Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/98

 86 Southern Historical Society Papers.

before was General Lee, and that Longstreet said he had got up in time to witness our charge, which he said was splendid.

This put new life into Jackson's men, as they had heard nothing of Longstreet. They knew that Pope with his large army would put forth all the energy he could to greatly damage us, but everything was changed then. We only wished him to renew the attack but were afraid he would not, after his repulse of the morning and the presence of Longstreet. He did attack A. P. Hill's division on the left of Jackson's line in the afternoon, and met with the same repulse as we had given him. A part of Longstreet' s command became heavily engaged, also. This ended the second day's fight- ing and the Second brigade were jubilant over their share of Second Manassas. We slept in peace during the night.

The cannonading commenced early on the morning of the 3Oth, with skirmishing in the front that at times became active. About noon in anticipation of an atiack, the 2nd Brigade was moved to the railroad, taking position as on the day before. About 2 or 3 o'clock we heard on our right the exclamation of: "Here they come !' ' And almost instantly we saw a column of the enemy marched into the field from the same point they did the day before, dress the line and then advance on us. Every man in our line shifted his cartridge box to the front, unfastened it and his cap box, gave his gun a second look over and took his position to meet the coming enemy who were rapidly approaching. We allowed them to come about the same distance as the day before and then opened, with about the same result. Another line took its place, we con- tinued firing. Other lines advanced, each getting nearer us. The field was then filled with Yankees as on the day before, but in much greater numbers. Their advance continued. Every man in the 2nd Brigade at this moment remembered Cedar Run, each one loaded his gun with care, raised it deliberately to his shoulder, took deadly aim and pulled the trigger. We were fighting then as I never saw before. We were behind the railroad bank and in the cut, which made a splendid breastwork. The enemy crowded in the field; their men were falling fast, as we could plainly see. Our ammunition was failing, men were taking it from the boxes of dead and wounded comrades. The advance of the enemy continued. By this time they were at the bank; they were mounting it. Our men mounted, too; some with bayonets fixed, some with large rocks in their hands. (Some of the enemy were killed with these rocks. Colonel Johnson mentioned it in his official report.)