Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/189

 The Wee Nee Volunteers of Williamsburg District. 183

that, after putting Captain E. W. Lloyd, of Company B (who, since we left Charleston, had been acting as major), in command, I went with Mr. John Kevan to his house near by, where, around a table loaded with good things, were seated some charming ladies. I soon dispatched the last meal to which I sat for many a day thereafter, and hurrying back, sent Captain Lloyd with Mr. Kevan to make way with some more of the good things of that excellent gentleman.

Soon after night-fall General Hagood returned, and the command was put in motion. We marched first to the commissary's store, where our haversacks were replenished, and crossing the Appomat- tox river on the iron bridge took the road toward Walthall. The full moon made it almost as bright as day. General Roger A. Pryor, who had resigned his commission and was acting in the capacity of a scout, and one or two mounted couriers, had been sent to act as our guides. They soon created the impression on my mind that they were not well acquainted with the roads. By direction of General Hagood, I made a detail of eight or ten picked men as our advanced guard. These were followed by myself in company with the general and his staff and our guides. A few paces behind us came the seven companies of the Twenty-fifth. Our march was slow and cautious. We did not know but that at any moment we would be fired upon by the Federal pickets. We were not certain of our way, nor whether the enemy might not be between us and our point of desti- nation. The light of Butler's camp fires could be seen on our right, but at a considerable distance off. Once or twice we halted and sent our guides in advance to reconnoitre.

May jth, 1864. Reached Walthall Junction about two hours before day. Here we found General Bushrod R. Johnson with a small brigade of Tennesseeans, and Colonel Graham and his command. The bat- talion under my command was put into line of battle in a wheat field east of the railroad and a little to the right of Craig's House, and not far in rear of the line occupied by Colonel Graham's command on the 6th. Soon after we reached Walthall, the Twenty-seventh regiment joined us, having reached Petersburg during the night, and been sent immediately forward. When daylight came no enemy was to be seen in our front. The companies which had been in the fight of the 6th took their places in the regimental line, and the Twenty-fifth had full ranks once more. We found ourselves in a wheat field. On our right was a wood. In our front a road with a growth of trees on each side, and a field on the further side. To the left of this field were some densely wooded hills. There was con-