Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 9.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[633] Colonel E. M. Law commanding; my own brigade, First, Fourth, and Fifth Texas, Eighteenth Georgia and Hampton legion, and Riley's, Bachman's, and Garden's batteries, Major B. W. Frobel commanding, in the engagements at Freeman's, Ford, on the Rappahannock River, August twenty-second; plains of Manassas, August twenty-ninth and thirtieth; Boonsboroa Gap, Maryland, September fourteenth, and Sharpsburg, Maryland, September sixteenth and seventeenth, 1862:

On the twenty-second August, agreeable to orders of the commanding General, I proceeded to Freeman's Ford to relieve General Trimble's brigade. On my arrival in the afternoon, I found the enemy had crossed over the river, and were in the immediate front of General Trimble. The Texas brigade being placed on the right, and Colonel Law's on the left, the attack was at once made, General Trimble leading off in the centre.

The enemy were driven precipitately over the Rappahannock with considerable loss, not less, I think, than from two to three hundred. During the engagement, Major Whaley, Fifth Texas, fell, gallantly discharging his duties. The next night the command marched to Waterloo Ford, and relieved General A. P. Hill's division. From this point, having joined the main body of General Longstreet's forces, the march was continued in the direction of Manassas. On arriving at Thoroughfare Gap, the enemy were drawn up in line to dispute our passage. After a spirited little engagement with them by General D. R. Jones's troops, on the evening of the twenty-eighth instant, our forces were able to bivouac for the night beyond the gap. The next morning at day-light, the march was again resumed, with this division in the advance; Lieutenant-Colonel Upton, of the Fifth Texas, in command of a party of select Texan riflemen, constituting the advance guard.

Coming up with the rear guard of the enemy before sunrise, this gallant and distinguished officer drove them before him so rapidly that halts would have to be made for the troops in rear to rest. Early in the day we came up with the main body of the enemy on the plains of Manassas, engaging General Jackson's forces. Disposition of the troops being made, the Texas brigade advanced in line of battle down, and on the immediate right of, the pike leading to the stone bridge, and Colonel Law's brigade on the left. Arriving on a line with the line of battle established by General Jackson, the division was halted by order of the General commanding.

About four o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy made a fierce attack upon General Jackson, his noble troops holding their ground with their usual gallantry. At sunset an order came to me from the commanding General to move forward and attack the enemy. Before, however, this division could come to attention, they were attacked, and I instantly ordered the two brigades to move forward and charge the enemy, which they did most gallantly, driving them in confusion in front of them. Colonel Law's brigade, being engaged with a very heavy force of the enemy, captured one piece of artillery, three stands of colors, and one hundred prisoners; and the Texas brigade, three stands of colors. It soon became so very dark that it was impossible to pursue the enemy any farther.

At twelve o'clock at night, orders came to retake our position on the right of General Jackson, in which we remained until four o'clock next afternoon, (August thirtieth,) when the battle of the plains of Manassas commenced by a most vigorous attack by the enemy upon the right of General Jackson. After a severe struggle, the enemy gave way in great confusion on the left of the pike, and, by direction of the General commanding, I moved forward this division, with the Texas brigade on the right of the pike, and Colonel Law's advancing on the left, and passing over to the right. Within one hundred and fifty yards after leaving their position, the Texan brigade became engaged with a heavy force of the enemy; but, with their usual daring and enthusiasm, they charged gallantly on, driving a largely superior force a distance of one and a half miles, causing terrible slaughter in their ranks, capturing a battery of four guns crowning the heights near the Chinn house — Colonel Law's brigade having moved forward on the left, driving the enemy, and accomplishing most noble work in their immediate front. The Texas brigade having gained the heights, and being a long distance in advance of the remainder of our troops, and very much exhausted, I ordered them to halt and hold their ground. Soon after, General Evans's brigade came up and became engaged. I passed on to the heights and assisted in placing other brigades in position as they arrived on the field, and so soon as my own troops were sufficiently rested, they were brought forward, and slept upon the field of battle near the Sudley Ford road.

The noble troops of this division captured four (4) pieces of artillery and eight stands of colors, and, as to their gallantry and unflinching courage, they stand unsurpassed within the history of the world.

Many gallant officers and men fell upon this memorable field, and our country has cause to regret the loss of none of her sons more than that of Lieutenant-Colonel John C. Upton, Fifth Texas. Major Townsend, of the Fourth Texas; Lieutenant-Colonel Ruff and Major Griffin, of the Eighteenth Georgia, and Captain K. Bryan, Acting Major of the Fifth Texas, fell, severely wounded, whilst nobly discharging their duties. Of the different regimental commanders too much cannot be said. Colonel J. B. Robertson, Fifth Texas, was wounded whilst directing his regiment far in advance of the crest of the hill, when the brigade was ordered to halt; Colonel W. T. Wofford, of the Eighteenth Georgia; Lieutenant-Colonel B. F. Carter, commanding Fourth Texas; Lieutenant-Colonel P. A. Work, First Texas; Lieutenant-Colonel Gary, commanding Hampton legion; Colonel Stone, Second Mississippi; Colonel P. F. Liddell, Eleventh Mississippi; Lieutenant-Colonel O. K. McLemore,