Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 33.djvu/22

 18 Southern Historical Society Papers.

inaccuracies in the book, such as the statement * that Jackson had left the Valley and was hovering over McClellan's right flank and rear just before the battle of Seven Pines (page 92), but I do not purpose to refer to these, as they are unimportant. My purpose is, apart from expressing my gratification in reading this book and my admiration of the author, to call attention to what he says in regard to the fact, so often reported that two trees were whittled down by bullets in rear of our lines at the " Bloody Angle" on May 12, 1864. He refers to this fact on pages 262-3, and though he quotes what Colonel Taylor had written on the subject in his " Four Years with General Lee," he seems to doubt the fact simply because he did not happen to see these trees himself, and his doubt, consider- ing his position on the lines, would have some weight with the general reader.

WITH GENERAL JOHNSON IN THE HORSESHOE.

I was on Major General Edward Johnson's staff as aide-de-camp during that battle, and was with him at the " Angle" until a moment before his capture. I was sent for General Evans' brigade, which was about a quarter of a mile to our left and rear, for the support of Rode's and Johnson's divisions in case another attack such as was made on Rode's front on May 10, 1864, should occur. Evans'f brigade was in Gordon's division, and as I started for the brigade, General Gordon himself appeared, and when I told him my mission, he urged me to go for the brigade, as he had no staff officer with him. After General Johnson's capture I reported to General Ewell and was with him on the I2th, carrying his orders, and continued with him until he was relieved from the command of the corps and General Early was placed in command.

On the morning of the I3th or i4th of May, I saw the trees that were whittled down. I think my attention was called to them by some of our men, and I examined them carefully. Later in the day

being satisfied that I had done so, I frankly admitted the fact in a letter to the Times- Dispatch which was published on September 10, 1905. WM. W. OLD.
 * Major Stiles thinks I misinterpreted what he said on that subject, and

f More properly Gordon's Brigade of Early's Division. On that day, Early was in command of Hill's Corps, and Gordon was in command of Early's Division, and Col. Evans in command of Gordon's Brigade. But both Gordon and Evans were promoted from that day.