At daylight on the morning of the 28th, Jackson resumed his march, but owing to the incompetency of his guides it was late in the afternoon before he neared the point of attack assigned him. But at length everything indicated a rise of the curtain in the fearful drama about to commence. Columns were marching and countermarching, staff officers dashed hither and thither, while the crash of small arms, and the sullen boom of artillery on the right told full well that the work of death had begun.
About 4 o’clock Jackson threw out his skirmishers and moved forward in line of battle, and in a few minutes the enemy were developed in heavy force, and strongly posted, when the fighting became terrific. The artillery was directed to take position in an open field on the left, and were soon heavily engaged. The battle here was very unequal, for the enemy had greatly the advantage in artillery and position, and soon succeeded in disabling a number of Jackson’s pieces. In a short time the Jeff Davis Mississippi battery was torn to pieces and the Baltimore Light Artillery ordered to take its place, immediately under the eye of Jackson himself. Gallantly the Marylanders responded to the order, and dashing at a full run across the field, unlimbered and opened fire.
The author was standing close beside General Jackson when the battery went forward, and he shall long remember the look of anxiety with which he watched it, and well he might, for upon the success of that battery much depended. For a while the air was filled with exploding, crashing shells, and the horses and men fell rapidly before that withering fire, which was directed with almost the precision of a rifle shot. Away went a limber chest high in the air, scattering death and destruction around. “We are not close enough,” said the brave Brockenborough. “Limber to the front, forward, gallop!” rung out his sharp command, and in an instant the battery was in position at point blank range. Fiercely those guns were then worked despite the iron hail that ploughed up the ground around them, and in a few minutes Brockenborough had the satisfaction of seeing the enemy retire precipitately, leaving the ground covered with dead and dying men and horses, and shattered carriages and dismounted guns. It was French’s famous battery they had encountered, but French’s no longer, save in name.
On the morning of the 29th, the battery accompanied Ewell’s division to Dispatch Station, on the York River railroad, where a few shots were exchanged with the enemy, when Ewell retraced his steps, and moved towards Malvern Hill.
In the afternoon of the 1st of July the battle of Malvern Hill began, and soon raged fiercely. Through the tardiness of General Huger the enemy had been enabled to reach the heights of Malvern, where he posted sixty guns, which swept every foot of ground around. In vain did the heavy masses of infantry rush with desperate valor upon these guns, but it was only to be driven back, leaving the ground covered with heaps of dead and mangled men. In this unequal contest artillery was not available, for not a position was to be had. Two or three times the Baltimore Light Artillery tried it, but was as often compelled to hastily withdraw, and when night ended the conflict, Malvern Hill was not yet won.
Before morning McClellan withdrew to Harrison’s landing on the James, where he was safe, and General Lee had the mortification of knowing that the foe so completely within his toils had escaped him through the incapacity of a General of division.
CHAPTER II.
The long spring campaign in the Valley and the operations around Richmond had made sad havoc in the ranks of the Maryland Line, and it became necessary for them to recruit and reorganize before again ready for the field. For this purpose the First Maryland Infantry and Baltimore Light Artillery were ordered to Charlottesville, where they remained a month, when they were once more ordered to join Jackson, who was about to make his great movement to the rear of Pope’s army at Manassas. Alas, the two commands did not journey together far, for at Gordonsville an order overtook Colonel Johnson requiring him to at once disband the First Maryland, and the order was reluctantly obeyed.
The separation was affecting to the greatest degree, and the little battery pursued its way with sad and lonely hearts. It was like severing the ties that bind brother to brother, for in the series of battles in which they had participated side by side, the conduct of each had inspired the other with confidence and respect. “With the First Maryland in support,” I heard Captain Brockenborough say, “I know I am always safe.” And so it was, for one would never desert the other while life lasted.
On the morning of the 19th of August the battery reached Orange Court House, where, much to the joy of all, it was attached to Starke’s Louisiana brigade. An affinity had long existed between the Maryland and Louisiana troops, and they commanded each others’ fullest confidence. In fact they seemed nearer akin, for in both there was that sprightliness, dash and vim not so noticeable in troops from other States.