Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy.

Thursday, 19th.—Got to sleep all night last night. Formed in line of battle in front of Cassville. General Johnston had circular read that we will now turn and fight. Big rumors from Virginia that thirty-one Yankee general officers had been killed, wounded, and captured. Loss in all, 45,000. (Don’t ask me what battle that was, for I don’t know. We are getting accustomed to such big rumors when they think a fight is coming on here.) Can see the Yanks forming in our front very plainly. 3 P. M., ordered back to Cassville; had gone but a short distance, until we were ordered back to our old line. While we were gone, Federals got a battery in position and shelled us very heavily. Just our brigade here. Out in an old field. Yanks advancing in sight on our front and both flanks. Lieutenant Park’s left hand shot off, and James White’s leg nearly so. I began to think we were about gone, but just as they were coming within rifle range, we were ordered to fall back, and I was “mighty” glad to hear it. We did not wait for a second order. Fell back in rear of Cassville, where our troops are fortifying. 5 P. M., Federals advanced to the other side of town, when an artillery duel was kept up until dark. We afterward learned somebody blundered and gave the wrong order, that sent us back to the old line, and came very near getting us all captured.