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

[467] Captain Martin, company I, seized the flag, and, with words of encouragement, called on all to follow. The noble, manly conduct of Captain Martin was such as to challenge the admiration of all. At this time, I was some fifty yards ahead of my regiment, urging them to pass quickly this dangerous position, and therefore cannot speak, of my personal knowledge, of the individual instances of bravery and courage. But few of my regiment, as well as the other three who started together, reached the ravine at this time. You will recollect that two of our companies were detached, on the twenty-ninth, to collect and guard stores, taken from the enemy, and the other eight were so small, and the officers so few, that they were consolidated into four companies, having only four Captains for duty. Three of these reached the ravine, and one, Captain Edmondson, was utterly exhausted, and instantly taken so ill that I advised him to return with the assistance of one of his men. After remaining in this position for about an hour, I despatched the Sergeant-Major to General Armistead, to inform him of our position and condition, and that, in my opinion, we ought to be reinforced. I have not seen the Sergeant-Major since, now being sick, and received no reply. Some time between six and seven o'clock, General Wright brought with him, into the ravine, two regiments, and formed line of battle immediately behind ours, and, addressing a few words, led the charge up the hill to the battery. Captain Saunders was severely wounded in the thigh, soon after reaching the top of the hill. The different numbers of our regiment were formed into one company, under command of Captain Martin, whose gallantry was not exceeded by any one in that memorable battle, and, with the other parts of the two brigades, were compelled to fall back as often as they charged the batteries of the enemy. Our line, composed of three regiments, was yet a short one, with two colors, and, for our own company, it would have seemed that a musket would have been of more value than the color ; but Corporal Pollard, company E, one of the color guard, insisted he would carry it, and, when he fell, gallantly bearing it alone, handed it to a Georgian, who was fighting by his side. The darkness of the night separated us all; and after nine o'clock gave up the contest for the time.

Out of one hundred and seventy-eight men, thirty were killed and wounded.

Company A. Killed: none. Wounded: Second Lieutenant James D. Clay, in both thighs, seriously; privates James P. Woodall, in shoulder, slightly; Micajah R. Fenell, in hand, severely; C. C. Hudson, in shoulder, slightly.

Company B. Killed: Sergeant Walter H. Boswell. Wounded: Captain James M. Saunders, in thigh, severely; Third Lieutenant Sylvester Richardson, in face, slightly; private Daniel Robins, in foot, slightly.

Company C. Killed: none. Wounded: privates J. C. Destin, in leg, severely; N. G. Weaver, in head, slightly.

Company D. Killed: Corporal W. T. Johnson. Wounded: Elkana Clements, in thigh, slightly.

Company E. Killed: none. Wounded: Sergeant William R. Barker, in arm and hip, severely; Corporal William A. Pollard, in face and shoulder, slightly.

Company F. On detached service.

Company G. Killed: none. Wounded: none.

Company H. On detached service.

Company I. Killed: none. Wounded: Sergeant J. W. Whitehead, in knee, slightly; Sergeant D. S. Muse, in leg, severely; privates J. C. T. Glass, in head, severely; T. J. Hudson, in shoulder, severely; J. H. B. Keatts, in hand, slightly; V. A. Linthicum, in hand, severely. J. E. Roach, in head and side, slightly; W. B. Riddle, in head, slightly; J. H. Simpson, in hand, slightly; G. W. White, in face and shoulder, slightly; R. H. L. Whitehead, in arm, severely; G. E. Mays, in leg, slightly.

Company K. Killed: private W. D. Rock. Wounded : Sergeant F. F. Harwood, in leg, severely; privates N. P. New, in thigh, slightly; R. B. Gill, in leg, slightly; R. H. Mayo, in hand, severely.

recapitulation.

Killed: three. Wounded: twenty-seven. Total, twenty-eight. Aggregate, thirty.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Captain: I have the honor to report that, after a week's sickness, on the twenty-fifth instant, at half past 11 A. M., I returned to my regiment, then on picket, and commanded by Captain W. R. Aylett, and at the time engaging the enemy. Captain Aylett immediately turned over the command to me, and used diligence to show me the position of our forces and the enemy, and made the following report of the action of the regiment up to the time of my arrival: That on the twenty-fourth instant, at half past 4 o'clock P. M., the Fifty-third Virginia regiment, the Ninth Virginia regiment, and the Fifth Virginia battalion, were sent out to relieve the Third Georgia regiment, on the advance line, between the Williamsburg road and the York River Railroad. Nothing of interest transpired during the night. About eight A. M., on the twenty-fifth instant, Captain Aylett, upon visiting the picket post on the extreme right of the line, resting on the Williamsburg road, was informed that one or more regiments of the enemy were advancing up the road; and about that time heavy firing commenced on the other side of the road, when it appeared the picket had been driven in. Cautioning his pickets to stand their ground until he could reenforce them, Captain Aylett went for his reserves, consisting of companies A and D. This