Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 39.djvu/78

66 which he accords the battalion credit for saving the city, says: "Captain McIllhany (a misprint, McAnerney intended), as soon as he saw the enemy promptly arranged to attack. This was done with such impetuosity that Dahlgren and his men were routed."

President Davis based his statement on a newspaper error of the day, in which not more than passing mention is given to the affair. Captain McAnerney did not attack. Upon becoming aware of the position of the enemy, and his preparation to charge, he ordered his men to lie down, and walking down the line, he enjoined, "Don't a man dare to fire a shot until he hears my voice. Remember, two volleys." There was something almost uncanny in the silence of those men and boys, and of that little figure moving in the gloaming from company to company, repeating his injunction and the word "steady." At last came the order from the other end of the field: "Forward, Michiganders." Still McAnerney waited. He waited until the charging squadrons, some 450 strong, rose the crest of a slight elevation in the field, thus giving him a sky-line. Then rang out the command: "Rise, attention, first rank, fire!" "and," declares a paper of the Southern Historical Society, "a better volley was rarely given by regulars; it was one volley in truth."

There was a recoil, an effort by Dahlgren to inspire his men to another charge—a second volley, and the affair was over, except to reload. It was sharp, short, decisive, taking little more time than it requires to tell the story, but it was enough. It transpired the next day that the troops off on the right, on the Brook Turnpike, which engaged a part of Kilpatrick's main body, were curious to know "what command fired those dress parade volleys?" At the best estimates, the battalion numbered about 320, rank and file. The casualties of the battalion were: killed. Captain Ellery, Company A: wounded, Lieutenant R. A. Thompkins, Company B; Privates T. Carter, S. McLean, R. B. Green, Miles Cary and Gray Doswell. The last-named was a member of the boy company, and was on the picket line.