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

[121] shells. This was kept up continually until about eleven o'clock A. M., when the advance of the enemy drove in our pickets, and his column approached the left of our line by the Telegraph road and deployed towards our right. He had succeeded in planting three stands of colors along our front, and when his column had been deployed about two thirds of the distance on his line, our well-directed fire had so thinned his ranks that the survivors retreated. General Cobb, whose fall we so much deplore, lived to see this first signal repulse and the bravery of the troops he so well commanded. About twelve or fifteen minutes thereafter General Cobb fell, mortally wounded, and I took command of the brigade. Soon another column, heavier than the first, advanced in our front, and moved steadily forward to their colors, near our centre. As the column approached, I directed the small arms to cease until the enemy should get nearer. So soon as he got within certain range, our fire mowed down his ranks, until they. faltered and the survivors retreated. They were met by a strong reinforcement, and again advanced upon us in heavier force; and this time the slaughter in their ranks was terrific, and we again drove them back. Column after column was brought up during the afternoon, and the battle continued until after dark. In every attack the enemy was repulsed with immense slaughter. During the afternoon a courier informed me that you had sent the Sixteenth Georgia regiment to the mill, to await orders. I sent for that regiment, and placed it on our right, to strengthen and protect that point, which it held during the remainder of the engagement. We rested on our arms that night and throughout the next day. Sunday, the fourteenth, a close, heavy, and continuous skirmish fire was kept up. On Sunday night we were relieved by General Semmes.

I cannot speak in too high terms of the cool bravery of both officers and men, and the promptness and cheerfulness with which they obeyed and executed all orders. The heaps of slain in our front tell best how well they acted their part.

Annexed is a list of killed and wounded.

Very respectfully, &c., &c.,

Major: I have the honor to enclose to you the reports of commanders of the Donaldsville artillery battery and the Eighth Florida regiment, the only portions of my brigade engaged in the recent battle on the Rappahannock River:

The Eighth Florida regiment having been detailed for picket duty and placed temporarily under command of Brigadier-General Barksdale, commanding the picket forces at Fredericksburg, I am unable to give additional information to that contained in Captain Lang's report, to which I call your attention. I addressed a note to Brigadier-General Barksdale, relative to three companies of this regiment, which were detailed from the regiment by General Barksdale, and assigned to a position apart from the regiment. General Barksdale replied that they were probably taken prisoners by the enemy. I have been able to obtain no further information upon the subject. I respectfully call to the attention of the General the gallant conduct of the Donaldsonville battery throughout the entire engagement. Both officers and men stood bravely and faithfully at their posts, and, while exposed to an unusually heavy fire, the guns were handled with masterly skill and with great effect.

The loss in the brigade is ninety-four killed, wounded, and missing. Of this number, eight were killed, forty-three wounded, and forty-three missing. Of these, the Eighth Florida regiment lost seven killed, thirty-seven wounded, and forty-three missing. The Fifth Florida regiment had one wounded. The battery had one killed and five wounded.

I have the honor, Major,

To be very respectfully, &c.,

Captain: Early on the morning of the eleventh instant, the brigade, under the command of General Cooke, was ordered to the front, opposite Fredericksburg, where we remained in position until about twelve o'clock, Saturday, the thirteenth, at which time the engagement was going on in our front.

The brigade was formed in line of battle as follows: The Twenty-seventh on the right, Forty-eighth next, Fifteenth on the left. We moved into action by regiments. After advancing about two hundred yards, under a heavy fire of shell and musketry, we arrived at the crest of Willis's Hill, which overlooks the battle-field, on which hill several batteries were placed.

With the exception of the Twenty-seventh, the brigade was halted on the crest of the hill, and delivered its fire on the advancing column of the enemy, who was then engaged in making a furious assault on our front line, which was covered by a long stone wall at the foot of the hill; which assault, on the arrival of the brigade, was repulsed, with great loss to the enemy. The enemy, that time, succeeded in getting up to within forty yards of the wall.

After the repulse of the enemy, the Forty-sixth was moved down the hill behind the fence, supporting Cobb's brigade. The Twenty-seventh and Forty-sixth remained behind the fence, and the Forty-eighth and Fifteenth on the top of the hill, all day.

Six different times during the day did the enemy advance his heavily-reenforced columns, and each time was driven back with immense