During this part of the engagement an incident, not to be omitted, but a little out of the regular order of military science, occurred. Lieut. Chas. B. Wildman of Evans’ staff came on the field, and mistaking a part of the Federal line for our people, galloped to the front of the Tammany Regiment, and in the most peremptory and commanding manner ordered them to “Charge the enemy,” which they promptly did, supported by the Fifteenth Massachusetts, with disastrous results to themselves, losing about 25 men, killed and wounded. Among the latter was a captain to whom Captain Jones, Seventeenth Mississippi, shouted, “Who are you, and what do you mean?” whereupon the Federal officer rushed up to Jones and, grasping him by his long beard, exclaimed, “Who in the h—l are you?” when instantly one of Jones’ men struck the Federal captain on the head with his clubbed gun, killing him on the spot. By way of reminiscence for a bit, I will relate a little story. Thirty-two years after these things a party of Twentieth Massachusetts people came to Leesburg and requested me to guide them over the battleground where they and their comrades had fought so gallantly a generation before, and upon reaching the point of Featherstone’s attack, one of them called attention to an oak and said, “I was behind that tree when an officer on a white horse rode out there, leading a line of troops upon us, waving his hat and shouting, ‘Come on, follow me.’ I took aim and fired at him and then threw down my gun and ran for the river, for they were close on us. I don’t know whether I killed him or not.” I said to him, “No, thank God, you did not.” When he asked, “Are you the man?” and I replied, “I surely am,” he threw his arms around me and exclaimed, “I thank God, too.” After the Federals had been driven over the Bluff and darkness had spread its pall over the bloody scene Colonel Hunton instructed me to ascertain if there was any organized force up river to our left, directing Captain R. H. Carter[12] to support me with his company; and now my intimate knowledge of the country stood us in good stead. As we moved to execute the order I requested Captain Carter to hold his command about a hundred yards in my rear so that I could use my ears to better advantage, and I was to whistle if I needed help.