92 Southern Historical Society Papers.
Hancock's left had not advanced, but remained on the original line, covering that road, he admitted that that altered the complexion of affairs."
Before concluding this address it is due to General Mahone, and to the officers and men of his brigade, by whose fire General Long- street was struck down at the critical moment of the Battle of the Wilderness, as has been narrated in the foregoing accounts of the engagement, to say that no blame attaches to him or to them for the unfortunate accident, which no ordinary forethought, it seems, could well have avoided, but which must rather be considered one of those mysterious interpositions by the Almighty in the affairs of men deemed necessary to shape for His own purposes the course of human events. The brigade men and officers won laurels in this action ; and it has afforded me much pleasure to contribute what has been read this evening towards the history of its famous career, and in so doing to record specially the splendid conduct of the gallant Sorrel and no less gallant May, the ensign of the Twelfth Virginia.
ADDENDA.
Since the foregoing address was delivered, several letters and statements from participants have been received. From these it has been deemed proper to make some extracts, under the belief that they will throw light upon and add interest to what has been already said :
Colonel (now General) V. D. Groner, of Norfolk, Virginia, who, as colonel of the Sixty- First Virginia regiment, commanded that regiment at the Battle of the Wilderness, in his letter dated March 5, 1892, says :
" The Twelfth was on the right, the Forty-First next ; then came in order the Sixty-First, Sixteenth and Sixth regiments. We moved in this direction at right angles with the road some little distance, and then wheeled to the left, the Twelfth being on the extreme right, Forty- First next, in echelon, and then the Sixty-First, Sixteenth and Sixth. Mahone, I think, had been given another brigade, but what it was I do not remember. In front of the Sixth and Sixteenth we met General Wadsworth's command. There was considerable fighting on the left of the Sixty-First, but Wadsworth being mortally
