Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/398

 392 Southern Historical Society Papers.

reached the hill overlooking the creek, and I then halted with the squad, placing them in some Federal breastworks, hoping and be- lieving that there had been enough men rallied and formed, or would be, to prevent the enemy from crossing.

I had been here but a few moments when an officer, riding rapidly from the left towards the bridge, informed me that I had better leave unless I wished myself and men captured, as the Federal cavalry had crossed the creek* I then ordered those who had stood by me to the last (about forty men) to get away the best they could, and leaning upon the arm of a faithful soldier (private Bass) of my own regiment, I hobbled off the field thoroughly disheartened, crossed the bridge under the fire of the advancing infantry and passed in twenty yards of the Federal cavalry, who were hurrahing over our captured artillery, and made the best of my way through the rapidly and, to me, most welcomely approaching night by a circuitous route to Fisher's Hill, having picked up upon the road almost half of what was left of my brigade.

I do not know the strength of my brigade when it entered the fight, but I don't think it could have much exceeded five hundred ; my regiment I know went under fire that morning with ninety-two muskets. I am also fully satisfied that when the brigade was formed behind the stone fence referred to, after the first retreat, that it con- tained as many men as Ramseur's whole division (I think my brigade at this lime contained two hundred and fifty men), and the crumbling ashes of the gallant dead of my own brigade who fell be- hind this wall, bravely defending their country, their liberty and their flag, will not permit me to remain silent when opportunity offers to controvert the report of General Early, which, as well as I remember, says that Ramseur's division and some scattering men of Kershaw's were all that halted after the first retreat and attempted to retrieve the disaster. As to the amount of straggling in the morning, referred to by him, I can only say in regard to my own regiment that upon the retreat that evening there was from its ranks less strag- gling than I ever saw before in battle. I don't pretend to deny but that the last scene was a disgraceful one, but " render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's." I had on that morning sought to im- press on my men the necessity for remaining at their post and gain- ing a victory, and to their crec \ can I say that until the last retreat they obeyed me.

Very truly yours,

( G. B. GERALD.