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

[277] soon came, on ascending the hill in front of Chancellorsville, in full view and range of the enemy's cannon, which opened a heavy fire upon us. About half of my brigade had by this time, in its advance, entered the woods, having swung around slightly to the right for this purpose; the left regiment of Doles's brigade, which was to the left of the centre of the enemy's artillery fire, and all that portion of the line on its left (I do not know what troops they were), moved over by flank to the left. As soon as I observed this movement I rode across the field to bring them back, but when I reached the plank road I found they had crossed it and entered the wood on its left. I then rode back across the field, under the fire of the artillery, to the point where my brigade had entered the wood. On account of the denseness of the tangled thicket, and the number of men of other brigades, I did not for some time find my own, and feared that it had fallen back, but was gratified to find that all its little regiments had moved promptly forward and driven the enemy from that part of their trenches farthest to the left and nearest to Chancellor's house. All firing ceased a short time after I entered the wood. I soon after found the brigade in the open field and joined the division on the plank road. The next day the division fortified its position on the left of the plank road fronting the United States Ford. General Pender, in command of the division, being wounded in the evening, the command of the division devolved on me, and that of the brigade on Colonel Fry for a short time, during which nothing important occurred except some skirmishing in front.

My loss in this action was forty-one killed and three hundred and seventeen wounded. Among the former was Major Smith, Thirteenth Alabama regiment, and Captain Stewart, commanding Fifth Alabama battalion, and among the latter Colonel McComb, Fourteenth Tennessee regiment, severely. My A. A. General, Captain Archer, and Aid-de-camp, Lieutenant Thomas, were present with the brigade throughout the action.

I take this occasion to acknowledge the gallant and efficient service of Mr. J. A. Williams, of Maryland, a volunteer Aid on my staff. The regiments were commanded as follows: First Tennessee, Lieutenant-Colonel George; Thirteenth Alabama, Colonel Fry; Fourteenth Tennessee, Colonel McComb, until wounded, and afterwards by Captain Wilson; Seventh Tennessee by Lieutenant-Colonel Fite, and Fifth Alabama battalion, by Captain Stewart.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant.

On the morning of the 1st of May my brigade moved from its position in the second line, near Hamilton's Crossing, along the plank road, in the direction of Chancellorsville, and that night formed line of battle, with skirmishers thrown forward to the right of the road, about a mile and a half from the latter place. Next morning, after the artillery fight on our right, it was marched to the plank road above Chancellorsville, by the way of Welford's iron forge, and then ordered to move down the road by the flank, while the three lines of battle advanced. After it was ascertained that the enemy were rapidly falling back, it pushed forward with the artillery beyond the third and second lines to within a short distance of the first. Here General A. P. Hill ordered me (at dark) to deploy one regiment as skirmishers across the road, to form line of battle in rear with the rest of the brigade, and to push vigorously forward. In other words, we were ordered to make a night attack, and capture the enemy's batteries in front if possible. Just then they opened a terrific artillery fire, which was responded to by our batteries. As soon as this was over, I deployed the Thirty-third North Carolina troops forward as skirmishers, and formed line of battle to the rear,--the Seventh and Thirty-seventh to the right, the Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth to the left,--the left of the Thirty-seventh and right of the Eighteenth resting on the road. I had moved forward the Eighteenth and Twenty-eighth to within a short distance of our line of skirmishers, and was about to move the Seventh and Thirty-seventh to a corresponding position before ordering the whole line forward, when Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, of a Pennsylvania regiment, entered our lines with a white flag, and wished to know if we were Confederate or Union troops. Considering this an illegitimate use of the white flag, as he expressly stated it was not his object to surrender, and not wishing to let him return, I sent Lieutenant Lane to General A. P. Hill to know what I should do. Our skirmishers on the right soon after fired upon a few of the enemy who had approached tolerably near, and a few random shots were fired by the Seventh and Thirty-seventh regiments, without orders, which appear to have drawn the enemy's artillery and infantry fire. I understand from the official report of the commanding officer of the Eighteenth North Carolina troops, that General A. P. Hill, staff and couriers, were in the road in advance of them at the time, and to avoid the enemy's fire some of them dashed into the woods, over the Eighteenth regiment, which fired into them, mistaking them in the dark for the enemy's cavalry. After this unfortunate mistake I received information that a body of troops was moving on our right. I at once sent out Lieutenant Emack and four men to reconnoitre, and they soon returned with a Pennsylvania regiment, which had thrown down their arms, and surrendered themselves prisoners of war. This regiment was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, who had commenced to remonstrate with me for allowing it to be captured while he was in my lines with a white flag, when the enemy's artillery opened upon us again. I at once sent the regiment to the rear under Captain Young, his company having been detailed as a guard, and turned Lieutenant-Colonel Smith over to Captain Adams, signal officer, to be taken