, was fully told, though not amiably expressed, by a noble son of Lou- isiana, who gallantly stood by his gun on the hill, until the last hope of holding it had vanished. Passing to the rear by some artillerists belonging to Pendleton's train, with his face covered with sweat and blackened with powder, and his heart saddened by defeat, he was asked, " Where are your guns ?" He replied with irritation, "Guns! I reckon now the people of the Southern Confederacy are satisfied that Barksdale's brigade and the Washington Artillery can't whip the whole Yankee army."

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The rapid movement of the enemy, advancing over Marye's Hill and on Hazel Run, made me despair of reaching the brigade. My only hope was to reach the main army, then at Chancellorsville, en- gaged in a furious battle. When, however, I reached Gest's Hill on the plank road, I discovered the enemy had been checked by the Thirteenth and Seventeenth regiments, Frazier's battery from Geor- gia, Carloton's battery from North Carolina, and the second company of Washington Artillery, then on Lee's Hill. I saw that it was pos- sible for my regiment to cross Hazel Run above Marye's Hill and rejoin the brigade, which move was made and accomplished. Gen- eral Barksdale, as soon as he saw that Marye's Hill was lost, the Eighteenth regiment shattered, the Washington Artillery captured and the Twenty-first regiment cut off, ordered the Thirteenth and Seventeenth regiments to fall back to Lee's Hill. Adjutant Owen, of Washington Artillery, rallied the second company, under Cap- tain Richardson, to the Telegraph road on Lee's Hill, and opened fire upon the blue mass on Marye's Hill. Barksdale rallied the rem