Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 24.djvu/90

 82 Southern Historical Society

officer sprang out of the ditch, and said: "Men, don't be scared; be steady, and follow me; I'll take you out." We had not gone more than two hundred yards before we were halted by Colonel A. S. Pendleton, who said to me: " Captain, stay here until I return," and started for General Ewell's headquarters in a gallop. My atten- tion was called to a thicket, which we would either have to pass through or flank around through the little opening already described, and, to my horror, the Yankees were going up an old road at trail arms, and double-quick, to cut us off. I called Colonel Pendleton's attention to the Yankees. With a motion of his hand he directed us to flank around the thicket, which we did in a hurry, marching within fifty or seventy-five yards of the Yankees, who seemed to be forming to charge us. When we got around the thicket, and in the second field we came to a halt without any orders from anybody, and on looking around I saw General R. E. Lee, alone, I think, calmly sitting on his gray horse. I said to Captain J. B. Updike, "Here is General Lee." He joined me and others in saying: "General Lee to the rear. ' '

"THESE ARE VIRGINIANS."

General Gordon then rode up, and said: " General Lee, these are Virginians; they have never failed to do their duty and they never will, but they don't want you to uselessly expose your life. You go to the rear, and they will follow me; won't you, boys ? "

All echoed "Yes," when Sergeant Wm. A. Compton, who had volunteered at the age of seventeen (he is now sheriff of Warren county, Va. ), took hold of the bridle of General Lee's horse, and led him back through the ranks of my company and regiment. Gen- eral Gordon immediately spurred his horse into the thicket, saying: "Charge! Men, follow me!" and, in the language of John R. Thompson, the poet,

" Like the waves of the sea That burst the dykes in the overflow, Madly the veterans burst on the foe."

Their ranks were torn, and their columns riven, the breastworks retaken, and the day was ours. General Lee was reported to have said: "The crisis had come. The army was cut in twain, and I was willing to risk all on the one issue." And he won.