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the infantry who had crossed on the crest of the high banks of the Virginia shores.
General Hill stated that his troops advanced in the face of the most tremendous fire of artillery he had ever witnessed, and too much praise could not be awarded the regiments for their steady, unwavering step.
General Pender, with three brigades, became hotly engaged, and Archer, commanding his own, Lane's and Brockenbrough's brigades, moved by the left flank, and after forming on Pender's left, a simultaneous daring charge was made which drove the enemy in mad confusion in the river.
‘Then commenced the most terrible slaughter that has yet been witnessed.
The broad surface of the Potomac was blue with the floating bodies of our foe. But few escaped to tell the tale.’
General Archer reported that many of the enemy's troops were killed, and many driven down the precipitous banks into the river.
Two hundred prisoners were taken.
Archer and Pender had 30 killed and 231 wounded. In this affair, Col. Peter Turney commanded the First, Colonel Lockert the Fourteenth, and Adjt. George A. Howard the Seventh Tennessee.
At nightfall the brigade returned to the bivouac of the previous night.
General Lee marched his army to the Opequon near Martinsburg, and after a few days to the vicinity of Winchester, marching thence after a long rest a distance of 175 miles in twelve days. Archer's brigade reached the Massaponax hills near Fredericksburg on the 3d of December.
‘The history of the achievements of the army from the time it advanced from Gordonsville leaves nothing to be said in commendation of the courage, fortitude and good conduct of both officers and men,’ said General Lee in his official report.
On the 5th of November, 1862, President Lincoln relieved Major-General McClellan and assigned Major-General Burnside to the command of the army of the Potomac. General Burnside assumed command and concentrated
Atlanta, Ga. 1899.
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