Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 9.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

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[483] a second Company F was at them, and had driven them off before they could be stopped firing. The enemy were some of the Ellsworth Zouaves. Without delay General Elzey ordered a change of front and struck off towards the left.

He formed his brigade in a wood not far from the Chinn House--Third Tennessee on the right, First Maryland in the centre, Tenth Virginia on the left. In the meantime Beckham, on the extreme left, was firing his battery--one, two, three, four--as regularly as if firing a quick salute. Marching in line of battle over an open field, then through a wood, Colonel Elzey halted the brigade at the other edge of it. On the crest of the opposite hill, not four hundred yards off, stretched a long line of men. Over them floated flags which in the hot July afternoon hung listlessly to their lances, and it could not be seen whether they were Confederate or Federal. “Contee, give me a glass,” said Colonel Elzey, in his quick, imperative way, to Lieutenant Contee, his aid. Just then a puff of air threw out the folds of the Union flag, and a gleam of light glanced down their ranks as they brought their guns down to a “ready.” “Fire,” shouted Elzey, and the rattle of small arms drowned the din of battle. “Charge,” cried he, and above the crash of the Maryland rifles rang their cheers as they sprang up the slope. But the enemy was gone. With only two companies of bayonets the regiment had charged the heart of a brigade and their short rifles had cloven it in two. Where the Yankee line had stood lay the dead and dying, but the brigade of General Wilcox was scattered to the winds. Captain Edelin captured a flag from the First Michigan, but they made no further stand that day. Colonel Elzey pursued them rapidly, flanking the Henry House, when General Beauregard rode up to him saying, “Hail, Elzey! Thou Blucher of the day.” Thence the brigade followed them beyond the Stone bridge, half way to Cub Run. Here it halted, and about sundown was ordered back to Camp Walker, near Union Mills Ford, reaching there at midnight. Thus these green soldiers, fresh from home, had in three days marched nearly eighty miles on one day's rations, with only six hours sleep, fought a battle and won a victory.

President Davis, next morning, sent Colonel Elzey his promotion as Brigadier. He said going into battle to an officer (Major Johnson), “Now for a yellow sash or six feet of ground.” He had gallantly won the former.