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

[279] latter had but few “stragglers” and no “skulkers” to drive forward that I have yet heard of. I am specially indebted to my Aid-de-camp, Lieutenant O. Lane, and to one of my couriers, George E. Barringer, for the great assistance rendered me. They both bore themselves well under the hottest fires. My other courier was a poltroon, and has been sent back to his regiment. The brigade loss is twelve commissioned officers killed, fifty-nine wounded, and one missing; one hundred and forty-nine enlisted men killed, five hundred and sixty-seven wounded, and one hundred and twenty-one missing; making an aggregate of nine hundred and nine.

Respectfully,

Captain: On the morning of the twenty-ninth of April this brigade was ordered to march in the direction of Hamilton's Crossing. The command was in motion by eight o'clock A. M.; arrived at the Crossing at ten A. M.; remained in position, on the crest of the hill at the Hamilton House, until two o'clock A. M., thirtieth, then moved in position, left of brigade resting on railroad, connecting with right of General Iverson's brigade, and connecting the right with left of General Colquitt's brigade; remained in this position during the day and night. At two o'clock, on the morning of May first, marched towards Orange Court-House plank road. About one o'clock P. M., formed line of battle on the plank road, about two miles from Todd's Tavern; threw out skirmishers, driving back those of the enemy, and took six prisoners. About six P. M., same day, moved up the dirt road, one mile beyond Todd's Tavern, and bivouacked for the night. About six o'clock A. M., May second, moved up the dirt road about half a mile, filed off to the left on the Furnace Road, arriving at Germana Road about three and a half o'clock P. M., and formed line of battle, left of brigade resting on said road. Brigade formed as follows: Fourth, Forty-fourth, Twenty-first, and Twelfth Georgia; the Fourth Georgia resting on road, skirmishers thrown forward about four hundred yards in advance. At five o'clock P. M., the order was given to advance against the enemy. The brigade moved as rapidly as possible through a very thick wood, and skirmishers were immediately engaged by those of the enemy. Our forces, marching rapidly forward, assisted in driving in the enemy's sharpshooters, when we were subjected to a very heavy musket fire, and grape, canister, and shell. The command was ordered to attack the enemy in his intrenched position, drive him from it, and take his batteries. The order was promptly obeyed; the Fourth and Forty-fourth Georgia assaulted his position in front; the Twenty-first Georgia was ordered to move towards the left and flank him, so as to enfilade his intrenchments; the Twelfth Georgia was ordered forward, and to the right, to attack a force of the enemy on the right. After a resistance of about ten minutes, we drove him from his positions on the left, and carried his battery of two guns, caissons, and horses. The movement of the Twelfth Georgia on the right was successful. The order to forward was given, when the command moved forward at the “double quick” to assault the enemy, who had taken up a strong position on the crest of a hill, in the open field. He was soon driven from this position, the command pursuing him. He made a stubborn resistance from behind a wattling fence, on a hill covered thickly with pine. The whole command moved gallantly against this position, the Fourth and Forty-fourth Georgia in front, and the Twenty-first and Twelfth on his left flank and rear. Here we captured one gun, (a rifled piece.) We pursued his retreating forces about three hundred yards over an open field, receiving a very severe fire from musketry and a battery of four pieces on the crest of the hill that commanded the field below; his infantry was in large force, and well protected by rifle pits and intrenchments. The command was ordered to “take” the intrenchments and the battery, which was done after a resistance of about twenty minutes. The enemy fled in utter confusion, leaving his battery of four pieces, his wounded, and many prisoners. The Twelfth Georgia, and the larger portion of the other regiments, were formed in good order, and pursued him through the pine forest, moving some five hundred yards to the front, and holding that position until after dark. While in this advanced position the enemy abandoned one gun. Fresh troops having been placed in that position, after dark I ordered the command to retire to the edge of the woods for the purpose of replenishing ammunition, the men being entirely out, and it being impossible to get ammunition to them. After replenishing with ammunition, we were ordered to bivouac on the field for the night. During this engagement, which lasted from about five and a half to nine o'clock P. M., the command captured eight pieces of artillery and many prisoners. The pieces of artillery were ordered to be carried to the rear, and turned over to the first artillery or ordnance officer found. In this engagement we lost many gallant men killed and wounded. Among the killed were Captain R. M. Bisel, company K, Fourth Georgia; Captain G. G. Green, company F; Captain H. M. Creidle and Lieutenant A. M. Burnside, acting adjutant of the Forty-fourth Georgia, and Captain U. C. Allen, Twenty-first Georgia, who fell while gallantly and nobly leading their commands. Colonel Phillip Cook, Fourth Georgia, severely, and Captain A. C. Watkins, company A, Twenty-first Georgia, mortally wounded while leading their commands in a charge against the enemy. Sunday morning, May third, at six o clock, the command was ordered forward, as follows: Forty-fourth, Twenty-first, Twelfth, Fourth, the left of the Forty-fourth connecting with the right of General Ramseur's brigade. The march to the front was through a very dense pine and swamp. During the march the left of