Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 28.djvu/358

 352 Southern Historical Society Papers.

march is indelibly impressed upon my mind. The troops of Jackson consisted of A. P. Hill's, Colston's and Rodes' Divisions. "None better! No none!" We reached the open ground in front of the

CHANCELLOR HOUSE

about six in the evening Rodes in front, followed by Colston, and Hill with the artillery in reserve. But there was to be no reserve. When the troops of Rodes struck the corps of Howard (this corps I believe was the one we struck first), their camp fires were burning brightly, and they were preparing their evening meal. Rodes' men went in with a yell, and so sudden and unexpected was the attack that Howard's Corps broke and ran in the wildest disorder, strewing the road with knapsacks. There was every evidence of a panic- stricken army. General Jackson then ordered a

GENERAL ADVANCE

of the whole corps the artillery the whole of our battalion pour- ing upon the fleeing enemy a deadly fire, which did not cease until we passed the Chancellor House. That night we spent on the picket line. Our guns were unlimbered in an open space, and the men ordered to lie down beside them.

It was in this night attack that Jackson received his mortal wound. We remained all night on picket, and early next morning advanced slowly through the dense undergrowth to cut a position for the guns the enemy firing on us as we passed feeling, as it were, for us when we had the misfortune to have one of our men, Thomas Bur- roughs, shot, three shrapnel entering his side. We afterwards moved out into the open space, followed by the Purcell and Letcher Batteries, where 'we had a desperate fight, in which our artillery not only succeeded in driving the enemy from his guns, but also his sup- port, thereby proving our superiority as artillerists. Here several caissons were blown up, first our own and then that of the enemy. And here it was that Horace Holland fell, shot through the head. Poor Holland! How it saddens me when I recall how joyous he was a moment before he met his death. Another one gone to his rest to be added to our long list. Here, too, it was that Greenlee David- son, captain of the Letcher Battery, fell, giving his life for a cause which he early espoused. Our whole battalion suffered much in this battle.

Another stride is here made in the promotion of officers, and soon we see