Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/62

 56 Southern Historical Society Papers.

were so vigilant and expert at their business that a head could hardly show itself above our earthwork without getting a ball through it. A hat put on a ramrod and raised a little would be perforated in a jiffy. It was evident that the enemy was thus endea- voring to prevent his movements from being seen, and I felt sure that he was massing troops under the hill in the woods, with the design of charging our exposed position, and determined to risk a peep at them. I ordered the men to keep low while I cautiously raised my head, and at one quick glance saw a heavy column of men in blue flanking towards our left, though partially concealed by the timber. At the same time I saw a puff of smoke issue from be- hind a big pine, perhaps four hundred yards in my front. I instantly ducked my head; the next second a minie-ball cut the dirt just be- hind me. Satisfied that the fellow was far enough away for me to dodge his ball by the flash of his gun, I again raised my head, took a good, long look, and saw more troops moving to the left, but another puff of smoke warned me to duck again, and again a ball cut the earth where my head had been.

I then dispatched a runner to my commanding officer to tell him what I had seen, and that our line was too weak to withstand the anticipated charge, and subsequently heard that Finnegan with his Floridanians were ordered up within supporting distance in our rear. Then calling the best riflemen in my company to me, I pointed out the place where my enemy stood behind the tree and told him to watch. Soon the man's head moved cautiously around the tree, and my man fired. He disappeared instantly, and thinking he had been settled, I raised and looked in another direction, when in- stantly I felt a shock, like a red-hot iron had pierced my brain. I experienced a great jar, saw a thousand stars, and then all was blank, and I saw no more of that fight.

Materials for a History of the Disruption of the Union and of the late 'War.

In just commemoration, the following circular finds place here. It is one of those originally printed, which was preserved by Professor George Frederick Holmes, LL. D., and which has been deposited by him in the archives of the Southe-n Historical Society. In a letter accompanying it, Professor Holmes writes : " It was sent to the chief officers of the Federal and Confederate