Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 8.
Frank Moore, Ed.

On the morning of the seventh instant, I received orders to move my regiment from its former encampment near Warrenton, in company with the corps; accordingly we took up our line of march toward the Rappahannock Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. marching nearly fifteen miles, we discovered the enemy occupying a strong position near the Station, intrenched within redoubts and rifle-pits. At three o'clock P. M., the Twenty-First New-York volunteers and my regiment were ordered forward to the front, in line of battle. Being upon an open plain, with scarcely any protection, the advance was slow and cautious. During this advance the enemy made but little demonstration upon us, except an occasional shell or shot. Approaching within about five hundred yards of the enemy's rifle-pits, we were ordered to lie down at a point where the crest or small elevation of ground afforded us a little protection, which position we held until nearly seven o'clock P. M., when I received orders to move my regiment forward. The line of battle was Fifth Maine volunteers on the right, and Twenty-First New-York volunteers on the left, the line consisting of about five hundred and fifty muskets. Under cover of the night, we approached to within twenty-five yards of the enemy in his pits, when I gave the order to “charge.” At this moment we received a terrific volley from the enemy's infantry, and the next, our boys had sprung into the rifle-pits, sweeping every thing before them. These intreachments were occupied by more than double the men that my own front presented, but so sudden and unexpected was our movement upon them, that the enemy seemed paralyzed. After disarming them, by a rapid movement to the right, we succeeded in capturing nearly the whole force in the pits, who were their ignorant of the fate of those on the left. During the entire charge, my regiment did not fire a gun. carrying all at the point of the bayonet, and the following are the captures made by this regiment alone:

One thousand two hundred prisoners, one thousand two hundred small arms, one caisson, and four stands of colors. Of the prisoners, there were over one hundred commissioned officers, including five colonels, one lieutenant-colonel, and one major.

The enemy's force consisted of the First Louisiana brigade, and a North-Carolina brigade, comprising the Sixth, Seventh, and Fifty-fourth regiments. The First Louisiana brigade (most of which fell into the hands of my regiment) was the first command ever assigned to the late General “Stonewall” Jackson. We occupied the fortifications during the night, advancing to near Brandy Station yesterday. The affair was a complete and glorious victory.

It affords me the greatest pleasure to report the unwavering bravery of every officer and man in my command, each vying with the other in the execution of various deeds — none flinching, but pressing forward with a determined will to win. Where all so nobly did their whole duty, it is difficult to discriminate between them.

The colors captured by this regiment were from the following regiments, and taken by the officers and men whose names I take great satisfaction in reporting:

Eighth Louisiana, captured by Lieutenant A. S. Lyon, commanding company K.

Sixth North-Carolina, captured by James Littlefield, company I.

Seventh North-Carolina, captured by Corporal T. P. Blondell, company D.

Fifty-fourth North-Carolina, captured by Corporal T. Shackford, company A.

The loss in my regiment in this engagement was seven killed and twenty-eight wounded.

I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

This brigade is composed of the Fifth Wisconsin, commanded by Colonel T. S. Allen; the Sixth Maine, Lieutenant-Colonel B. F. Harris; the Forty-ninth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-Colonel T. M. Hulings, and the One Hundred and Nineteenth Pennsylvania, Colonel P. C. Ellmaker-all volunteer