Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/92

 80 Southern Historical Society Papers.

delay the enemy as long as possible from any advance in this direction, and well did he do this. At one time he would have one regiment on top of a hill; its colors under the next hill, just high enough to show over its top; a regiment with its colors on the next, &c., thus making it appear a long line of battle. We had two pieces of artillery; as one body of the enemy was seen, one or both pieces would be run in sight and as the enemy moved, he would limber the cannon up and carry it to some far hill, to go through the same movement.

BATTLE BEGINS.

Early in the morning, while the 2 ist Virginia regiment was on one of those hills, lying down in line, the enemy ran a cannon out on a hill, unlimbered and fired a shot at us, hitting one of the men of Company K, tearing off the heel of his shoe. This was the first cannon shot from either side at Second Manassas and the only one fired at that time, as the piece limbered up and withdrew in a trot. This same regiment soon after were deployed as skirmishers and posted across the Warrenton Pike, when a Yankee artilleryman rode into our line, thinking it his. This was the first prisoner taken.

The inmates of the Groveton house now abandoned it. A lady, bareheaded, and her servant woman came running out of the front door. They had a little girl between them, each having her by one of her hands. The child was crying loudly. They crossed the pike, got over the fence and went directly south through the fields and were soon lost to sight. In their excitement and hurry, they did not close the door to their deserted home.

The Yankee wagon train was now seen on a road south of us on its way to Washington. The two pieces of artillery were run out and commence to fire at them, causing a big stampede. It was now about ii or 12 o'clock, and we retired to a wood north of the pike, formed the brigade in line of battle, stacked arms and laid down in peace.

None of the men of the Second brigade had seen or neard any- thing of the balance of our corps, and we had no idea where they were, and, singularly, old Jack had not made his accustomed pres- ence along the front. The artillery fire did not even bring him. The men were much puzzled and mystified by this. Colonel John- son now sent to the 2ist Virginia regiment for a lieutenant and six men to report to him at once, armed. One of the men was to come from F Company and was designated by name. On reporting, they were ordered to drive a body of Yanks away from a house in