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train.
On the 25th he reached Ashland on the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad, fifteen miles north of Richmond, and at daylight of the 26th moved east toward Lee's left.
By three o'clock he got in touch with the enemy's pickets at Pole Green church in Hanover county, and the First Maryland was ordered forward (they held the right of Jackson's column) to drive them in. This was done, and they forced them back to Beaver Dam creek, on the farther side of which they made a stand, and the Marylanders could not move them.
General Jackson, riding up, asked Johnson, ‘Colonel, what have you stopped for?’
‘I can't get those fellows there out of the woods!’
‘Give them some shell!’
and the colonel ordered up the Baltimore light artillery, which soon quieted the fire on the other side.
It was then dark and the command lay down in line of battle.
At daylight they moved forward toward Old Cold Harbor, and by noon were ordered to support artillery.
They remained in this position until nearly sundown.
The battle had been raging for hours on the right.
The roll of musketry surged on like the surf of the ocean—until it breaks and then recedes.
The battle on the right made no progress.
All the infantry had been sent in until the Maryland regiment was left alone with the batteries.
General Jackson, riding by, said, ‘Colonel, take your command in.’
‘What shall I do with the batteries?’
‘The cavalry must take care of them.’
‘General, when I park them, which way shall I move?’
‘That way!’
said Jackson, swinging his right arm to the right.
Colonel Johnson immediately obeyed the order and moved forward by the right flank, until bursting shell and whizzing balls and wounded, limping men showed that they were approaching the point at issue.
Just at the edge of a ditch they were halted, fronted and dressed carefully.
The ground was impassable and the horses of the field officers and staff were sent back.
The colonel
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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