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

[397] order, leaving no doubt that the troops on the right had met and engaged the enemy. I immediately ordered Colonel Bute, with seven companies of the Second Georgia, (about two hundred and fifty muskets,) to advance and take position in the ravine in front, to the left of James Garnett's house, immediately in rear of my advanced pickets. He had not finished deploying his line, before the enemy (whose pickets, being in sight, discovered the movement) opened a very heavy fire upon him from their regiments. It was returned with great gallantry and effect by Colonel Bute's command, aided by the pickets, for half an hour, when the enemy reinforced his line by a large force, equal at least to a brigade, and brought an additional force both to the right and left flank of Colonel Bute's position. I then ordered forward the Fifteenth Georgia, Colonel McIntosh, to Colonel Bute's support, in the ravine — ordered the Seventeenth Georgia, Colonel Benning, on the left flank, and Colonel Cumming, of the Twentieth Georgia, on the right flank. The action now raged with great violence for an hour and a half, the enemy exhibiting a determined purpose to drive us out of the position in the ravine; but finding themselves incapable of wrenching it from the heroic grasp of the Second and Fifteenth Georgia volunteers, were driven back and repulsed after two hours of fierce and determined conflict. Nothing could exceed the courage and good conduct of the two regiments mainly engaged.

The Second lost, in killed and wounded, about one half of the men carried into action. The Fifteenth went to their support under a severe and galling fire, within eighty yards of their front, and gallantly sustained the action until the enemy were repulsed, losing seventy-one men out of three hundred carried into action, including their chivalrous Colonel McIntosh, mortally wounded. Captain Burch and Lieutenant Lilly were killed in action, and many other valuable officers and men of both regiments were either killed or wounded, a detailed statement of whom has heretofore been sent in, and, if practicable, will be attached to this report. The Seventeenth and Twentieth regiments both acted with great promptness and firmness, and maintained their positions, protecting my flank during the action. Just before the conclusion of the battle, I apprehended that an additional regiment would be needed to hold the ravine, (which I was ordered to hold on any terms,) and sent for the Seventh Georgia regiment, belonging to Colonel Anderson's brigade, which was posted on my right, supporting a battery; and they promptly obeyed the order, and came at double-quick time, with a cheer, to the support of their comrades, and took position in the rear of the Twentieth, which regiment I intended to send forward in case of need, holding the Seventh to support the right flank; but before any change was made, the enemy were repulsed and the battle was over. I am not able, at this time, from the circumstances under which the report is made, to refer particularly to minute events or individual instances of good conduct, of which there were many; but I can say, with the utmost candor, that the conduct of the whole brigade, without an individual exception, as far as I know, was excellent, and that of the Second and Fifteenth, more actively engaged, was brilliantly heroic.

I have the honor to be,

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Captain: On Tuesday evening, the first instant, in pursuance of orders from Brigadier-General D. R. Jones, I marched my brigade, and formed it in line of battle, on the New Market road, immediately in front of the enemy's batteries; afterward, according to additional orders, I advanced it to a ravine, several hundred paces in front, and again advanced it to a position in the woods, immediately in front of the enemy's batteries, under the immediate direction of General Jones. I was ordered to advance to this last position in support of Colonel Anderson and General Cobb's brigades, in the assault on the batteries, it being at the same time stated to me that other troops would be in advance of these brigades in the assault. Accordingly, I advanced rapidly, in line of battle, through the dense woods, intersected by ravines, occasionally thick brier patches, and other obstructions, guided only by the enemy's fire in keeping the direction, frequently retarded, and sometimes broken, by troops in front of me, until the command reached the open field, on the elevated plateau immediately in front of, and in short range of, the enemy's guns. Here, coming up with a portion of the troops which I was ordered to support, I halted my line, for the purpose of rectifying it, and of allowing many of the troops whom I was to support to pass me and form. These objects were but imperfectly accomplished by me, as well as by the rest of the troops within my view, from the great confusion and disorder in the field, arising much from the difficulties of the ground over which they had to pass, and in part from the heavy fire of grape, canister, and shells, which the enemy's batteries were pouring in upon them. But having accomplished what could be done of this work, and that portion of Colonel Anderson's brigade immediately in my front having advanced farther into the field, I ordered my brigade to advance. It moved forward steadily and firmly, until it came up with the troops in advance, who had halted. I then ordered it to halt, and ordered the men to lie down, which they did, and received the enemy's fire for a considerable time, when an order was repeated along my line, coming from my left, directing the line to “oblique to the left.” This order I immediately and promptly countermanded as soon as it reached the part of the line where I stood, and arrested it in part. I saw that the immediate effect of the movement was to throw the troops into the woods and