FREDERICKSBURG, VA., May 15, 1863.
MAJOR: When General McLaws moved up the river on the night of
April 30, I was temporarily detached from my command, and ordered to report
to General Early. My brigade was then at Marye's Hill, with the exception
of twelve companies, which were protecting the river from Taylor's Hill
to the Ferneyhough house. By General Early's order, with the Thirteenth
and Seventeenth [Mississippi] Regiments, I relieved the pickets of Generals
Kershaw and Wofford above the railroad. The brigade was then extended over
a picket line of not less than 5 miles.
On Saturday appearances indicated that the enemy were leaving their
encampments on this side of the river, and were marching to re-enforce
Hooker. By General Early's order, the Twenty-first [Mississippi] Regiment,
of my brigade, was left to picket the river, while the other three regiments,
with three of his brigades, proceeded to rejoin the main army at Chancellorsville.
He had marched but a short distance when it was reported that the enemy
were advancing upon General Hays, who had been left with his brigade on
the line from Hamilton's Crossing to Fredericksburg. General Early ordered
the entire command to return to its former position.
About 2 o'clock on Sunday morning, having thrown a pontoon bridge over
the river, the enemy commenced crossing into Fredericksburg in large numbers.
I at once informed General Early of the fact, and asked for re-enforcements.
With several batteries, under the command of General Pendleton, and a single
brigade of infantry, I had a front of not less than 3 miles to defend,
extending from Taylor's Hill on the left to the foot of the hills in rear
of the Howison house. The Twenty-first [Mississippi] Regiment was posted
between the Marye house and the Plank road, three companies of which were
afterward sent to the support of the Eighteenth [Mississippi] Regiment,
which was stationed behind the stone wall at the Marye house. The Seventeenth
[Mississippi] Regiment was placed in front of Lee's Hill, and the Thirteenth
[Mississippi] still farther to the right. One regiment from General Hays'
command was subsequently placed to the right of the Thirteenth [Mississippi].
Four pieces of artillery were placed on the right of Marye's house, two
on the left, and the balance on Lee's and the hills in the vicinity of
the Howison house, thus making the only disposition of the small force
at my command which, in my judgment, would prevent the enemy from passing
the line.
The battle commenced at daylight. A furious cannonading was opened
from the enemy's batteries in town, and along both banks of the river.
Two assaults were made upon Marye's Heights, but both were signally repulsed.
About 8 o'clock a heavy column of the enemy were seen moving up the
river, evidently for the purpose of getting possession of Taylor's Hill,
which, if successful, would have given him command of the position which
I held. But this was prevented by the timely arrival of General Hays with
four regiments of his brigade. The enemy, having thus been foiled in his
purpose, turned the head of his column down the river again; but it was
impossible to tell-whether he had abandoned the attempt or intended to
advance again on the same position with a still heavier force.
General Wilcox had now reached Taylor's Hill with three regiments of
his brigade, one of which he promised to send to the right in case it should
be needed. This regiment was sent for, but there was not sufficient time
for it to come up before the action was over. With a line as extended as
this, and in consideration of the small number of forces at my disposal,
and the uncertainty as to the point against which the enemy would hurl
the immense force he had massed in town, I deemed it proper that the regiments
should remain as they then were and await the happening of events. Very
soon, however, the enemy came out from his hiding-place, and moved in three
columns and three lines of battle, 20,000 strong, against the position
held by my brigade. At the same instant, Colonel [B. G] Humphreys was assailed
on the left, Colonels [W. D.] Holder and [J. W.] Carter and the Louisiana
regiment on the right, and Colonel [Thomas M.] Griffin in the center.
After a determined and bloody resistance by Colonel Griffin and the
Washington Artillery, the enemy, fully twenty to one, succeeded in gaining
possession of Marye's Hill; at all other points he was triumphantly repulsed.
But seeing the line broken at this point, I ordered the Thirteenth and
Seventeenth [Mississippi] and Louisiana regiments to tall back to the crest
of Lee's Hill, to prevent the enemy from getting in our rear. This they
did, resisting his approach at every step, and, with the aid of [John C.]
