They turned to
strike at this new foe; and the shock which followed was rude, the
onset bloody.
Mahone met it with that dash and stubbornness now proverbial in the
army; and, hurling his three brigades against the advancing column,
broke through three lines of battle, and drove them back.[1]
[Footnote 1: "In the attack subsequently made by the enemy, General
Mahone broke three lines of battle."--General Lee's Dispatch of October
28, 1864.]
Night was near, and the fighting still continued. The enemy seemed both
to give up the ground; and were holding their position obstinately,
when a determined charge from a brigade of Mahone's drove every thing
in its front.
I had been to carry a message for General Hampton, upon whose staff I
served during the battle, and now found myself swept forward by the
brigade charging.
In front of them, I recognized General Davenant, on horseback, and
sword in hand, leading the charge. His son Charley was beside him.
"We are driving them, colonel!" exclaimed the general, with a proud
smile "and look! yonder are some of their general officers flying from
that house!"
As he spoke, he pointed to three horsemen, riding at full speed from a
house known as Burgess's; their splendid suit of staff officers
indicated that they were of high rank.
Pages:
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430