Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/234

 218 Southern Historical Society Papers.

those pines who held "Old Glory" up for a brief moment. Their battle line was driven back in grand style that day, and the arms secured from the fallen foe immediately in our front equipped an entire regiment of our North Carolina soldiers who had inferior guns. The enemy, repulsed and forced to retreat, reformed their battle line again, not far away.

While the battle-field was being cleared of the wounded just in front, and our boys were picking up guns thrown down by the enemy, Major-General D. H. Hill and staff rode down the line from the cen- tre, and seeing what we had done, complimented us for our work, and orders soon followed to hold ourselves in readiness to move for- ward. We knew what that meant, and then came the ' ' tug of war. ' ' We were to "lead the charge." The order came, and the move- ment all along the line of the brigade, conforming to the right, was in splendid order, and the first line of the Federals was soon in view; over which we passed without a battle, sweeping all before us. It was grand to behold. Onward we moved for perhaps half a mile or so, carrying everything before us. At this point, where there were converging roads, we came to a halt, and were ordered to rearrange our lines, which were somewhat scattered by the charge just made, and here at this point, while laying on our arms resting, for we were then informed that we had done enough that day, I saw the grandest sight I ever witnessed on the battlefield.

Hoke's division was put into the charge and bringing up the cen- tre. Resting there on the pine-covered ground, as we were, the firing of small arms having ceased for a time, with only now and then the boom of cannon to remind us that the fight was still on, and yet to be decided, it was a picture that would be worthy of por- trayal on canvas by some great artist; the sun was slowly sinking in the west, and the slanting rays were penetrating the green forest of small pines.

A DASHING CHARGE.

All at once the enemy were confronted by Hoke's gallant and dashing division as it came sweeping over us like a whirlwind, and thus they struck the enemy, and though they battled fiercely 'till night came on, they were only partially successful, having penetrated the Federal line and breaking it at only one point. On the next day we were looking after the dead and wounded. On the 2ist Colonel R. J. Henderson, the first colonel of the Forty-second Georgia regi- ment, made brigadier-general for gallantry on the field, was ordered