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

[303] that had followed us into the woods. After a brief but active skirmish, they were driven back, with the loss of several killed and wounded; among the latter, an aid of General Blenker. We again moved forward under cover of Ever's house and barn, until ordered by General Trimble to move more to the right, so as to leave the barn and house on my left. In moving by the right flank to gain this position, we received a heavy volley of musketry from a Yankee force on our left, which wounded several of the Twenty-fifth Virginia regiment, and almost at the same instant, the right of the Thirteenth regiment came into full view of a battery of three pieces, supported by three regiments of infantry, and not more than four hundred yards in front. The battery opened a well-directed and heavy fire with grape, which, owing to the unexpected nature of the attack, caused some confusion; but order having been restored, the troops advanced steadily to the front, to a fence fifty yards further in advance. Finding General Trimble's brigade was detained by a force on our left, I ordered the men to lie down and fire; this they did with such effect as to twice drive the enemy from one of their guns. The fire of the enemy was galling, and seeing no further good could be accomplished by remaining longer in my position, I moved again by the right flank to the cover of a wood and halted. About this time the enemy fell back, and I was ordered to remain in my position.

About sundown, I was directed by General Trimble to join him on the left, which I did, and remained with his brigade until ordered back to camp, about ten o'clock at night. The men and officers of both regiments were exposed to a terrible fire for a few moments, and behaved to my entire satisfaction.

For a report of the operations of the Twelfth Georgia and Thirty-first Virginia volunteers on the eighth, I beg leave to refer you to the report of the commanders of the respective regiments, marked A and B.

Lists of the killed and wounded will be found enclosed for each regiment.

The report from Raines's battery will be sent as soon as received.

On the ninth, I was placed in command of the Fourth brigade, General Elzey having been wounded on the preceding day. After crossing the river, I reported to Major-General Jackson, who ordered me to send one regiment and my battery (Raines's) to support General Winder. I detached the Thirty-first Virginia regiment, under command of Colonel Hoffman, for this purpose, and saw no more of the regiment or battery during the day. The accompanying report, marked C, of Colonel Hoffman, will show the operations of his regiment, which, I regret to say, was badly cut up, being placed in a very exposed position, for some time. With the entire remaining regiments, Thirteenth, Twenty-fifth Virginia and Tenth Georgia, I was ordered to follow General Taylor's brigade. I attempted to do this, but having no guide, and being totally unacquainted with the nature of the ground, we became entangled in the thick undergrowth, and made slow progress until we arrived at a precipice, so matted and grown over with laurel and ivy, that we could advance no further in that direction. I then marched back and around the end of the bluff, and pushed forward rapidly in the direction of the heavy firing on the right; but just as we came in sight of General Taylor's brigade, he had succeeded in taking the enemy's battery, and we were left no part but to follow the retiring foe, which we did, until ordered back.

The total casualties in the four infantry regiments were:

On the eighth instant, five killed, sixty-two wounded; total, sixty-seven.

On the ninth instant, fifteen killed, eighty wounded and four missing; total, ninety-nine.

Aggregate, twenty killed, one hundred and forty-two wounded and four missing; total one hundred and sixty-six.

In Raines's battery, there were two killed, and seven wounded; eighteen horses killed or disabled.

Lists of the casualties in each regiment are herewith appended. Respectfully, your obedient servant,

In compliance with the orders of Major-General Ewell, I send a statement of the operations of my brigade on the eighth and ninth instant, in the battle of Cross-Keys.

At your request I rode forward with you, on the morning of the eighth, at about ten o'clock, to examine the ground most desirable for defence. It was decided to post my artillery (Courtnay's battery) on the hill to the south of the small stream, and immediately on the left of road from Union Church to Port Republic. You directed my brigade to take the right of our line of defence, and occupy the pine hill to the east of the road and the battery, but somewhat retired from the front, in echelon position. Previous to assigning my brigade its position in line of battle, I rode forward in front and to the right, about half a mile, and examined a wooded hill running nearly parallel to our line of battle. Finding this position advantageous, with its left in view and protected by my artillery, and its right by a ravine and densely wooded hill, I at once occupied this position with two regiments, (the Sixteenth Mississippi and Twenty-first Georgia,) about half-past 10 o'clock, leaving the Twenty-first North Carolina with the battery to protect it. Colonel Canty, of the Fifteenth Alabama, by General Ewell's order, had been left on picket at Union