Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

The chief surgeon of the division, Dr. Powell, by his system, and order, and untiring personal attention, secured more comfort to the wounded than has been usual. By ten o'clock the next day his hospital had been cleared of all those who could be moved, and, with their wounds dressed, were on their way to Richmond. He acknowledges valuable assistance from the Richmond committee.

The members of my staff, Major Morgan, assistant adjutant-general; Captain Wingall, assistant adjutant and inspector-general; Captain Hill, aid-de-camp; Major Palmer, First Virginia regiment, Captain Adams, signal officer, and Captain Gordon, volunteer aid-de-camp, (whose horse was killed,) were active and zealous in the discharge of their duties. Captain Howard, my engineer officer, was particularly efficient in strengthening my lines. Captain Stanard, ordnance officer, made efficient arrangements for the supply of ammunition, and fought with his guns. Captain Braxton, though sick, appeared on the field. Sergeant Tucker, chief of couriers, was, as usual, always by my side, active and fearless.

The loss in the light division is:

Officers — killed, sixteen; wounded, one hundred and nineteen. Enlisted men — killed, two hundred and fifteen; wounded, one thousand three hundred and fifty-five. Missing — officers, eleven; enlisted men, four hundred and six. Total, two thousand and eighty-five.

I respectfully refer you to the accompanying reports of commanding officers of brigades.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

On the morning of the twelfth, I marched from Guineas Station to Hamilton's Crossing, at which place I found the division of Major-General A. P. Hill posted in order of battle from the crossing, on the right, to Bernard's quarters, on the left. I took position on the railroad, to his right, but was subsequently ordered to move my command to the rear of the left of his line. I posted Paxton's and Starke's brigades in rear of Gregg's and Thomas's, of Hill's division, and held Taliaferro's and Jones's brigades in reserve. In the evening I ordered Colonel Warren, commanding Taliaferro's brigade, to the rear of Hamilton's house, to support the artillery posted on the hill in front. Upon the arrival of Early's division next morning, this brigade was withdrawn, and reoccupied its old position. General Early's line connected with mine on the right. My artillery was held at the crossing on the Mine road, to the left of the division. I reported to General A. P. Hill my dispositions in his rear, and informed him that I had ordered the brigade and battery commanders to recognize any demands for support, if pressing, without the intervention of immediate superiors.

Early on the morning of the thirteenth, the batteries of Captains Wooding and Carpenter, the latter commanded by Lieutenant McKendree, were posted in the field, across the railroad, to the right of Bernard's quarters, and the Lee battery, Lieutenant Statham, and two pieces of Lusk's battery, on the hill to the left. The other pieces of these batteries operated on the extreme right.

The enemy advanced about nine o'clock, when our batteries opened a destructive fire upon them, causing them to waver and break; but they again advanced, concentrating so heavy a fire of artillery upon the position that it became necessary to retire the batteries behind the railroad, in rear of the quarters, after two hours action. The infantry of the division, during this time, were subjected to the shells of the enemy, but advanced to the military road, to be in easy support of General Hill's line, with perfect steadiness and enthusiasm. General Paxton, finding that our troops were giving back to the right of Gregg's brigade, and the enemy advancing beyond the front line, through a gap, which fronted a boggy wood, supposed to be inaccessible to the enemy, moved his brigade to the right, and engaged, with two of his regiments, the enemy, who had penetrated to the military road, but who were retiring by the time he reached that point. He then pushed forward to the front, and occupied, for the rest of the day, the front line at that place. The other brigades were held in position in rear of the military road until the morning of the fourteenth, when I relieved General A. P. Hill's troops in the front; Starke's brigade relieving General Pender's on the left; Jones's, Taliaferro's, and Paxton's occupying the railroad, and connecting with General Early's troops on the right. At daybreak the enemy made a slight demonstration on my left, their skirmishers advancing nearly to the railroad cut, but they were instantly driven back. I thought it advisable to change the position of Starke's brigade, which had relieved Pender's, and extend my left on the railroad. This was ordered and accomplished; but I subsequently withdrew part of that brigade, and held it in position to command the rising ground near Bernard's quarters. The skirmishing, in the early part of the day, was quite brisk and animated along the whole line, but ceased about midday. I had given positive orders to waste no ammunition, and to fire only when the annoyance of the enemy's skirmishers rendered it necessary. I am satisfied the men fired with deliberation and considerable effect. I had a battery masked behind Bernard's house, and some of my pieces to the left cooperated with those of General Hood.