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

[287] consultation, we concluded to leave five companies of my brigade, (Nineteenth Mississippi regiment,) and one regiment of General Mahone's brigade, to watch and defend the United States Ford, while we moved our brigades to Chancellorsville. On reaching that place, we posted my brigade on the right and left of the plank road at Chancellorsville, and General Mahone's brigade in Ballard's and Nixley's fields, half mile from Chancellorsville, on the Ely road. We remained in this position until about seven o'clock the next morning, the thirtieth, when we were directed by the Major-General commanding, who reached Chancellorsville about twelve o'clock A. M., to move our commands back to a position where the mine road crosses the old pike and plank road. We remained in this position until the next morning about nine o'clock, May first, when I was ordered to advance my brigade up the plank road. After moving about two miles, I formed a line of battle in Albridge's field, between the plank road and old pike, and sent out the Twelfth regiment as skirmishers, moving the other three regiments forward as fast as the skirmishers advanced; the advanced line of skirmishers soon encountered the enemy, when I advanced another line, and we drove the enemy's skirmishers back in gallant style, until we encountered the enemy in heavy force drawn up in line of battle on the furnace road; this line was soon broken by the vigorous onset of my skirmishers, (at this time Lieutenant-Colonel Harris, commanding the Twelfth, was severely wounded while gallantly leading on his command, and was taken off the field.) I continued my advance across the furnace road, through a dense wood, thickly set with undergrowth, driving back the enemy's skirmishers through the woods, until I reached a marsh, and became much exposed to a rapid shelling from the enemy's artillery, when I halted my command, and remained here until about eleven o'clock P. M., when I received an order from the Major-General commanding to advance as far as I could. I then pushed my skirmishers forward, and with much difficulty crossed the marsh in front, and advanced within a short distance of the enemy's lines of works; the enemy on my right being on my flank and somewhat in the rear of my right. I remained in this position until about seven o'clock the next morning, when I was relieved by Brigadier-General Thomas; and then moved with my brigade to the field in rear of the furnace road, where my command was allowed to rest for a short time. Saturday, second May, about ten o'clock A. M., my command moved down the furnace road, and formed a line of battle with three regiments, (the Forty-eighth being left behind as skirmishers, and not being relieved until late at night,) on each side of the road, about five hundred yards from the furnace. Here my skirmishers were hotly engaged with the enemy during the whole day and part of the night, the enemy being in heavy force in my front, and making frequent efforts to advance, without success: on every occasion my line of skirmishers drove them back in confusion. On the morning of the third, the enemy having disappeared from my front, I advanced my command, by the furnace, capturing many prisoners and arms, until I reached a point in a field in rear of our batteries on the extreme right of the enemy's lines; here I formed my command in column of regiments, and, after a short time, was ordered to advance by flank to the right, and attack the enemy, who were in strong force on a hill in front. I deployed first the Nineteenth, then the Twelfth, Forty-eighth, and Sixteenth, directing the commanders to move by the left flank (which would bring them in line of battle, fronting the enemy) as soon as they attained sufficient room in the woods, and push forward their skirmishers vigorously against the enemy's. The movement was made in fine order under heavy fire of shell and grape; as each regiment attained its position, the commanders pushed forward gallantly and irresistibly through a dense wood and over a wide abatis, and into the trenches of the enemy, driving him off with much slaughter, and capturing many prisoners. Too much credit cannot, be given to the officers and men for this gallant and daring and irresistible charge, sweeping the enemy for more than a half mile of their strong works, overcoming, without hesitation, both natural and artificial obstacles. It would not be proper in this limited report to mention the many instances of individual daring which came under my observation, and which have been reported to me; and where all the officers and men behaved so nobly it would be invidious to individualize. Commanders of regiments acted with consummate skill and valor. Colonel Baker, of the Sixteenth, attacked the enemy's works on their extreme right; Colonel Jayne, of the Forty-eighth, (who was wounded in the charge,) next; Major Thomas, of the Twelfth, and Colonel Harris on the right of the brigade. These commanders simultaneously charged the enemy's works, and I am much indebted to them for the success of my command. My command, after storming the works, being somewhat scattered on accoont of the dense woods and vigorous pursuit, I moved it back a short distance and re-formed in an open field on the right, and in a very short time was ready to move forward. On the afternoon of this day my command was moved on the old pike, the left resting near Chancellorsville house, and my right extended on the pike. I here sent out ten companies of skirmishers, who penetrated to Ballard's and Nixley's field, where the enemy were in force and throwing up works of defence. In the afternoon, my brigade, with Generals Wright's and Perry's, were moved near the United States Ford, where I sent out the Nineteenth and Twelfth regiments and drove in the enemy's skirmishers. The next day, Monday, the fourth, my command was moved, with Generals Wright and Perry, towards Fredericksburg, and in the afternoon formed a line of battle near Hazel Run, fronting Dolmer's house. At the signal to, advance, led by the Major-General commanding, my command moved across to the plank road, opposite Guests's house, under heavy fire, and at dark formed a line of battle, and remained until about twelve o'clock, when I was ordered to move to a