Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/206

 194 Southern' Historical Society Papers.

I would thank you to make such an endorsement upon this letter as you deem proper in the interest of the truth of his- tory and in justice to the officers and men of my battery.

Very respectfully,

W. H. Chapmax, Late Copt. Dixie Artillery.

General Longstreet's Indorsemext.

Gaixesville, G\,, 28th Aug., 1887.

The statements herein made are true and correctly narrated.

As I rode to his front on the occasion referred to, I recog- nized Riley's batter}^ of six guns. Upon seeing the opportunity of opening with artillery an enfilade and reverse fire upon the Federal masses attacking Jackson, orders were given Colonel Manning, of the staff, to send me two or three batteries as soon as possible, and included in the order Riley's, who had six guns, as I now remember. Without noting the particular bat- tery first reporting, I was left under the impression that it was Riley's and have so stated on several occasions. This is clearly a mistake and it is equally as clear that Chapman's was the first battery to open on the Federal lines, in the awkward posi- tion in which they were exposed, and this battery, by its fire alone, broke up the attack on Jackson, which at the moment, was about to break through Jackson's position. The field of vision and of fire was so clear there is no room for claims of others to the credit of this part of the fight. After the attack was broken and the Federals were retiring and attempting to reform, they came in view of other batteries, those sent in ad- dition to Chapman's, as well as those in position, between the right and left wings of the army, when all joined in the fire against the retiring foe.

Very respectfully.

James Loxgstreet, Lieut-General C. S. A.