the ground, ricocheted almost between the forward
driver and his saddle as he threw himself forward on the horse's neck. I
mention this in contrast with an occurrence later in the day, when one
shell killed or wounded all of the six horses in a team, together with
their three drivers.

Fighting along the line of four miles had become general--done on our
side chiefly by infantry. Jackson's corps occupied the left with a thin
line of men, and from it there was already a stream of stragglers.
Jackson, while sitting nearby on his horse, watching the battle, was
approached by a lad of about thirteen years, who for some time had been
one of his orderlies. He began talking in a very animated manner,
pointing the while to different parts of the field. Jackson kept his
eyes on the ground, but gave close attention to what was said. The boy
was Charles Randolph, and soon after this became a cadet at the Virginia
Military Institute, and at the battle of New Market was left on the
field for dead. Fourteen years after the war, while visiting in a
neighboring county, I was introduced to a Reverend Mr. Randolph, and,
seeing the resemblance to the soldier-boy, I asked him about Sharpsburg,
recalling the incident, and found he was the lad.

The straggling already mentioned continually increased, and seemed to
give General Jackson great concern. He endeavored, with the aid of his
staff officers who were present and the members of our company, to stop
the men and turn them back, but without the least effect; claiming, as
they did, the want of ammunition and the usual excuses. The marvel was,
how those remaining in line could have withstood the tremendous odds
against them; but, from accounts, the enemy suffered the same
experience, and in a greater degree. Up to this time, with the exception
of a return of our battery to the Dunkard church, where we had fought
the evening before, we had done nothing. At about ten o'clock the
indications were that if reinforcements could not be promptly had
serious consequences would follow. But just after our return from the
church to General Jackson's place of observation we saw a long column of
troops approaching from the left. This was McLaw's division of
Longstreet's corps, which had just reached the field. Their coming was
most opportune, and but a short time elapsed before the comparative
quiet was interrupted--first by volleys, followed by a continuous roar
of battle.

Our battery was now ordere