Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 40.djvu/76

72 immediate response, and assuring Lee of Hooker's continued presence.

The intense energy of General Jackson's nature was never more in evidence than on this march. He knew well the hazardous character of the undertaking, and he felt the responsibility which the confidence of his chief had reposed in him. Usually at the head of the column, he passed it occasionally in review to see that the men were up and to urge it forward. Celerity and secrecy were the orders of the day. But he understood too well the limits of endurance to overtax his men, and as the day grew warm and the air close in the dense thickets through which the winding road ran, a halt of ten minutes was ordered every hour. Soon after the march began a serious situation developed near the Furnace, where the road turned south passing over an open space where the column could be seen from Hazel Grove. This drew fire from a couple of guns soon to be followed by others. The infantry were promptly shunted off to the left to go through the woods, and the guns hurried past without a thought of returning the fire. General Jackson was not to be diverted for a moment from the great object he had in view, and directing a regiment of Colquitt's brigade to be detached and guard the flank of the column, he ordered it to press forward. As the morning progressed the situation at the Furnace became more serious. Berdan's sharpshooters were ordered forward, followed by Hayman's brigade, and the Georgia regiment became seriously involved, and Anderson was compelled to send Posey's brigade to its support. Graham's Federal brigade was ordered up by Birney in support of Hayman, and Sickles ordered Whipple's division to be in supporting distance, while Wright's brigade was started to the support of Posey. So grave did the situation appear for a time that Archer's and Thomas' brigades were turned back for the protection of the trains. A sharp encounter took place between the 23d Georgia and Berdan's sharpshooters, in which about forty of the former were captured. While retiring the 23d Georgia was followed up by Hayman's and Graham's brigades, but these fell under a heavy fire from Posey's brigade and Brooke's battery, which effectually checked their advance until the last of the trains had gone by.