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[547] Lieutenant Meade, A. D. C.; Major Taliaferro, volunteer Aid-de-camp, who rendered me most efficient and important service, and to speak particularly of the gallant conduct of my orderly, a youth of sixteen, private Clinton Depriest, company H, Twenty-third Virginia regiment. It affords me pleasure to mention the efficient service, in their department, of the medical officers of the command. I beg to refer especially to Surgeon Coleman, Second brigade; Surgeon Daily, Third brigade, and Surgeon Black, First brigade.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Wm. B. Taliaferro, Brigadier-General, commanding First Division, V. A.


Report of Brigadier-General field.

headquarters First brigade, Light division, August 13, 1862.
Major R. C. Morgan, A. A. G.:
Major: I have the honor to report that my brigade marched from Orange Court-House early on the morning of the ninth instant, bringing up the rear of the whole army. About two or three o'clock, cannonading was heard, and I endeavored to push forward rapidly; but on account of detentions in the brigades in my front, I did not reach the scene of action until sunset, when the firing was nearly over.

Forming in line of battle on the field, I was directed by General Hill to push forward on the Culpeper Court-House road and press the retreating foe. After moving about a mile and a half to the front, the enemy was found in position on the left of the road. Pegram's battery, of my brigade, was directed by General Jackson to open with shell and canister, whilst I was ordered by General Hill, who came up at that moment, to take position with the infantry, a little to the left front, as support. Pegram's battery, of four guns only, was soon replied to by three batteries of the enemy. This gallant officer maintained this unequal contest for an hour, and until his guns were silenced by his losses in men. I remained in this position until next morning, when I was withdrawn and placed on picket in a wood on my left rear, being retired from that point late in the evening. It is proper to observe that several prisoners were captured by my brigade during that night. I have taken occasion before to speak of the distinguished services of Pegram's battery. It is sufficient to say now that it fully sustained the reputation made on other fields. The battery sustained a heavy loss in the death of the brave and accomplished Lieutenant Mercer Fatherston.

A list of the killed, wounded, and missing, is herewith enclosed.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Charles L. Field, Brigadier-General, commanding.


Report of Colonel Forno, of Eighth brigade.

headquarters Hays's brigade, August 18, 1862.
Capt. G. Campbell Brown, A. A. G. Third Div.:
sir: I have the honor to report the part taken by Hays's brigade, now under my command, during the battle of the ninth instant, at Cedar Run. Although not actively engaged, the brigade being held in reserve by General Trimble's command, were under fire and in range of the enemy's shell, and suffered considerably. A list of the casualties accompanies this report.

Very respectfully, yours,

H. Forno, Colonel Fifth Louisiana, commanding Brigade.


Report of Brigadier-General Archer.

headquarters Archer's brigade, General A. P. Hill's Light division, August 14, 1862.
To Major R. C. Morgan, A. A. General, A. P. Hill's Division:
Major: I have the honor to report that, early on the morning of the ninth instant, I marched with my brigade, about twelve hundred strong, constituting a part of Major-General Hill's division, from Orange Court-House toward the battlefield. On arriving near the point where General Jackson's division was already engaged, I proceeded to form line of battle in the woods, to the left of Branch's brigade, which completed its formation and advanced before my line was half formed. Supposing that I would be wanted in front immediately, I moved forward with the First Tennessee and Nineteenth Georgia regiments, Fifth Alabama battalion, and Seventh Tennessee in line, leaving the Fourteenth Tennessee, which was in rear, to come up into line, and over-take the brigade as it best could. I advanced several hundred yards in this manner, obliquing toward the right, in order to get near the left of Branch's brigade, when I overtook its left regiment, which had become separated from its main body. In passing to the front of this regiment, my line became somewhat broken, and I halted a few minutes for it to re-form.

During the time thus employed, Colonel Forbes's Fourteenth Tennessee regiment came up into line, and I rode to the road, about fifty yards on my right, to ascertain whether they were our or the enemy's troops firing there. I found it was Branch's brigade, in the open field, on the right of the road, and in a line even with that of my own, halted, and firing at an enemy in front.

I rapidly returned to my brigade to move it forward, when I met Captain Taylor, with orders from General Hill to advance. Immediately after, on reaching the edge of the wood, we encountered the long-range fire of the enemy, posted in the margin of another wood, beyond a wheatfield. My brigade halted here, and commenced a rapid fire, which it was several minutes before I could arrest and move the brigade forward, across the open field. In crossing this field, I was exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy, who, from their position in the wood, were comparatively safe. My loss here was, nineteen killed, and one hundred and sixteen wounded.

After entering the wood, and in passing through it, my two left regiments' met, and became to some extent mingled with, the right of General Pender's brigade, which was sweeping through


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