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CHAPTER XXX

Brock’s Cross Road and Spottsylvania to North Anna.

Having been wounded in the last assault, I insert here Adjutant Y.J.  Pope’s description of the operations of Kershaw’s Brigade from the Wilderness to North Anna River, covering a period of perhaps two weeks of incessant fighting.  The corps had been put under the command of Major General R.H.  Anderson, known throughout the army as “Fighting Dick Anderson.”  His division had been assigned to Longstreet’s Corps in the place of Pickett’s, now on detached service.  Colonel Henagan, of the Eighth, commanded the brigade as senior Colonel.

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NORTH ANNA FIVER, VIRGINIA.

How many times, as soldiers, have we crossed this stream, and little did we imagine in crossing that on its banks we would be called upon to meet the enemy.  “Man proposes, but God disposes.”  In may, 1864, after the battles of the Wilderness, Brock’s Road, and Spottsylvania—­stop a minute and think of these battles—­don’t you recall how, on that midnight of the 5th day of May, 1864, the order came, “Form your regiments,” and then the order came to march?  Through the woods we went.  The stars shown so brightly.  The hooting of the owls was our only music.  The young Colonel at the head of his regiment would sing, in his quiet way, snatches of the hymns he had heard the village choir sing so often and so sweetly, and then “Hear me Norma.”  His mind was clear; he had made up his determination to face the day of battle, with a calm confidence in the power of the God he trusted and in the wisdom of His decrees.  The Adjutant rode silently by his side.  At length daylight appears.  We have at last struck in our march the plank road.  The sun begins to rise, when all of a sudden we hear the roll of musketry.  The armies are at work.  General Lee has ridden up the plank road with his First Lieutenant, the tried, brave old soldier, Longstreet.

Nance has fallen, pierced by five balls, but we knew it not.  Every hand is full.  Presently, our four companies came up, so gallantly they looked as they came.  Promptly filling up the broken line, we now move forward once more, never to fall back.  We have Nance’s body.  The wild flowers around about him look so beautiful and sweet, and some of them are plucked by his friend to send to his sister, Mrs. Baxter.

But go back to the fight.  It rages wildly all around.  Presently, a crash comes from the right.  It is Longstreet at the head of the flanking column, and then Hancock is swept from the field in front.  Joy is upon us.  Hastily Longstreet rides to the front.  Then a volley and he falls, not dead, but so shattered that it will be months before we see him again.  Then comes the peerless chieftain, Lee, and he orders the pursuing columns to halt.