Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/137

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the guns at once into position. In passing through a gateway in a Mone fence, the caisson of the third piece hung on the gate-post and a tract- u.i- broken, causing a leu minutes' delay. About this time the enemy, guessing at our position, fired several shells at us, one of which struck the- off wheel-horse of Gun No. 4. passed through that horse, took off the leg of the driver, William H. Byrd, exploded in the horse he was riding, and a fragment of the shell took off the foot of Mr. (iray, who was standing near, and who had been with the company a few days only.* Fresh horses were attached, a new driver was detailed, and the gun took its place a few minutes afterwards. When we got into this field a stone fence was to our right, parallel with and just below the crest of the ridge along which we were pur- posing to take position. Each detachment made a gap in this fence

vance of the 2ist Virginia Infantry ("F" Company lying prone on the crest of a hill, with fixed bayonets, ready for an ordered charge upon the enemy) at nne'time during the experience detailed.
 * A section of the Rockbridge Artillery was posted to the left of the ad-

There were no fences on the crest of the hill, but it is believed that there was one, probably two, in the valley between this crest and one of equal alti- tude to the south of it.

Ik-hind these fences were Federal sharpshooters, and on the hill were sev- eral batteries. Sharpshooters and artillery had got in accurate range the prominent salient of the Confederates. Several of the infantry, lying down, were wounded by niinie-balls and exploding shells, among them Colonel John A. Campbell, of the 48th Virginia Regiment, commanding the bri- gade. The combined fire to those exposed was terrific.

Many of the severely marched and hungry infantry, awaiting the order to charge, despite the din and awful fatality present, could scarce keep their eyes open and their forms from sinking into torpid slumber. About the cli- max of the concentrated and combined Federal fire, there was witnessed a notable exhibition of daring and loving regard. Whilst the fire of the Fed- erals upon the section of the Rockbridge Artillery was fiercest, and when its gun had been blown from position, and all serving it lay about it writhing in the rigors of death struggles, an officer of the staff of General Stonewall Jackson (who was stated to be Major A. S. Pendleton, subsequently promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, son of General William N. Pendleton, former com- mandant of the batten-, and known familiarly to many of its membership as "Sandy" ), rode at full tilt to the fated point, and throwing himself from his horse, called and secured the aid of a recumbent infantryman, drew the displaced gun into position, and with astonishing dispatch, charged and dis- charged it with deadly aim upon the enemy. It is not recollected how often the signal 1 feat was repeated. The facts are photographed indelibly on the memory as stated. Ki>.