Mr. Stiles, for the Lord's sake, take that regiment and put it into the works!Somewhat startled, I asked, “Do you really mean that, General?” “Of course I do!” Putting spurs to my horse, I trotted down the line of the regiment, calling out as I reached its right flank, “Right face, forward, run-march!” In a moment or so I had the men in the works, and returning, reached the General just as the old colonel got there and tendered his sword. General Ewell declined to receive the sword, ordered him back to his command, and turning to me said:-- “Do you still insist, sir, that you don't know tactics enough to justify your being promoted?” The other movement was what is generally known as “the Dahlgren raid,” which started in three co-operating cavalry
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the river and its small infantry support could be snapped up before adequate reinforcement could reach them.
But if such an opportunity ever existed, the invaders did not act with vigor in availing themselves of it. The Howitzers maintained a determined front, the infantry arrived and poured into the works, and the Federals, after suffering some little loss, withdrew, leaving the object of the movement shrouded in mystery, and returned across the river.
I may be pardoned for relating in this connection an amusing flurry of my good friend, General Ewell, which forced me for a few moments into rather an awkward position.
The General was somewhat excited over the length of time the troops took to enter the works after getting upon the ground, and particularly over the performance of a stiff old Georgia colonel, whose regiment was facing the works and who was actually side-stepping it to the right, to clear the right flank of another regiment that had just entered the works, and this while the enemy was advancing up the slope in our front, and there was not a man in the lines to our right.
The General was storming at the colonel, and I, sitting on my horse near-by, could not repress a titter.
Suddenly “Old Dick” turned to me and exclaimed:
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