Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/365

 HV/A Archer's r-i<i<1<<. 349

Confederacy. This was the policy embodied in Mr. Hunter's letter of instructions to Mr. Slidell already mentioned, and it was the policy constantly kept in view by his successor in office, Mr. Benja- min. An offer to cede territory in exchange for intervention and help would have been fatal to the arguments on which the demand for recognition was based.

I must not conclude my personal notice of Mr. Benjamin without stating that such was his appetite and facility for work that the Presi- dent devolved much upon him not strictly pertaining to his own department. The facility with which after the collapse of the Con- federacy he attained the highest distinctions of the English bar and made a large fortune, was one of the marvels of a great career. When I met him in London in 1875 he hardly referred to the great struggle with which he had been so conspicuously identified. Nor can I recall that at any time in Richmond or elsewhere he ever in- dulged in retrospect.

I reserve for notice hereafter one of the so-called "lost chapters," having some basis of truth, but perverted by elaborate fiction out of all proportion.

Washington, D. C.

[From the Atlanta, Ga., Journal, November, 1901.]

WITH ARCHER'S BRIGADE.

Battle of Gaines's Mill and Mechanicsville Well Described.

I was a private of Company C, Fifth Alabama battalion, General Archer's brigade. On the evening of June 25, 1862, near sunset, our brigade received orders to cook rations and be ready to march at a moment's warning. On that order we boys began to hustle, for we believed that a big battle was upon us. We could see it in the air. Before we had time to start fires even, we received orders to "fall in !" " fall in !" You could hear the order in every direction. We were directed, also, to relieve ourselves of all baggage. Well did we know that this order meant a battle. Our knapsacks, blank- ets, etc., were all soon tumbled into baggage wagons, and we were quickly in line with our guns glittering in the light of the setting sun, ready to march, or do anything else.