Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/346

332 wall was occupied by the enemy, and beyond that were the two batteries of artillery. As soon as General Jackson saw Taylor had commenced the advance he rode back to the hillock in our front to watch the effect of Taylor's attack.

The enemy poured grape and musketry into Taylor's line, soon as it got in sight. General Taylor rode in front of his brigade, drawn sword in hand, occasionally turning his horse, at other times turning in the saddle to see that his line was up. They marched up the hill in perfect order, not firing a shot; on getting about halfway to the yankees, he gave the order, "Forward! Double quick! Charge!" in a loud and commanding voice that could be heard over nearly the entire battlefield. With a yell and a rush, over the wall they go, and the enemy are running. At the same time General Jackson gave the command in that sharp, crisp way of his, "After the enemy men." Our whole line moves forward on a run, the enemy broke and ran in all directions, the Rockbridge Artillery men jump to their pieces and give them a parting salute.

That charge of Taylor's was the grandest I saw during the war; officers, file closers, and every man was in his proper place. There was all the pomp and circumstance of war about it, that was always lacking in our charges, not that it was more effective than those of the old rebel yell, where most of the men would race to be the foremost.

On getting near Winchester the advance artillery, who had been firing from every rise over the heads of our infantry at the fleeing enemy, have to stop. A scene is now witnessed that has no parallel in history, that 1 know of. The men of several batteries unhitched the lead horses from the cannon and caisons, threw the traces over the horses' backs, mounted and charged the enemy through the town, capturing and bringing back many prisoners.

On passing through Winchester, the citizens met us with cheers and were perfectly wild with delight; men, women and children ran into the streets to welcome us; they would wring your hands with both of theirs and some even embraced some of our men, nearly all crying for joy. The bullets are flying through the streets, but it made no difference to those people;