The Maine bugle ... campaign; 1-5 Jan. 1894-Oct. 1898 - Maine.gov

THE ELEVENTH MAINE AT APPOMATTOX. 79
Wc all made for the timber, and when we got there each man
got behind a tree and commenced blazing away ait the cavalrymen.
While behind the trees we saw the cavalrymen take some
of Company H prisoners, among whom was an Arabian, very
dark and with curly hair. The rebs song out " He is a nigger;
kill him !
" We could sec and hear the poor fellow pleading
for his life ; that he was not a negro but an Arab. The next
scene was the artillery in the field, limbering up and going back
at break-neck speed towards the court house. Here we commenced
to fall back to see where the regiment was. We went
through the woods some two hundred yards into low land, when
we heard voices. I told the boys to lay low and I would see
who was there. I picked my way from tree to tree for about
three rods, then peaked out and saw the old flag of our regi-
ment. It was drawn up in line of battle, with Major H. C.
Adams in command. I sang out to the boys to come on and
we all came from the woods together, and when the regiment
saw us they cheered. We fell into our places, and were ordered
to fix ba}'onets and charge. We charged through the woods
again, coming out in the field to the left of the white house.
Soon after reaching the field wc were called to a halt, and at
this place the white rag came out, or the flag of truce. At this
point, while in line, we heard yelling in the rear coming from
the woods and shouting and cheering. We looked around and
saw the colored troops coming up from the woods we had just
left. Then we moved still farther to the left, as far as the field
extended next to the woods. There was a road running straight
along parallel with our line, past us, then through the woods to
the field and past the house. The Eleventh did some shooting
and skirmishing with Fitz-Hugh Lee and his cavalry. We held
the left then and until we marched back to Farmville after Lee's
army was paroled. All of this is just as I remember things at
that time, and I think I am right. I do not know what hap-
pened on the right on the first charge to cause the break, but
have been told that a brigade of hundred day men who were on
the right when the grape and canister came, broke and run and
so caused the line to fall back and form again.