Fraser's and [H. H.] Carlton's batteries, both of which were handled with
the most consummate skill and courage, finally succeeded in checking his
advance. The Twenty-first [Mississippi] Regiment, with the remainder of
the Eighteenth [Mississippi], after Marye's Hill had been taken, fell back,
and rejoined the brigade on the hills. The distance from town to the points
assailed was so short, the attack so suddenly made, and the difficulty
of removing troops from one part of the line to another was so great, that
it was utterly impossible for either General Wilcox or General Hays to
reach the scene of action in time to afford any assistance whatever. It
will thus be seen that Marye's Hill was defended by but one small regiment,
three companies, and four pieces of artillery. A more heroic struggle was
never made by a mere handful of men against overwhelming odds. According
to the enemy's own accounts, many of this noble little band resisted to
the death with clubbed guns even after his vast hordes had swept over and
around the walls.
His loss, from reports published in his own papers, was 1,000 killed
and wounded, but, according to statements from intelligent citizens, it
reached 2,000. Upon the pretext of taking care of their wounded, the enemy
asked a flag of truce after the second assault on Marye's Hill, which was
granted Lucy Colonel Griffin, and thus the weakness of our force at that
point was discovered. It is proper to say that Colonel Griffin, who is
a brave and gallant officer, granted this flag of truce without consulting
me. The next morning the line of battle was formed on the Wire road, General
Gordon in front, General Hays on the left, and my brigade on the
right of the road. It was soon discovered that Lee's and Marye's Hills
had been abandoned by the enemy. General Gordon took possession of Marye's
Hill without opposition. My brigade was ordered to the stone wall in front
of the hill, and I was ordered to send out skirmishers, and, if the town
was not strongly defended, to storm and take it. I at once sent out both
scouts and skirmishers, both of whom reported that, in their judgment,
the town was in a state of strong defense; that rifle-pits had been dug
across the streets, and that cannon had been planted on both sides of the
river, which completely commanded the entire town. This fact I reported
to General Early, who ordered me to remain where I then was, and prevent
any advance from town on the part of the enemy. During the night the enemy
recrossed the river, and on the following morning I moved in and occupied
the town, capturing about 40 prisoners.
In concluding this brief report, I desire especially to mention the
names of Capt. J. A. Barksdale, adjutant of this brigade; Lieut. G. A.
Gibson, assistant inspector-general; Harris Barksdale, aide-de-camp, as
having acted with the greatest possible coolness and gallantry. Dr. [J.
R.] Hill, senior surgeon of the brigade, and all the regimental surgeons,
did their whole duty. All the couriers who were with me (J. T. Broach,
W. M. Palmer, and W. L. McKee) carried my messages to the different commands
promptly, regardless of danger.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM BARKSDALE,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
Maj. W. H. TAYLOR,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of Northern Virginia.
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HEADQUARTERS BRIGADE,
Fredericksburg, Va., May 23, 1863.
MAJOR: I have the honor to report that the Eighteenth [Mississippi]
Regiment lost its colors in the recent engagement near this place, contending
with at least twenty to one of the enemy. No other colors were lost by
this brigade. We took none from the enemy.
Very respectfully,
WILLIAM BARKSDALE,
Brigadier.General.
Maj. JAMES M. GOGGIN.
AUGUST 16-SEPTEMBER 22, 1863.--The Chickamauga Campaign.
No. 426.--Report of Brig. Gen. Benjamin G. Humphreys, C. S. Army,
commanding brigade.
HEADQUARTERS BRIGADE,
Near Chattanooga, Tenn., October 8, 1863.
MAJOR: In obedience to orders, I have the honor to make the
following report of the part taken by this brigade in the action of September
20:
The brigade arrived on the battle-field at Alexander's Bridge at 2
a.m. on the 20th, from Virginia.
About 10 o'clock General Kershaw ordered me into line of battle on
his left. Heavy firing was heard in our front, when we advanced in line
parallel to the La Fayette road. Crossing the road we found the enemy on
a hill at the edge of an old field. General Kershaw at once engaged him
and drove him from his position. At this time General Bushrod R. Johnson
rode up to me and requested me to move my brigade to General Kershaw's
right, as the enemy were massing in that direction and threatening a flank
movement. I immediately moved to General Kershaw's right and met the enemy
in force, drove in his skirmishers, and found him intrenched on a hill
with artillery. After engaging him and reconnoitering his position, I found
it impossible to drive him from it. I immediately informed General Longstreet
of the enemy's position and strength, and received orders from him to hold
my position without advancing, while he sent a division to attack him on
the right and left. The attack on my left was first made with doubtful
success; the attack on my right was successful, driving the enemy from
his position in great confusion. It was now dark and no farther pursuit
was made. I refer you to the accompanying list of casualties.(*)
The brigade captured during the day over 400 prisoners, 5 stand of
colors, and 1,200 small-arms.
