Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 33.djvu/340

 336 Southern Historical Society Papers.

the pen, as with the sword, has done much to pluck from the wave of oblivion the names and deeds of some of our bravest and best. It is hoped that he will give to history an account of his chief which will do justice to one who was not only a fine commander of many exploits, but is also a modest gentleman.

Early's old division and Johnson's also were changed after the battles of the Wilderness, on the 5th and 6th of May. On the 8th of May, A. P. Hill being sick, Major-General Early was put in command of his corps.

General Stafford, of Louisiana, having been killed, the two Louis- iana brigades of Hays and Stafford, both of which were small, were consolidated under General Harry T. Hays. He was wounded on May loth, and they were now at Spotsylvania, under Colonel Zeb- ulon York.

R. D. Johnson's North Carolina brigade had- been assigned to Early's division, and on May 6th and on the I2th of May the two divisions of Early and Johnson were composed as follows:

(1) Early's old division, under Gordon, consisted of Pegram's Virginia brigade of five regiments, under Colonel J. S. Hoffman; Gordon's Georgia brigade of six regiments, under Colonel C. A. Evans, and the North Carolina brigade of four regiments, under Brigadier-General R. D. Johnson; in all, fifteen regiments.

(2) Major-General Edward Johnson's division consisted of Brig- adier-General Geo. H. Steuart's brigade of two North Carolina and three Virginia regiments; John M. Jones' old brigade (general hav- ing been killed May 5th), under Colonel V. A. Witcher, which consisted of six Virginia regiments, and also of Brigadier- General Harry T. Hays' consolidated brigade of ten regiments, under Colonel York, and the old Stonewall brigade of five Virginia regiments, under Brigadier-General James A. Walker; in all, twenty- six regiments, many of which were remnants.

JOHN W. DANIEL.

MAJOR HUNTER'S STORY.

On the night of May nth, 1864, Major-General Edward Johnson sent me back of his line of battle at Spotsylvania to Lieutenant- General Ewell to tell him he was sure that the enemy would attack his division next morning, the I2th; that they were massed in his front, and that there was everv manifestation of intended assault;