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brigade, and in rear of the brigade, marched in the direction of Orange Court-House.
After marching about seven miles, the regiment, with the balance of the brigade, bivouacked near Orange Court-House.
On Friday morning, at early dawn, we took up the line of march in the direction of Culpeper Court-House, marching in front of the Twenty-third Virginia regiment, which was then in the rear.
After marching about five miles, and about one mile north of the Rapidan River, we were ordered to halt and cook two days rations, which consumed the balance of the day. The regiment bivouacked at the same place for the night.
About two o'clock in the night we were aroused, our pickets being attacked by the enemy's cavalry, and marched promptly with the balance of the brigade to resist the attack; but the enemy retired before we arrived on the field.
We remained on the field until early dawn, when we were marched back to camp.
At eight o'clock, on Saturday morning, the ninth inst., we took up the line of march, the Thirty-seventh Virginia regiment and Forty-eighth Alabama regiment in front, and the Twenty-third Virginia and Forty-seventh Alabama regiments in the rear.
The regiment kept well closed up, and, after marching about seven miles under an excessive hot sun, we arrived, about four o'clock, in sight of the enemy drawn up in line of battle.
The brigade was then drawn up in line of battle under a galling fire of shot and shell from the enemy's guns, by which we suffered considerably.
This regiment being detached, (by order of Brigadier-General Taliaferro, through Major Taliaferro,) to prolong the line of battle on the left, was promptly thrown on the extreme left, on the left of the main road leading to Culpeper Court-House, with the Forty-seventh Alabama regiment, the Thirty-seventh and Twenty-third Virginia, and Forty-eighth Alabama regiments, being on the right of a road near a wheat-field, where we immediately engaged the enemy under a heavy fire of infantry.
After being engaged some time, the regiment upon my right gave back, and I, seeing that we were about to be flanked by the enemy on our right, was compelled to retire a short distance.
We again rallied, attacking the enemy the second time, holding our position until, the First brigade coming up on our left, a charge was made through the wheat-field, driving the enemy from the field, in which charge a number of prisoners were taken.
The brigade was again formed in line of battle in the wheat-field, and marched in an easterly direction some distance, through a cornfield, in pursuit of the enemy.
Night coming on, we were ordered to halt and await further orders.
Subsequently we were ordered to retire to a ravine in the cornfield, where we remained during the night, the engagement being at an end.
For a list of casualties, I refer you to the accompanying report of the surgeon.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
Joshua Stover, Major, commanding Tenth Regiment Virginia Volunteers.
Report of Major Courtnay.
sir: I beg leave respectfully to make the following report of the operations of the artillery in this division in the fight of the ninth instant, at Mrs. Crittenden's farm, near Slaughter's Mountain, Culpeper County, Virginia.
The battle was opened by the artillery of this division, which had been posted, as presently described, with orders not to fire till the infantry, sent round to the left to fire upon the enemy's cavalry skirmishers, had opened.
Captain Dement's First Maryland battery, Captain Brown's Chesapeake artillery, (also from Maryland,) Captain D'Aquin's Louisiana battery, and the rifle gun of Captain Latimer's battery, were posted in a line from the main road, on the left, to the mountain on the right, and as far forward as Majors's house. Captain Latimer, with three guns, and Lieutenant Terry, with Captain Johnson's (Bedford) battery, were stationed, by the Major-General in person, on Slaughter's Mountain, near the mountain house.
From these positions, the several batteries named opened upon a large body of cavalry in front as soon as the infantry opened upon their advanced guard from the woods on the left.
The cavalry having at once fled, and the enemy opening with several batteries in our front, and beyond effective range of our guns, I ordered the batteries in the plain to cease firing, and conducted them forward to the positions afterward taken and held by them till dark.
Captain Latimer and Lieutenant Terry continuing their fire from the mountain, I ordered Captain Latimer's rifle piece to join the battery on the mountain, and having three of Captain Brown's guns, (two old six-pounders and a howitzer,) I carried the rest directly forward, and posted Captain Dement, with two of his Napoleon guns, and Captain Brown, with his three-inch rifle, on a little rise on the right of General Early's brigade, on which there is a little clump of cedars and pines, about six hundred yards from the enemy's extreme right battery.
The other section of Captain Dement's battery, (two Napoleons,) and Captain D'Aquin's battery, now having only three guns, (having broken the axle of one in crossing the rough fields to get his position,) I posted along a ridge behind Mrs. Crittenden's house, i. e., between it and the enemy's battery, and about eight hundred yards from the battery on their extreme left.
From these positions, the batteries opened upon the batteries immediately in their front, as soon as they took their position and continued till dark, their ammunition, fortunately, lasting just till then.
Captain Latimer and Lieutenant Terry kept their position on the mountain during the fight, and kept up a constant fire.
Though the effect of our artillery fire upon their batteries was evidently terrible, the enemy obstinately held their position, except to move their pieces a little to the right or left occasionally, to escape the deadly shower, and moving the battery on their right, back to a knoll three hundred yards in