On the 22d, learning that a party of the enemy was on the mountain
near the gap at Rossville, I detached 30 men from the Eighteenth Regiment,
under the command of Captain Ratliff, of Company A, and Lieutenant Ottenburg,
of Company K, to skirmish for them. They succeeded in capturing 9 officers
and 120 men, making a total of prisoners captured by the brigade, 37 officers
and 535 men.
The individual cases of gallantry and daring among the officers and
men were numerous, and where all behaved so well it is unnecessary to particularize.
I cannot conclude this report without paying a tribute of admiration
to the bearing and dauntless courage of Brigadier-General Ker-shaw and
his brave Palmetto boys, who have so long and so often fought side by side
with the Mississippi troops. The gallant and heroic daring with which they
met the shock of battle and irresistibly drove back the Federal hosts merits
the highest encomium and lasting gratitude of the army and the country.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
BENJ. G. HUMPHREYS,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
[Maj.] JAMES M. GOGGIN,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
NOVEMBER 4-DECEMBER 23, 1863.--The Knoxville (Tennessee) Campaign.
No. 71. --Report of Brig. Gen. Benjamin G. Humphreys, C. S. Army,
commanding brigade.
HEADQUARTERS BRIGADE,
Near Russellville, Tenn., January 2, 1864.
MAJOR: In obedience to orders from division headquarters, I
have the honor to make the following report of the operations of the brigade
from the time we left Chattanooga to the present time:
The brigade left the foot of Lookout Mountain on November 4 after
dark; took the cars at the tunnel in Missionary Ridge the next day, and
arrived at Loudon on the 14th; crossed the Tennessee River on the 15th.
On the 16th, the corps overtook the enemy at Campbell's Station in
line of battle, when skirmishing and a heavy artillery duel ensued. My
brigade being on the extreme left of our line, my pickets became engaged
with the enemy for a short time only. At dark the enemy retire toward Knoxville,
where we found them next day.
On the 18th, General Kershaw's brigade drove the enemy into their works
and our army settled around the town of Knoxville for a regular siege.
On the 28th, General Longstreet ordered an assault on the enemy's works
be made the next morning. In accordance with the arrangement and understanding
of the plan of attack the enemy's pickets were driven in at moonrise, about
10 o'clock that night, and our pickets intrenched within short range of
their works by daylight.
At daylight my pickets and General Bryan's, on my right, commenced
firing on the southwest salient and south curtain of the fort, followed
immediately by our artillery from Armstrong Hill. The opening of the artillery
was the signal for the infantry to make the assault. I immediately put
the Thirteenth Mississippi Regiment, under the command of Colonel McElroy,
and the Seventeenth Mississippi Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel
Fiser, in motion, the Eighteenth and Twenty-first Mississippi Regiments
being on picket, and was followed by three regiments of General Bryan's
brigade, all in column of regiments, and directed against the southwest
salient of the fort. Moving slowly, but with zeal, hope, and enthusiasm,
through a tangled abatis for about 150 yards, we came to comparatively
open ground, where a rushing charge was made upon the fort. The column
was arrested in its progress by a ditch from 4 ½ to 6 feet deep
and from 8 to 12 feet wide, fringed with a network of wire, with a parapet
about 10 or 12 feet high, the earth wet from previous rains and freezing.
In the meantime, the enemy firing artillery and musketry from all points
of their works, throwing hand grenades, billets of wood, axes, &c.,
over the parapet into the ditch, killing and mangling our men. Our pickets
soon silenced the artillery and sharpshooters on the south side of the
fort, but a raking fire continued from the west side, fronting the railroad.
The intrepidity and dauntless efforts of the enemy, the absence of ladders,
fascines. &c., and the strength of the works rendered every effort
to escalade them unavailing. Those that succeeded in climbing up the parapet
to the crest were shot down, and rolling back dragged all below them back
into the ditch. Colonel McElroy and 5 other officers were killed; Lieutenant-Colonel
Fiser and 8 other officers wounded. The whole column was thrown into confusion
and compelled to retire. The Thirteenth and Seventeenth Regiments rallied
behind the pickets and formed, losing in the assault 140 men killed, wounded,
and missing.
That evening I received orders to hold the brigade in readiness to
leave Knoxville.
On December 4, the whole army moved after dark, and passing through
Rutledge and Bean's Station, halted at Cloud Creek on the 8th.
