Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 33.djvu/346

 342 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Owing to the nature of the country, artillery could not be used to any great advantage in the Wilderness fight; the thickets pre- vented. My artillery was with E well's corps, which was the left wing of the Confederate army, and near Johnson's division. One section of my battery was ordered in on the right of the Orange and Fredericksburg pike, in an open space near where Colonel J. Thompson Brown was killed. The other section was placed on a cross road, which passed through Johnson's entrenchments on the left of the turnpike. At one time during the battle I saw an officer being qarried off the field, and was told it was Major Daniel, of Early' s division.

Double quick and double canister on May 10, 1864, we marched from there to Spotsylvania. Arrived there, according to my recol- lection, the morning of the roth of May. My battery belonged to Colonel Cutshaw, and was in the rear that day. The Colonel ordered me to remain where I was, as there was no room on the line for me, and stated that he would show me where my position was as soon as he could find a place for me. Late in the evening I was ordered up at double quick, to come into battery and double shot with canister to resist an advance of the enemy, who had broken through our lines.

While standing in that position, with lanyards in hand, ready to pour it into them, several officers rode up and reported to General Lee (near whose headquarters we were) that the enemy had charged over the Third Richmond Howitzers and that the cannoneers were killed, scattered and captured; that the enemy had been driven back, but it was very important that the recaptured guns should be manned.

LEE IN PERSON ORDERS GARBER TO MAN THE RECAPTURED GUNS.

General Lee rode up to me and ordered me in person to leave my guns in charge of my drivers and take my cannoneers and mann the recaptured guns. I immediately ordered my men forward and went down and commenced firing. Our whole line was soon re- established. I regret to say that my magnificent saddle horse was killed by a cannon ball on that occasion.

The next day, the nth, the Third Howitzers' guns were taken out and my battery was placed in that position.