Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/158

 150 Southern Historical Society Papers.

every battlefield for braye deeds, and bid fair to be eminent soldiers. I have always thought that there was a similarity in their death; each was on the sick list; each had been riding in an ambulance during the day; at the sound of the guns, each mounted his horse and came to the front and took command of his men. Winder was posting his advance artillery in the open field just to the right of our regiment when killed, and Cunningham was killed a few minutes later very near the same spot. I also think if they had lived each would have been promoted, Winder to major-general and Cunning- ham to brigadier-general, both dating from this battle.

A TERRIBLE SCENE.

Here is what Major Dabney, on Jackson's staff, says in his life of Stonewall Jackson. After describing the position of the brigades that were already in line of battle to our right, he comes to that oc- cupied by the Second brigade: "The whole angle of forest was now filled with clamor and horrid rout, the left regiments of the Second brigade were taken in reverse, intermingled with the enemy, broken and massacred from front to rear. The regiments of the right, and especially the 2ist Virginia, commanded by that brave Christian soldier, Colonel Cunningham, stood firm, and fought the enemy before them like lions, until the invading line had penetrated within twenty yards of their rear. For the terrific din of the musk- etry, the smoke, and the dense foliage concealed friend from foe, until they were only separated from each other by this narrow inter- val. Their heroic colonel was slain, the order of officers were unheard amidst the shouts of the assailants, and all the vast uproar; yet the remnant of x the Second brigade fought on, man to man, without rank or method, with bayonet thrust and musket clubbed, but borne back like the angry foam on a mighty wave toward the high road."

Lieutenant -Colonel Garnett, commanding the Second brigade, pays the 2ist Virginia special mention in his official report. As likewise does Brigadier-General Taliaferro, of the Third brigade, and Briga- dier-General Early, of Ewell's division, says in his report that his attention was directed especially in the general advance towards a small band of the 2ist Virginia with their colors, as every few minutes the color-bearer would shake out his colors seemingly in defiance to the enemy.

BURYING THE DEAD.

We stay on the battlefield all next day gathering the wounded and burying the dead. General Jackson was joined by General J. E. B.