Confederate Eyewitnesses: Bloody Lane

Colonel John B. Gordon, 6th Alabama Infantry: - "The day was clear and beautiful, with scarcely a cloud in the sky. The men in blue . . . formed in my front, an assaulting column four lines deep. The front line came to a ‘charge bayonets,' the other lines to a ‘right shoulder shift.' The brave Union commander, superbly mounted, placed himself in front, while his band in rear cheered them with martial music. It was a thrilling spectacle.

"The entire force, I concluded, was composed of fresh troops from Washington or some camp of instruction. So far as I could see, every soldier wore white gaiters around his ankles. The banners above them had apparently never been discolored by the smoke and dust of battle. Their gleaming bayonets flashed like burnished silver in the sunlight. With the precision of step and perfect alignment of a holiday parade, this magnificent array moved to the charge, every step keeping time to the tap of the deep-sounding drum. As we stood looking upon that brilliant pageant, I thought, if I did not say, ‘What a pity to spoil with bullets such a scene of martial beauty!' But there was nothing else to do. . .

"I [determined] to hold my fire until the advancing Federals were almost upon my lines, and then turn loose a sheet of flame and lead into their faces. I did not believe that any troops on earth, with empty guns in their hands, could withstand so sudden a shock and withering a fire. . 

"The stillness was literally oppressive, as in close order, with the commander still riding in front, this column of Union infantry moved majestically in the charge. In a few minutes they were within easy range of our rifles, and some of my impatient men asked permission to fire. ‘Not yet,' I replied. ‘Wait for the order.' Soon they were so close that we might have seen the eagles on their buttons; but my brave and eager boys still waited for the order. Now the front rank was within a few rods of where I stood. It would not do to wait another second, and with all my lung power I shouted ‘Fire!' "

Private John Dooley, 1st Virginia (about the flight from Bloody Lane):

"Oh how I ran! I was afraid of being struck in the back, so I frequently turned around in running, so as to avoid if possible so disgraceful a wound."


~ Unit History/ Maps ~ Company Rosters ~ Battles/Timeline ~  Pictures ~ 
~ Bibliography ~ Officers ~ Brigades ~ Letters / Documents ~ Uniforms ~
© Copyright 8/01/98
by James D. Allen
Webmaster Katie King copyright 2003-2007
Katie King