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[313]

Eighth Virginia's part in second Manassas.

Colonel N. B. Tells how his regiment shared in honors of memorable victory over John Pope.


On August 27, 1862, we filed into one of Robert Beverly's bluegrass fields, just west of the Thoroughfare Gap, to await the detour of General Wilcox by the Hopewell Pass to flank the enemy from the eastern end of the gap. This he did so thoroughly that when we passed through a little later there was not one of them to be seen, and it was well for them it was so, for the Eighth Virginia was just then in the temper to whip anything in sight. We had been fighting bumble bees all the morning, and bumble bees are very inspiring. It was really marvelous the number of bees we found in that field, or rather the number that found us.

There being no enemy around, we went into bivouac west of the Chinn House, and presently were ordered to prepare for a night attack. Soon after dark we were in line north of the turnpike, near Groveton. We had just started to move forward when the right encountered a pond. It might be ten feet deep for aught we knew. I had just given the order to double quick by the left flank to pass the obstacle, when a little fellow dashed up, exclaiming: ‘Your men are running, sir! Your men are running!’

“Yes,” I replied, ‘and by my order. What have you got to do with it?’

We had quite a spat about it, but an order for our return coming just then, every one was soon in good humor. I do believe that Jim Dearing and a few more I could name really enjoyed a fight when the weather was bright, but fighting in the dark—well, ‘that is another story.’


[314]

Moving into place.

The next morning as we were forming line I found our right lapped by about one company of Jenkins', but he, fortunately coming just then, moved his men to the right, as our touch was to the left. I think the men moved off with a more elastic step, knowing we had Jenkins on one flank and the Fourth Texas on the other.

We passed though a light fringe of timber, and flushed a small body of the enemy, lying behind a fence. They went off in a hurry, taking with them some sort of conveyance, which some of our men—about twenty, I think—tried hard to catch, apparently supposing it contained something very good. It was impossible to stop the men. Under less serious circumstances the race would have been amusing, but as they ran far ahead of the regiment, several were struck going over the field. One man, Dave Hixson, was shot through the foot as he ran. We lost a good man in him, but Mosby gained one.

Jenkins presently changed direction to the left, intending, I suppose, to take a battery that had an enfilading fire on him. He came up on us, and as my men, having given up the chase, they joined his left. But very soon the battery was taken, and firing ceased. Who took this battery I cannot say, but I have always thought that both Hunton and the Fourth Texas had something to do with it.

The next morning as we were forming line I found our right lapped by about one company of Jenkins's, but he, fortunately coming just then, moved his men to the right, as our touch was to the left. I think the men moved off with a more elastic step, knowing we had Jenkins on one flank and the Fourth Texas on the other.

We passed through a light fringe of timber, and flushed a small body of the enemy, lying behind a fence. They went off in a hurry, taking with them some sort of conveyance, which some of our men—about twenty, I think—tried hard to catch, apparently supposing it contained something very good. It was impossible to stop the men. Under less serious circumstances the [315] race would have been amusing, but as they ran far ahead of the regiment, several were struck going over the field. One man, Dave Hixson, was shot through the foot as he ran. We lost a good man in him, but Mosby gained one.

Jenkins presently changed direction to the left, intending, I suppose, to take a battery that had an enfilading fire on him. He came up on us, and as my men, having given up the chase, they joined the left. But very soon the battery was taken, and firing ceased. Who took this battery I cannot say, but I have always thought that both Hunton and the Fourth Texas had something to do with it.

The enemy being gone, we returned to our bivouac and sent out a detail to look for our missing men. After awhile Aden Rogers, with one or two more, came in with a finely equipped horse, on which was French Gulick, with a broken thigh.

Colonel,” Rogers said to me, ‘this saddle and bridle is for you, but I want the horse to go courting on after the war.’

Poor fellow, he rode no horse courting, but rode one to his death soon after his exchange to the cavalry. Awaking the next morning, I looked up towards Company D and thought Rogers and his horse had quickly come to an excellent understanding. Going up to them I found all hands asleep and Rogers reclining against the horse, which was dead as a mackerel. I saw then he had been shot through, though it had shown no signs of distress when brought in.

We started in pursuit, but the events of the next two or three days are so accurately related in McCabe's ‘Campaigns of General Lee’ that every one remembers them. Our men were hungry, but cheerful. They did not expect the commissary to keep pace with Lee and Jackson, who were driving the enemy from hillock to hill, until finally they broke from Fairfax Courthouse for Washington.

We wanted to see our friends in Maryland, so turned north by the Fryingpan Road, and at night stopped near the home of some of my men.

Colonel,” a man would say to me, ‘my wife and children are just over that hill. I have not heard of them for months. Please [316] get permission for me to go for a little while; I will surely be back before you move.’ Hardly knowing what to do, the next morning, I went to General Corse (we were happy to be under this gallant man even for a short time), and explained the situation to him.

“You are right,” said he, “but you must have General Longstreet's permission.” He has just passed up the road. I put out after him, and found him, dismounted and alone. I asked permission to send out one or two men to warn some absentees, as we were about to move. ‘Not a man,’ said he; ‘better hold on to all you have got.’

These men joined us before night. We needed them.

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