Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 20.djvu/200

 194 Southern Historical Society Papers.

of that great conflict. He says: "At one o'clock our artillery opened, and for two hours rained an incessant storm of missiles upon the enemy's lines. The effect was marked along my front, driving the enemy entirely from his guns." General Early, in his report of the same battle, gives place to this short statement about two com- mands, only one of which (Jones's) was with him in that fight, viz : "The conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Jones, and his artillery bat- talion, on all occassions, as well as that of Brown's (my own) at Winchester was admirable."

Colonel J. Thompson Brown, our own brave commander, who yielded up his pure life on the field of Spotsylvania (where I was so fearfully maimed) in his report of Gettysburg says : " In this en- gagement, as in the one at Winchester, the officers and men (of his battalion) behaved with the greatest gallantry, fully sustaining the high character which they had previously borne.

Major (afterwards general) James Dearing in his report of the same battle says : " The behavior of officers and men was all that could be desired by any commander. They were all cool and col- lected and in earnest, and perfectly indifferent to danger."

Colonel H. P. Jones says : " My thanks are due to both officers and men for their conduct in the presence of the enemy, and the patience with which they endured the hardships of the campaign."

Colonel Cabell says : "I have not language to express my admi- ration of the coolness and courage displayed by the officers and men on the field of this great battle. Their acts speak for them. In the successive skirmishes in which a portion of the battalion was en- gaged, and when placed in line of battle near Hagerstown, inviting and expecting an attack, their cool courage and energy are above praise. In crossing rivers, in overcoming the difficulties of a tedious march, in providing for the horses of the battalion, no officers ever exhibited greater energy and efficiency. Passing over muddy roads, exposed to rain nearly every day, they bore the difficulties of the march without a murmer of dissatisfaction. All seemed engaged in a cause which made privation, endurance and any sacrifice, a labor of love."

General R. Lindsay Walker says : " The conduct of the officers and men of this corps was in the highest degree satisfactory, evinc- ing as they did without exception, throughout the long and trying