Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 35.djvu/365

Rh away as fast as I could load, and asked where the enemy was located. I told him behind that fence in front. He said, "Yes, and they will kill the last one of us, and that we must charge them." He gave the command to charge. Bob Forrest went forward several paces in front and waited for the line of battle to come up, and Lieutenant Henry St. Clair, of Company I, ran up to him and said, "Bob Forrest, why in the h 11 don't you go forward with the flag; if you won't go give it to me," and started for it. But Forrest, as brave a man as ever lived, said to him, "You shan't have it. I will carry this flag as far as any man; bring your line up and we will all go up together." They did come up, and took the fence and drove the enemy up the hill. This practically ended the fighting in our front during that awful day. This is the best account I can give. I well know that the old 32nd Virginia did her full duty on that terrible, bloody day.

Late Ensign 32nd Virginia Infantry.

P.S.—I omitted to state that Captain W. S. Storrs, of Company I, the color company, and Sergeant-Major Joseph V. Bidgood were present and did their full duty, and are both now alive, and could give a good account of the battle. Joseph V. Bidgood's father was our chaplain. I have heard that Major Willis, chaplain of the I5th Virginia, had his coat shot all to pieces and he did not receive a scratch. He was one of our many fighting chaplains would fight with his men during the day and preach and pray with them at night.

J. T. P.