On the 16th [15th], the whole army retraced its steps and drove the
enemy from Bean's Station toward Rutledge. On the 17th [16th], I was ordered
to move my brigade to the gap in Clinch Mountain and attack the enemy in
that position. Arriving at the gap about 10 o'clock, I found the One hundred
and seventeenth Regiment Indiana (six-months' men) had retreated on the
crest of the mountain toward Notchey Gap, leaving all their baggage and
transportation behind them. I immediately dispatched Major Donald, in command
of thirteenth Regiment, in pursuit, who followed them to Notchey Gap, and
finding they had succeeded in making their escape toward Rutledge, returned
with 6 prisoners. We captured in all 12 prisoners, 6 wagons, 12 mules,
all their tents, cooking utensils, clothing, and commissaries.
On the 20th, we were ordered to cross the Holston River and encamp
near Russellville, where we are now encamped in winter quarters.
In reviewing the operations of this brigade, I am called upon to notice
the patience, fortitude, and constancy with which the troops endured the
privations and hardships of the campaign; the ardor, zeal, and courage
with which they discharged every duty; and especially the valor and heroic
daring of the Thirteenth and Seventeenth Mississippi Regiments in the assault
upon Fort Loudon, at Knoxville.
The loss of the heroic McElroy is irreparable. A grateful country will
mourn his untimely end, and embalm his memory among her brightest ornaments.
Lieutenant-Colonel Fiser and Captain Cherry, of the Seventeenth Regiment,
were greatly distinguished for their gallantry and intrepidity, and their
temporary loss to the service is deeply deplored.
Major Donald, of the Thirteenth, and Captain Brown, of the same regiment;
Captain Wright and Lieutenant Greene, of the Seventeenth Regiment, exhibited
the highest qualities of a soldier in rallying and forming their shattered
regiments.
I am greatly indebted to Capt. J. A. Barksdale, adjutant-general, and
Captain Hobart, inspector, for their invaluable services throughout the
campaign.
Very respectfully,
BENJ. G. HUMPHREYS,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
Maj. JAMES M. GOGGIN,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
MAY 4-JUNE 12, 1864--Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River,
Va.
No. 279. --Report of Brig. Gen. Joseph B. Kershaw, C. S. Army, commanding
division, of operations May 4-6.
On May 4, 1864, in camp near Gordonsville, Va., I received orders from
the lieutenant-general commanding to put my division in motion to join
the First and Third Corps between Orange Court-House and Fredericksburg.
On arriving within 10 miles of the scene of action at the Wilderness we
bivouacked on the Catharpin road on the afternoon of the 5th.
At 1 a.m. of the 6th put the command in motion and reached General
Lee's position on the Orange plank road with the head of the column, and
reported to Lieutenant-General Longstreet, who directed me to relieve the
division of Major-General Wilcox, in our fro,it. Proceeding with a staff
officer of General Wilcox, who was to indicate the position, I moved the
column down the road by a flank, preceding them by some 400 yards. During
this movement the enemy attacked in our front on the plank road, and before
I reached the scene of action our entire line in front of me fell back
in confusion. Returning immediately to the head of my column, which had
then arrived about opposite the position occupied by the commanding general,
I directed Col. J. W. Henagan, commanding Kershaw's brigade, to file to
the right and form line of battle with his left resting upon the plank
road. Before this movement could be completely executed the retreating
masses of Heth's and Wilcox's divisions broke through my ranks and delayed
Colonel Henagan until they had passed to the rear. Almost immediately the
enemy were upon us. Ordering Colonel Henagan forward to meet them with
the right of his command, I threw forward the Second South Carolina Regiment
on the left of the road and deployed and pushed forward Brigadier-General
Humphreys with h{s brigade, also, on the right of the road, with his right
resting on it, General Henagan having passed sufficiently to the right
to admit of the deployment of General Humphreys to his left. This formation
was made successfully and in good order under the fire of the enemy, who
had so far penetrated into the interval between Henagan and the road as
to almost enfilade the Second South Carolina, which was holding the left
of the road, and some batteries which were there stationed. Humphreys was
pushed forward as soon as he got into position and male for a time steady
progress.
