James P. Smith

Regarded as one of the most promising young commanders in Lee's army, Brig. Gen. Robert E. Rodes had earlier given up a lucrative career as a civil engineer to teach at the Virginia Military Institute. Rodes' division formed the leading wave of Gen. Stonewall Jackson's devastating attack on May 2. Here Jackson's aide, Lt. James P. Smith, describes the culminating phase of the flank march and the opening of the assault.