“And neither would I, Johnson,” exclaimed a gentleman in citizen’s clothes, who at that moment threw himself from a much jaded horse and advanced to his side. “I came here for my first fight, and it has got to be with the Maryland boys.” Turning around what was my surprise to recognize in the person of our visitor Mr. George Kyle, (afterwards Major Kyle,) who had ridden from Richmond to be one of its defenders. “Here, boys,” he continued, “I have some letters for you from home, just arrived by blockade-runner, and as they may be the last you will ever receive, I would advise you to lose no time in reading them;” and he commenced distributing to the eager troops the large package of letters in his possession. As he did so the musketry fire redoubled in intensity, and from the yell which followed we knew the Texans had grappled with the foe. “Great God!” exclaimed Kyle, stopping midway in the distribution of the letters, “is it possible that men can cheer in the face of such a fire as that?” “Attention, battalion,” was now the sharp command from our Colonel, and moving rapidly by the right flank we were on our way—we knew not whither. Our route lay through dense woods for some distance, and from whence we suddenly came into a broad plain, and away to our left burst upon the view the two armies desperately contending. As we then moved by the left flank into line of battle the splendid brigade of Georgians under Lawton came up on the run, and moving in front of us led the way towards the scene of strife. Swiftly the two columns moved forward in the face of a terrible fire of musketry and artillery. Finding the fire too hot, Lawton soon ordered a halt, and his men lay down to shelter themselves from the flying bullets. But “Forward!” was the command of our Colonel, and onward through that storm of bullets moved the little First Maryland, which, as they passed over the prostrate bodies of the Georgians, were enthusiastically cheered. On, on, they moved through that vale of fire and death with the same precision as on battalion drill. Immediately in our front was a battery that had proved terribly destructive to our troops from the commencement of the battle. Again and again had it been charged, but without success. That battery Johnson was determined to assail, but our chances of success were slim, indeed. Regiments broken and shattered were now met coming to the rear, and many of the men attached themselves to our command. One gallant fellow, the color bearer of Wright’s Legion, carried back some distance by the rush of his panic-stricken comrades, declared his flag should go no farther, and planting himself upon our left, rallied many of his companions. The First Maryland had thus been augmented to about four hundred men, and with these Johnson intended to charge the battery and its infantry supports.