Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/191

 The Wee Nee Volunteers of Williamsburg District. 185

and Twenty-first South Carolina volunteers on our left, but, owing to the character of the country, not in sight. The enemy's artillery came up and took post in the field in our front, where their line of battle had been on the 6th, and just beyond the road which I have mentioned. Some of their pieces could be seen by us, though a good view of their batteries could not be obtained because of the two rows of trees and bushes on the sides of the road. I am unable to say how many guns were pouring their fire upon us. Our artillery (six pieces) was in our rear. None of the enemy's infantry could be seen in our immediate front, and as their artillery was not in effective range of our rifles we were for several hours spectators of the fight. Their artillery did not pay my battalion much attention, but kept up an incessant fire directed against the battery in our rear, which sent them shot for shot. Both the enemy's shells and our own were passing over our heads. One or two men were struck by pieces of the sabots, I think, probably of our own shells. The enemy's battery being further off, the sabots from their shells were likely to be lost before reaching our line. One of their caissons was exploded by a shot from our artillery. The Confederate battery suffered but little damage.

We had not been in our position very long before we could see long lines of the enemy's infantry coming in splendid order from the woods in which the fight had commenced, and moving to our left with the design, as it transpired later in the day, of turning our flank. As these lines had passed over the ground where Major Glover and our three companies had been left, and as I had not seen them since we fell back, I became very uneasy for their safety, and for awhile seriously feared that they had all been killed or captured. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon the firing on our extreme left became per- fectly furious. The fight was raging there and it became very evident that one side or the other must soon give way. General D. H. Hill, whom 1 had observed riding over the field and displaying the utmost coolness and disregard of danger, came up in my rear and inquired for the commanding officer of the troops before him. I told him that I was in command. He said: " Colonel, your brigade is getting the worst of it on the left and I think you had better move with your regiment in that direction."

" Well, general," said I, "my brigadier directed me to remain here till directed by him 10 move, but if you will take the responsi- bility of my moving without his orders I will go at once."

I knew that he had no command, having been relieved of his com-