histled through the air, striking
here and there about us. Instantly everything was astir, with an
occasional lamentation or cry of pain from some wounded man. General
Jackson mounted his horse hurriedly. The fighting soon became general
throughout the lines, in portions of it terrific. General Pope, after
two days of preparation, had advanced his lines and made the attack
instead of receiving it, as our lines were on the eve of advancing.

A projected but uncompleted railroad, with alternating cuts and
embankments, afforded a splendid line of defense to our infantry on the
left. The most continued and persistent fighting was where it began, on
that portion of the line held by Jackson's old division. In the course
of an hour the attack was repulsed and a counter-charge made, but,
judging from the number of dead the enemy left on the field, and the
rapidity of their pursuit, the Confederates met with but little
resistance thereafter.

An attack had been made on Longstreet's corps at the same time, which
met with the same ill success, and was followed by a counter-charge. I
remember our noticing the high range of hills in front of Longstreet,
completely commanding, as it did, the intervening ground, and some one
remarking, while the charge was in progress, that it seemed impossible
to carry it. But the reserves who occupied this high ground made but
little resistance, and, joining those who had been repulsed, all fled
hurriedly from the field. As soon as the retreat of the Federal army
began, active participation in the battle by the artillery ceased. We
joined in the pursuit, which was brought to a close soon after it began
by approaching night.

In crossing a field in the pursuit, a short distance from our gun, I
passed near a young infantryman lying entirely alone, with his
thigh-bone broken by a Minie-bullet. He was in great distress of mind
and body, and asked me most pleadingly to render him some assistance. If
I could do nothing else, he begged that I should find his brother, who
belonged to Johnston's battery, of Bedford County, Virginia. I told him
I could not leave my gun, etc., which gave him little comfort; but he
told me his name, which was Ferguson, and where his home was.
Fortunately, however, I happened on Johnston's battery soon after, and
sent his brother to him. I heard nothing further of him until five years
later--two years after the war--when I was on a visit to some relatives
in Bedford County. A