A Soldier's Story of His Regiment (61st Georgia): And Incidentally of the Lawton-Gordon-Evans Brigade Army of Northern Virginia

Chapter 15

182 The noble general replied: "All right, I suppose I can make out." Yet he wanted to protect the old man, and he said: "Old man, you had better let me station a guard at your house to protect you and your property." . "I can protect my own property," said the old citizen. "Yes, but my men might kill your sheep." (The old gentleman had a fine bunch in his pasture, near the house.) "The d-d Rebels are welcome to all the sheep they can catch. I will guard my own place." General Evans said: "Well, if my men kill all of your sheep, I will not punish them for it." (Some of Company D heard this conversation.) There were only three sheep left in his pasture the next morning . I admire brave men, but I never could admire this old man's judgment. CHAPTER XV. BA'I'TLltS OF WINCHltSTltR AND FISHER'S HILL. SHERIDAN 'S "BURN OUT" IN THE VALLEY. On the morning of the 19th of Septtember, 1864, we started very early to fall back to Stephenson's Depot,where the rest of. General Early's command was. We marched several miles with quick-step and began to see that something was wrong, for we would march a short piece and stop. The couriers and staff officers were in a stir, riding at rapid gaits carrying orders. Our wagons and artillery were being moved as fast and cautiously aspossible . We would march a short piece and have to wait fot the wagons to move on. 183 Evans' brigade was marched out about a quarter of a mile on the left of the road and we privates knew that trouble was up. We had to march through open fields, woods, etc., along with the wagon trains, which had to keep the road.' We marched here in order to protect them. Four other men and I were sent about one hundred yards to the left of Evans' lines and had to march along for sometime to look for the Yankees. We could hear heavy cannonading on our left front. We five wal.ked up on a line of Yankees lying down in thick high clover. We were in ten paces of them before we saw them. They raised up and captured us and made a dash on our brigade. They fired a volley into and charged it, and threw our men into considerable confusion . It was the first time that our brigade had ever retreated without orders. The front Yankee line followed Evans' retreating men. The Yankees paid but little attention to us-only told us to go to the rear and we would be taken care of. Along came the second or reserve line and we had not thrown down our guns, so a IiHIe Dutch officer of one of the Maine regiments ran up to me and said: "You dosh throw town your cun." He jerked it away from me. It was a very fine one and I had had it nearly two years, and had shot about eight hundred rounds at the Yankees with it. The officer saw that it was a fine gun and said: "Here, Yokup-here dosh be one d-d fine cun, an you dosh trow town your old Yon, and take the good von. l ' He then told us to go to the rear, but sent 110 guards with us. He asked us what brigade we belonged to. I told him Gordon's old brigade. He halloed out to his men: "Gordon's brigade is retreating; let us press it." They all went ahead and left us prisoners standing there. The other men went on to the rear and I stood looking at our retreating men, with the Yankees following them 184 with two lines of battle. I felt like I had about as soon die as to go to prison. I was in a terrible strait, for I knew it was only Evans' brigade retreating. I was satisfied that our boys would rally when they got in proper shape to do so. I knew that the rest of our division was not more than 500 yards away, marching by the side of our wagon trains. So I decided to risk consequences and take chances, and follow on behind t~e reserve line of Yankees. I was satisfied that o?-r men would send the Yankees back faster...