Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/381

 General M. P. Lowrey. 375

front, and continued a heavy flank movement to our left. I was compelled to take one brigade from the works to extend my line to the left. Soon Govan's brigade was driven from a hill immediately in our rear. I was then compelled to send my strongest brigade to that point, which left me to hold the works with a single rank, thinly scattered along the works. The brigade I sent to the hill in the rear soon regained the hill ; but about the same time Bate's division on my right gave way, and the enemy poured through by thousands in my rear, my line being nearly at a right angle with the main line. My line was soon thrown back, the enemy surrounding me in the shape of a Horseshoe, I only left the heel to go out at. At first I saw no chance for myself or any considerable portion of my division to escape capture. But at the only point where escape might be rendered possible, and by my own efforts, assisted by Lieutenant A. J. Hall, my aide-de-camp, a few men were rallied, who held the enemy in check until most of my men passed out and joined our broken and discomfited masses in their inglorious retreat. It was at this point that old "Rebel," my favorite war-steed, was killed. I had ridden him in all the engagements I had ever been in except two, and he had been four times wounded.

I continued in command of this division nearly four months.. At Chesterville, South Carolina, I got leave of absence and went to Richmond to tender my resignation, which was accepted on the I4th of March, 1865. My reasons for resigning were as follows:

1. I saw that the cause was lost.

2. I had been separated from the men and officers with whom I had borne the " burden and heat of the day," and to whom I was endeared by a thousand sacred ties, and although I was willing to stand with our broken forces until the end of the struggle, I was unwilling to mourn with strangers at the funeral of ' ' The Lost Cause. "

3. Our armies were, by an act of Congress, to be reorganized, and there was a surplus of officers of all grades, anil I preferred to leave the offices to those who were more ambitious for military honor and position than myself. My highest ambition as a soldier was to do my whole duty, and advance the interest of that cause which was as dear to my heart as life.

I have now given you a sketch of my course, from which you may glean whatever may tend to the answering of your purpose. I feel much more interest in my character and reputation as a Christian and a minister of the gospel than as a soldier, and that you may