Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 28.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

[96] Porter's artillery—some twenty-one guns. The old gentleman took his position, raised his green silk umbrella, and as it was an exceedingly hot day, pushed his tall silk hat from his forehead in a rather undignified manner. Just then Crenshaw's Battery was ordered forward to defend the left of our line against a flanking movement, and gallantly they went in at a full gallop, turning into the open space above mentioned and commencing to fire as soon as they could get their guns unlimbered. Of course the Yankees began to fire as soon as the guns appeared beyond the edge of the woods. Our attention was called to this firing, and before Crenshaw could begin to fire, our dignified friend had let down his umbrella, crammed his silk hat on the back of his head, and using the umbrella as a whip, was riding the pony down the hill towards the road at his utmost speed. Considering the man and the circumstances I do not remember ever to have seen a more ludicrous sight. He passed our battery at full gallop, with his heels and arms still flying; riding along the guns the men ridiculing him and calling him to come back, that the battle had just begun. Captain Johnson called to him and said: ‘You seem to have been easily satisfied, sir.’ In the distance we could hear his reply: ‘I think I have seen as much of a battle as I ever care to see again in my life.’

Our battery was then moved forward to relieve Crenshaw's, and as we reached the edge of the woods we saw coming over the hill to our left and rear the leading brigade of Jackson's Division.

I have no recollection previous to this of having heard with it afterwards became so famous and what has carried with it victory upon many a hard-fought field, then and now known as the ‘rebel yell,’ until these men of Jackson's, coming in on a double-quick, passed to the left of our battery down into the woods, brigade after brigade melting into the shadows of the dense thickets that lined this creek.

Our guns began firing immediately, and though the addition of this battery and the whole of Jackson's Division had been pushed against Fitz John Porter's front, so far as we could see, they did not give back one inch, but fought like true soldiers, and except for the increased noise of the musketry and cannon it would not have been known that additional troops were engaged. I have no ideal how long we remained there, but long enough to empty our limber chests and caissons, and finally to be ordered out with a loss of fifteen men and nineteen horses. Here I again recall another of the Providential interferences. My horse had been shot almost as soon as we reached the field, and when the battery was ordered out I wanted to get away