Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 24.djvu/95

 i,f Sknlor't Creek. -7

the same < iv.ilrv were gathering about the burning wa^on-,. <\i dently preparing l>r a charge. But so lon^ a-, we kept in good order and showed no >i.u'^ "' panic or Might, they did nothing l>nt cheer and lire at long range. The question which was uppermost in every man's mind was, "Can we reach yonder woods before the cavalry head us off?" I have always believed that the whole col- umn could have done so, but for one circumstance. When we had gotten a little more than half way across the field, a servant brought .<T.il Terry his horse, which he mounted and rode off towards Picket! and staff, leaving our regiment and his own men under the command of their regimental officers. This had a demoralixing effect on Terry's men, who, seeing their general riding off, broke ranks and crowded more and more upon our regiment, which was in front under command of Major William N. Berkeley. This con- fusion in turn emboldened the cavalry to our left, for soon we heard the bugle sounding the charge, and saw them rushing towards the woods to head us off. Our men broke into a double quick, and then into a run. The head of our column reached the woods first, but before the hindmost could penetrate the forest, the cavalry were upon them.

WOULD HAVE TO SURRENDER.

After going about a hundred yards into the woods Major Berkeley stopped, saying that he could go no farther and would have to sur- render. He had been shot through the ankle at Gettysburg, and was never afterwards able to endure much marching. At the begin- ning of this day's battle he had sent his horse to the rear, and was not so fortunate as General Terry to get it back in time to make his escape. Not being able to make a good run his safety was in sur- render. He released us all from his authority, saying that if we did not wish to surrender we could go. There was an immediate scat- tering of the head of the regiment, some going down a ravine, and others bearing to the right. How many tried to escape I do not know. Only some twenty-five or thirty of our regiment succeeded. Among these were Captain John Gray, Lieutenant John T. James, Sergeant Thompson Furr, and Private James Van Horn. Captain Gray and myself kept close together. I had held on to my big navy revolver, and we did not mean to surrender to any one or two pur- suers. Our escape was very narrow. Captain Bichsler was captured when we were in full view of him, not over fifty yards off, according to his statement, and he always wondered why the same fellows did