Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 28.djvu/100

 94 Southern Historical Society Papers.

take the road to Mechanicsville. At this point, probably, my story should end, as the title of the article would indicate, but there are two or three incidents that happened during the afternoon of the second day that came under my eye, and probably no man now liv- ing recollects these special episodes, and I will endeavor to relate the occurrences of the second day as briefly as possible.

Leaving Mechanicsville to take the road to Games' Mill, which road is at right angles with the main road and for a short distance runs on a level and then descends very sharply to the level of the creek, at the same time turning abruptly to the right. About a hundred yards in front there was a bridge, the road there turning to the left to reach Ellerson's Mill. Here on the evening previous there had occurred one of the most sickening slaughters imaginable. The Yankees had breast-works and batteries with infantry supports on the hill to the left of Ellerson's Mill. The creek had been dammed until the entire meadow had been overflowed and no body of infantry could ever have crossed this open space as long as the Yankees chose to keep them from doing so. A Colonel Williams, commanding an Alabama Regiment, I think, did, however, make an attempt to cross this overflowed meadow, and as a consequence his entire command was cut to pieces. In a space of less than 100 yards there lay two hundred and sixty dead Confederates, and no one knows how many had been wounded and carried off. The impression made upon the troops passing at that point was not calculated to increase their courage, as it was supposed that in the very near future we would again run up against McClellanand might have some further trouble with him. A short distance beyond Walnut Grove Church, I think, there was a large field. On the far side of this field there was a large body of woods, and as we marched along the road we saw the glint from shining muskets and easily recognized a large body of troops gathered on the edge of the woods. Our guns were imme- diately unlimbered, skirmishers were thrown forward, and the troops on the other side followed suit. Before any firing, however, begun, the men recognized each other and we found that we had struck the head of Jackson's column on its memorable march from the Valley to help General Lee in his hour of dire need. Great were the shouts and congratulations from one to the other as we met, but we were under rapid marching orders and had to leave Jackson's men, hop- ing to see them later.

At last our battery reached Games' Mill, and pulling up to the