Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/299

 Edtrix LH Fiirtti' Hobson. 283

his regiment. At Gettysburg Colonel Battle was promoted to briga- dier-general, and Rodes' brigade became Battle's brigade, the only change in its constitution being the transfer of the Twenty-sixth Alabama to the West, and the substitution of the Sixty-first Alabama in its stead.

From this time forward Hobson was constantly under the eye of the writer. He was distinguished in the Wilderness campaign- especially so at the " Bloody Angle " and second Cold Harbor.

Battle's brigade was a part of Early's forces in the Valley, and participated in all the engagements of that memorable campaign. General Early gave it the honor of having saved the day in the en- emy's first attack at Winchester on the igth of September, when General Rodes was killed, and was succeeded by Major-General Ramseur. General Grimes, who assumed command of the division after the gallant Ramseur fell at Cedar Creek, on the igth of Octo- ber, in his report of that engagement, says: * * * "The order of march was as follows: Battle, Cook, Cox, Grimes. On arriving within half a mile of the Valley pike, Battle's brigade was formed parallel with the same, and moved forward in line of battle. The other brigades continued moving by the flank for about 300 yards, when they were faced to the left and ordered forward, changing di- rection to the right. Battle soon struck the Eighth corps of the enemy, and, charging gallantly, drove them in great confusion, but was himself seriously wounded while nobly leading his brigade, the command of which then devolved on Lieutenant-Colonel Hobson, Fifth Alabama. Cook and Cox continued to advance, swinging to the right, driving the enemy in their front, with but little resistance, for upward of half a mile. Cook captured several cannon, caissons, ammunition, wagons, etc. This movement left a wide interval be- tween Cook's right and Battle's left, which was subsequently filled by Pegram's division. In the mean time, Grimes' brigade was recalled from the left and moved by the right flank through the aban- doned camp of the Eighth corps, which had been completely routed, faced to the front and advanced to the pike, connecting with Battle's right. This projection was perfected about sunrise, the enemy being then in position on a small creek to the left of the pike, with thei r artillery on a high ridge in their rear, and firing into our line of battle, but the smoke and fog obscured the troops so that their fire was inaccurate. Here Major-General Ramseur had skirmishers thrown to the front and to the right, driving the sharpshooters of the enemy from Middletown. The division remained here perhaps