Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 40.djvu/233

 Rh Stevens were killed in front of A. P. Hill, and Lawton fought on his left. We marched on down the turnpike (south) and turned to the right at the road leading across the turnpike on top of the hill beyond the Chantilly house. We took position in line of battle in the woods on our extreme left not far from the turnpike. We lay down in the woods for some time, awaiting whatever might turn up, having thrown out skirmishers. I recollect riding to the fence in our front of the woods, and seeing the Yankee skirmishers in the field beyond. At nearly dark we were suddenly roused by a volley from both sides, which caused each side to retire rapidly. Our men, however, soon rallied. I picked up a flag that had been dropped in the sudden encounter, and rode along our line to see where it belonged. Two regiments were without flags. I first rode to Capt. Raleigh Colston, commanding the Second Virginia regiment, and asked if it was his flag. He replied, "No, sir; I left mine back with the wagon-train." I then went to Maj. Williams, commanding the Fifth Virginia, and asked him. He looked over his regiment and replied: "Well, I reckon it must be." I presented it to him to return to his color-bearer. We never saw anything more of the enemy, so they were worse scared than we were.

The men were so tired and nervous from continual marching and fighting that the pop of a cap would start them off, but they would soon rally. We withdrew after dark and bivouacked for the night. This closed the Second Manassas campaign and we got ready to cross the Potomac.