In the mean time General Bryan's brigade coming up, was ordered into
position to Henagan's right. That officer, in obedience to orders, had
pushed forward and driven the enemy in his front for some distance through
the dense thicket which covered the country to the right of the plank road;
but they being heavily re enforced, forced him back to the line which Humphreys
had by this time reached. Here the enemy held my three brigades so obstinately
that I endeavored to bring up General Wofford's brigade to extend my right,
but that officer not having arrived--marching as rear guard to the wagon
train, and urged forward by the lieutenant-general commanding--I placed
myself at the head of the troops and led in person a charge of the whole
command, which drove the enemy to and beyond their original line and occupied
their temporary field-works some half mile or more in advance. The lines
being rectified, and Field's division and Wofford's brigade, of my own,
having arrived, upon the suggestion of Brigadier-General Wofford a movement
was organized, under the orders of the lieutenant-general commanding, to
attack the enemy in flank from the line of the Orange Railroad, on our
right, with the brigades of General Anderson, of Field's division, and
Brigadier-General Wofford's, of my own, supported by Mahone's brigade,
while we continued to hold the enemy in front, who was at intervals bearing
down upon our lines, but always without any success. This movement, concealed
from view by the dense wood, was eminently successful, and the enemy was
routed and driven pell-mell as far as the Brock road, and pursued by General
Wofford to some distance across the plank road, where he halted within
a few hundred yards of the Germanna road. Returning with General Wofford
up the plank road, and learning the condition of things in front, we met
the lieutenant-general commanding coming to the front almost within musket
range of the Brock road. Exchanging hasty congratulations upon the success
of the morning, the lieutenant-general rapidly planned and directed an
attack to be made by Brigadier-General Jenkins and myself upon the position
of the enemy upon the Brock road before he could recover from his disaster.
The order to me was to break their line and push all to the right of the
road toward Fredericksburg. Jenkins' brigade was put in motion by a flank
in the plank road, my division in the woods to the right. I rode with General
Jenkins at the head of his command, arranging with him the details of our
combined attack. We had not advanced as far as the position still held
by Wofford's brigade when two or three shots were fired on the left of
the road, and some stragglers came running in from that direction, and
immediately a volley was poured into the head of our column from the woods
on our right, occupied by Mahone's brigade. By this volley General Longstreet
was prostrated by a fearful wound; Brigadier-General Jenkins, Capt. Alfred
E. Doby, my aide-de-camp, and Orderly Marcus Baum were instantly killed.
As an instance of the promptness and ready presence of mind of our
troops I will mention that the leading files of Jenkins' brigade on this
occasion instantly faced the firing, and were about to return it; but when
I dashed my horse into their ranks, crying, "They are friends," they as
instantaneously realized the position of things and fell on their faces
where they stood. This fatal casualty arrested the projected movement.
The commanding general soon came in person to the front, and ordered me
to take position with my right resting on the Orange railroad. Though an
advance was made later in the day, my troops became no more engaged, except
General Wofford, who moved against the enemy in the afternoon on the left
of the plank road, and met with some success in that quarter and suffered
some loss.
I have not the particulars of casualties at hand, except those in Kershaw's
brigade, which were 57 killed, 239 wounded, and 26 missing. Among the losses
of that brigade were 2 of the most gallant and accomplished field officers
of the command--Col. James D. Nance, commanding Third South Carolina Regiment,
and Lieut. Col. Franklin Gaillard--both gentlemen of education, position,
and usefulness in civil life and highly distinguished in the field. Captain
Doby had served with me as aide-de-camp from the commencement of the war.
He distinguished himself upon every battle-field, and always rendered me
the most intelligent and valuable assistance in the most trying hour. Orderly
Baum was on detached service and was not called to the front by his necessary
duties; but during the entire day he had attached himself to the staff,
and continued actively discharging the duties of orderly, although remonstrated
with for the unnecessary exposure, until he lost his life. It is most pleasing
to recall the fact that, going into this action as they did under the most
trying circumstances that soldiers could be placed in, every officer and
man bore himself with a devoted firmness, steadiness, and gallantry, worthy
of all possible commendation.
J. B. KERSHAW,
Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.
MARCH 29-APRIL 9, 1865.--The Appomattox (Virginia) Campaign.
No. 271.--Report of Maj. Gen. Joseph B. Kershaw, C. S. Army.
CAMDEN, S.C., October 9, 1865.
MAJOR: On the morning of Monday, the 3d of April last, I moved,
in obedience to the orders of Lieutenant-General Ewell, from my position
on the lines near Fort Gilmer through Richmond to Mayo's Bridge, reporting
in person to Lieutenant-General Ewell.
