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

The opposing force of the enemy, as I learned from captured officers, consisted of General King's division, of four brigades, and a battery of howitzers. One piece was captured, and about one hundred prisoners. Among the prisoners were Captain Judson, Assistant Adjutant-General to General Hatch, and Captain Garish, of the battery.

During the night of the twentieth, under orders from General Hood, I resumed the position to the rear of Groveton, which I had occupied in the morning. At daylight on the thirtieth, the enemy advanced a heavy line of skirmishers toward this point. These were met by my riflemen and those from the Texas brigade, and sharp skirmishing continued until about three o'clock in the afternoon, when the main attack of the enemy began. This attack, which was made by General Morrell's Federal division on General Jackson's right, in full view of my position, was no sooner repulsed than the whole line was ordered forward, and my brigade advanced to Groveton, in support of a battery which was placed at that point. Here it remained for half an hour or more, under a terrific fire of artillery, when I received orders from General Hood to move across the turnpike to the left of the Texas brigade. On reaching an eminence a few hundred yards to the right of the road, which commanded a view of the field, I perceived large numbers of our troops pressing in to the right, toward the Blackburn Ford road. Unable to distinguish the locality of the Texas brigade, and seeing that the enemy was pushing a heavy force into the ravine and pine thickets directly in front of me and just below Dogan's house, apparently for the purpose of securing their formidable battery posted there, I carried forward three regiments to that point. Placing the Sixth North Carolina and Fourth Alabama in the pines, and the Second Mississippi on their left and at the foot of the hill on which the house is situated, I waited a short time for the Eleventh Mississippi, which had been directed to move upon the battery from the left of the turnpike, intending to attack at the same time, from the right, with the Second Mississippi. While in this position, the enemy advanced on the right of the house, but was repulsed by a well-directed and destructive fire from the Sixth North Carolina and Fourth Alabama. The Eleventh Mississippi not coming up, I united the Sixth North Carolina and Fourth Alabama with the Second Mississippi, and moved upon the battery, which, taking time by the forelock, escaped when the infantry was beaten. The enemy's wounded and a few prisoners were left in our hands. I continued the advance beyond Dogan's house, driving the enemy backward until after dark, when, by General Longstreet's order, I halted for the night. At daylight on the thirty-first nothing was to be seen of the enemy, except evidences of a precipitate retreat.

A mistake in the delivery of my order to the Eleventh Mississippi regiment to advance on the left of the Warrenton turnpike, caused it to move to the right, near Chinn's house, and, by this means, it was detached from the rest of my command. It advanced with the troops in that part of the field, fighting gallantly and incurring heavy loss, and at night rested on our most advanced line. Captain Reilly's battery was detached from the brigade, and, together with the other batteries of the division, was placed under command of Major Frobel, chief of artillery of the division. Following closely after the infantry, the batteries contributed their full share to the success of the day.

In both actions the conduct of the troops was admirable. On the thirtieth their manoeuvres, under severe fire, were characterized by the promptness and precision of veterans — no disorganization or confusion occurring while in action. This was due, in a great measure, to the efficiency of my field and staff officers. Colonel Liddell, of the Eleventh, and Colonel Stone, of the Second Mississippi, Lieutenant-Colonel McLemore, Fourth Alabama, and Major Webb, Sixth North Carolina, commanding regiments, handled their men with consummate ability. The officers of my personal staff, Lieutenants Terrell and Cussons, rendered the most valuable service, discharging every duty faithfully and gallantly. Lieutenant Cussons was captured by the enemy while on a reconnoissance in front of the lines. Privates Smith, Fourth Alabama, and Sharpe, Hampton legion, acting as officers, also contributed valuable assistance.

The following is a recapitulation of the loss in the several regiments composing the brigade, as shown by the accompanying lists of casualties:

I am, Captain, very respectfully,

When the army arrived at the heights on the south side of Antietam River, on the morning of the fifteenth, I was ordered to take position about one mile from Sharpsburg, on the Hagerstown turnpike. The right of my brigade rested at St. Mumma's Church, and the line extended along the turnpike, in the edge of a wood which bordered