Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/549

 Campaign of 1864 and 1865. 543

donsville, that General Longstreet signalled me that the enemy had

broken camp, and directed me to strike, I think, the road, and

reach a point on it — Jack's Shop, I think — early next day. By marching nearly all night, I encamped on the following evening at dark about five miles from the Wilderness battleground.

The opposing armies had been engaged during the day, the cav- alry fighting in my immediate front. At midnight I received orders to move immediately to the scene of action by striking across the country to the plank road. McLaws's division, commanded by Kershaw, had encamped a few miles from me, and as the head of his column reached the plank road point, and as it was already broad day, and thinking the emergency might be great, instead of halting until the rear of his column passed, I moved parallel with him, the head of his column being maybe a hundred yards or so in advance of mine. Both columns were directly just in rear of the field and mov- ing down the plank road. As the musketeers' fire increased, so did the numbers going to the rear from Heth's and Wilcox's divisions, which had just been assaulted by the enemy. The numbers, man- ner, and words of these troops all told too plainly that those divi- sions were being driven back in confusion, and that the two divisions of Longstreet' s corps were badly needed. In a moment all our troops in my front gave way and came hurrymg by us, and I got an order from Longstreet to form line of battle on the right of and perpendicular to the road, and check the enemy's advance. I threw Anderson's brigade, which was leading to the right, at once in line, but before it could be followed up by the other brigades a second order was received from Longstreet to form in the quickest order I could and charge with any front I could make. Throwing the Texas brigade, which was second, on the left of the road and in line per- pendicular to it, and Benning in rear of that, and Law in rear of that, and Jenkins in rear of that, the Texas brigade, led by its gallant Gen- eral Gregg, dashed forward as soon as it formed, without waiting for those in its rear to get ready.

By this time the enemy had swept Heth's and Wilcox's divisions entirely to our rear, and ignorant that there was anything to oppose them, the view being obstructed by a slight rise and some scattered pines, were pushing forward in heavy and confident masses.

There was nothing to oppose to this seemingly resistless force but Gregg's small body of Texans, less than five hundred strong. But away they went, charging right down the plank road, the right rest- ing upon it, met the enemy and — though flanked on both sides —