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

[709] two of Captain Latimer's ten-pounder Parrotts, whose vent-pieces had burned out in the action of the day before, for two three-inch rifles of the captured guns, and started them for the battle-field, going on ahead myself. I got there too late in the evening to be able to give any report of the battle. In it, however, we lost no guns. Captain Thompson's (then Captain D'Aquin's) battery captured one ten-pounder Parrott, which they brought off. In recrossing the Potomac, a forge belonging to Captain Crenshaw's battery and a caisson belonging to Captain Brockenbrough's were lost on this side of the river from the sheer exhaustion of the horses, both rolling down a cliff on the side of the road.

I have the honor to remain,

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Colonel: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the battalion of artillery under my command in the battle of Manassas Plains, August thirtieth, 1862:

The battalion received orders on the evening of the twenty-ninth, near Thoroughfare Gap, to march to the front during the night, and, after a tedious march, encamped, about dawn on the morning of the thirtieth, on the pike leading from Gainesville to Stone Bridge, and about two miles from Gainesville. Soon after daylight, I found that our bivouac was on the battle-field of the previous evening, and near our advanced division on picket. The enemy showing every disposition to attack us, upon consultation with Brigadier-General J. B. Hood, and at his suggestion, I placed my batteries (four) on a commanding ridge immediately to his left and rear. In the general line of battle this ridge was about the centre, Jackson's corps being immediately on my left and Longstreet's on my right. It was an admirable ridge of over a quarter of a mile, generally overlooking the ground in front of it for some two thousand yards. This ground was occupied by several farms, with cornfields, orchards, fences, &c., making it much desired by the enemy for their skirmishers, the ground being quite undulating. Opposite the left of the ridge, and distant about one thousand three hundred yards, was a strip of timber with quite a fall of ground behind it. Between this strip and General Jackson's right (along an old railroad excavation) was an open field.

About seven A. M., a regiment of the enemy's infantry made its appearance some two thousand yards distant, when a few shots were fired from my long-range guns in position, causing them to move. This fire was responded to by three long-range batteries of the enemy. During the morning, whenever the infantry of the enemy showed itself, it was fired on by our guns, which fire always elicited a reply from the artillery opposed to us, doing us but little damage, and resulting in driving the enemy back. About twelve M. the enemy attempted an advance, driving in our skirmishers in a spirited manner, and occupying the orchard in my front. They soon came within reach of our howitzers, when a few discharges of spherical case drove them back, and our skirmishers resumed their original position.

During the morning the enemy had massed his infantry behind the timber before mentioned, with a view to turn our left, and, about four P. M., moved from out these woods in heavy lines of attack on General Jackson's position. The left of the ridge was held by Eubank's battery of four smooth-bores, who opened on the enemy as soon as he discovered their advance. At the same time I shifted to his assistance with two howitzers of Parker's battery, two of Rhett's battery, and one of Jordan's battery. At the same time, I directed nine other pieces, mostly rifles, on the right of the ridge, under Captains Jordan and Taylor, to change their position so as to fire on the enemy in flank and on the woods containing their reserves. With these eighteen guns, a continuous fire was kept up on the enemy during his attack, which lasted about half an hour.

His reserves moved twice out of the woods to the support of the attacking columns, and twice were they repulsed by the artillery, and driven back to the woods. After the reserves failed to reach the front or attacking columns, they were repulsed, and endeavored to rally in the open field; but the range of every part of the field was obtained, and a few discharges broke them in confusion, and sent them back to the woods.

Finding that my batteries were troubling them, they attempted to charge them, three regiments starting for them. They were repulsed, some of their dead being within two hundred yards of the guns.

While firing on the infantry, two batteries of the enemy were firing at us, but generally overshot us.

Our position was an admirable one, and the guns were well served. Two of my batteries were firing for the first time, but did remarkably well. I cannot speak in too high terms of the conduct of officers and men under my command: all behaved well, exhibiting coolness and courage.

I would mention the following officers as having especially attracted my attention by their good conduct, viz.: Major Del. Kemper, who had his right arm shattered by a minie ball; Lieutenant and Adjutant W. H. Kemper; Captains J. S. Taylor, Jordan, Parker, and Eubank; Lieutenant Elliot, commanding Rhett's battery; Lieutenants Taylor, Gilbert, Brown, Ficklin, and Oakum, the latter of Grimes's battery, with two Parrotts attached.

The casualties are as follows:

Major Del. Kemper, wounded in right arm, severely.

Parker's battery — Wounded: Sergeant James