Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/452

 446 Southern Historical Society Papers.

returned their fire. They scattered and quickly got out of range, retreating in the direction of Strasburg. The pike was filled with artillery, wagons, and ambulances. One of the wagons, in passing over a bridge covered with loose plank, ran too near the end and overturned, throwing off the plank. This blocked the way and caused the capture of a large number of wagons and pieces of artillery by a few of Sheridan's cavalry who had pressed on in pursuit.

General Ramseur, who was wounded, was in one of the ambu- lances. A cavalryman rode up and asked the driver who was in the ambulance. General Ramseur ordered him not to tell, whereupon the driver replied, "The General says I must not tell." The trooper called to his companions that there was a General in the ambulance, and it was quickly surrounded and the General captured.

By this time it was dark and the pursuit was stopped ; but the retreat of our army continued until late in the night, and the road was lined for miles by fires, around which the wearied soldiers slept.

C. S. M. Appomattox Co., Va. , December 10, 1888.

Colonel Eugene Waggaman, Who Led the Tenth Louisiana Regiment in the Famous Charge at Malvern Hill.

[New Orleans Picayune, February loth, 1889.]

But few of Louisiana's sons fail to add brilliancy to her laurels by their gallantry in war. Of those who fought in the great struggle between the States, none have a nobler record than those who were taught bravery in her homes; and of the gallant men who went to the front from this State, none are held in higher regard, none fought with truer conception of the "cause" from beginning to end, than Colonel Eugene Waggaman. He entered the war with more than man's usual portion of wealth and honors and history already pos- sessed. He had only the triumph of his principle to gain by victory. He had wealth and luxury to lose by defeat. But he was one of the first to volunteer to defend the South, and when the war with its mournful end was over,, his name had been made worthy of those borne by his fathers, and in the hearts of the men he had commanded for four years he had gained a place which will be occupied by memor ries of his deeds as long as a Confederate soldier lives.

Colonel Waggaman comes of families not simply titled, but his-