Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/132

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had them left." He pointed and said: "They are in a straight line from here, in this direction, about a mile off. Go as fast as your horse can carry you, and get them here as quick as possible. I will have the men to meet them."

" I will have them up in a few minutes, General," I replied. I turned my horse, and as I looked back I saw the General looking again through his glasses, with his right arm through his bridle rein. I set out at full speed, and that was the last time I ever saw my beloved and gallant general.

I went straight to the horses, without any trouble, and was not over three minutes in getting there. My horse was a good one and a fast one. I found the men that were holding the horses all mounted and the horses turned the right way, and I started them off at once, as fast as they could come back, in the same track that I went, and met the men coming to meet the horses, as the General told me he would have them meet them, about three hundred yards from where I left General Stuart, and I am sure I was not gone alto- gether over fifteen minutes. I left him by himself. He must have mounted his horse as soon as I left him and ridden to where the ist regiment was in line of battle. I dismounted and ordered the men from the field to meet the horses, that they might mount and meet the enemy's charge, to save the Baltimore Light Artillery. That must have been the time when Mr. Oliver saw him riding alone through the woods towards them, and took his position be- tween him and another Maryland man of Company K, of the ist Virginia regiment of cavalry. He may have ordered all of the companies to meet the horses before he got there, as that company was on the extreme left, and when he got to Company K found it was too late to order them, and let them remain. The balance of the regiment certainly met the horses, and left the field -before the General was shot.

I was riding at the head of the regiment of led horses, Company C, being in front, when we met the men. The men had just about finished mounting and were ready to make the charge and I ex- pected to see General Stuart ride up every second. I intended to join him, but General Fitz Lee rode up right in front of me and said : " It is too late to charge now. The enemy have made the charge and captured the Baltimore Light Artillery, and General Stuart has been shot. I am am afraid mortally wounded." The men called out, some of them, " For God's sake, General, let us charge them, anyhow." " No, it is too late," General Fitz Lee