Under his orders I detached two battalions to suppress the mob then
engaged in sacking the city. Arriving at the bridge I found it in flames,
and rapidly passed my command over to Manchester, informing General Ewell
of the facts. By the efforts of some boatmen the flames were arrested before
they had rendered the bridge impassable. By the time the infantry had passed,
the large mill above the Danville depot--and too far distant from it to
have been ignited by the burning of the latter--was observed to be on fire,
the smoke being first seen to issue through the roof in all parts of it,
and then the windows on all sides, indicating that it had been set on fire
in the interior. As much of the conflagration which ensued was caused by
the burning of this building, the circumstance has been deemed of sufficient
importance to be stated here, in order to remove the erroneous imputation
that the conflagration resulted from the action of the authorities.
A few miles from the river the command united with that of General
Custis Lee and moved in the direction of Amelia Court-House. Learning that
all the upper crossings of the Appomattox were impassable, on Tuesday the
command moved to the railroad crossing, and by night had succeeded in passing
the river with the entire train. The next day the rear of the Petersburg
army was overtaken at Amelia Court-House, and marching all night the command
arrived at Amelia Springs a little after sunrise the next day. From this
point Gordon's corps marched in the rear. About 10 o'clock the command
reached a point where the wagon train was moved to the right upon a cross-road
which intersected that upon which the troops moved at right angles. Here
the column was posted to resist the cavalry of the enemy--Merritt's and
Custer's divisions--which attacked at that point, and repulsed several
charges upon different parts of the line. They were held at bay until the
last of the train had passed the point attacked, when I was directed to
follow the movement of General Custis Lee's division. Before my troops
left the ground Gordon's advance appeared, while his rear was engaged with
the enemy. I was not informed that Gordon would follow the wagon
train as he did, and was therefore surprised on arriving at Sailor's Creek
to find that my rear was menaced. As the troops in my front had halted,
I detached Humphreys' brigade, commanded by Colonel Fitz Gerald, and Gary's
dismounted battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel Barbara, to take position
near the house occupied as a hospital by Pickett's division, to cover my
crossing Sailor's Creek. Upon arriving at the top of the hill on the south
side of the creek, I was informed by General Ewell that the enemy had possession
of the road in front of General Anderson, and that we were to hold the
enemy in check while that officer attempted to open the way. My command
then consisted of only three brigades---Humphreys', Simms' (Brig. Gen.
J. P. Simms commanding), and Du Bose's brigade (Brig. Gen. D. M. Du Bose
commanding)--and the dismounted cavalry already mentioned; the whole at
that time amounted to less than 2,000 effective men. Du Bose was placed
in the edge of the wood, with his right resting on the road; Simms, on
the left of the road, a little in advance. General Lee's division was on
the left of the road, his right occupying a line in front of Du Bose, his
left on the same line, or nearly so. In the meantime the enemy attacked
and overpowered Humphreys and the dismounted cavalry, forcing them back
to my position. They were formed at once on the left of the road, and Simms
was moved farther to the right. The enemy planted batteries near the hospital
and swept our position at short range, and under cover of the fire the
Second and Sixth Corps attacked us. Both in his (General Lee's) front and
my own they were repulsed, with loss, on every advance, but pressed on
constantly with fresh troops, extending all the while to our left. During
this attack I received from General Anderson a message, through Capt. S.
D. Shannon, aide-de-camp, to the effect that he had commenced his movement,
and hoped to be successful if I could hold out a few moments longer. Sending
him an encouraging reply, I continued to resist the enemy for some time,
hoping to hear from General Anderson that the way was open. Unfortunately
his attempt had failed, and the enemy made his appearance in rear of Simms'
brigade at the same time he was engaged in front and flank. That officer
attempted to extricate his command, but found it impossible to do so without
confusion, as he was attacked on all sides. This condition of things being
discovered by the other troops, all fell back toward the rear and left.
I kept up something of a skirmish as the command retreated; but after moving
some 400 yards I discovered that all who had preceded me had been taken
by the Yankee cavalry, who were in line of battle across the road. I then
directed the men about me and the members of my staff to make their escape
in any way possible. I discovered afterward that but one had succeeded,
as the enemy had completed the circle around our position when General
Anderson's line was broken. My losses in killed and wounded must have been
considerable, but I have no means of estimating the number.
The conduct of the officers and men of the command under these trying
circumstances is beyond all praise, and worthy the reputation of these
veteran regiments. On no battle-field of the war have I felt a juster pride
in the conduct of my command.
I beg leave expressly to include in these just encomiums the little
command of Lieutenant-Colonel Barham, and especially that officer.
I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. B. KERSHAW.
Maj. CAMPBELL BROWN,
Richmond, Va. |