Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/556

 550 Southern Historical Society Papers.

hour's duration had driven the enemy under sheUer and demorahzed him) to charge suddenly, take the enemy's first Hne and sweep up it to the right. After Hoke had gotten entire possession of the first line of the enemy and had swept to the right, I, who was to have been ready in rear of his old lint, was to move up over the same ground that he had passed over, and Hoke having unmasked me I was to carry the enemy's second if he should have one, and if not, I was to attack wherever and whatever I found best. Other divisions were to take up the attack at stated periods, as it swept down to our right.

Although it was not expected that I would move from my position, in reserve, till Hoke had not only vacated his line, but had carried the enemy's, I was so anxious to do more than my duty, that as soon as I saw the first signs of stir in Hoke's lines, I rushed forward with my leading brigade (Benning's Georgia, commanded by Du Bose), and took shelter in Hoke's breastworks with his troops. Hoke's assault was a failure; about two-thirds of his left brigade left their trenches and rushed across the space separating them from the Yankees — about three hundred yards — but none of them reached the works, except as prisoners. The rest of that brigade and divi- sion, which were to have charged, never left their own works, and of course I had nothing to do until they had gotten out of my way and done the duty assigned them. Instead of getting credit for doing much more than I was ordered to do, ignorant persons (and very few knew what the orders were) took it for granted, I sup- pose, that it was I who was ordered to make the assault, and that the failure was mine, whereas it was because I was active and ex- ceeded my instructions that people supposed that it was I and not Hoke who was ordered to carry the place. So much for being too enterprising and ambitious.

The next day I returned to my original place in the trenches, and in about a week afterwards left for the north side of the James to resist a threatened attack there. I found upon the north side of the James, permanendy stationed there, an artillery force and many guns at Chaffin's Bluff, the Richmond City battalion, and a Tennessee brigade ''Johnston's), all under the nominal command of Lieuten- ant-General Ewell. I say nominal, because, though General Ewell commanded the Department of Richmond, which embraced those troops, and everything which might be located there, in fact I com manded, and made disposition to suit myself, without consultations with him, and received no orders from him. When I first went over