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

[290] from its position in the woods, as skirmishers, returned to the brigade and was formed upon its right. My loss during the day was very slight, though I regret to add that some of my men, who were wounded the day before and left at the furnace in hospital, were to-day captured, together with two ambulances, which had been sent up to bring them off. When the depot for my wounded was established at the furnace it was at least a mile within our lines, but by some means unknown to me the enemy retook the position on this day, (Saturday, the second,) and thus got possession of some of my wounded men.

Early on Sunday morning I received orders to advance my brigade through the woods in the direction of Chancellorsville, connecting my right with General Mahone's left and my left with General Posey's right. This gave me a line of over a mile to cover with less than sixteen hundred men. I soon found that this was entirely impracticable, and I pushed forward through the woods endeavoring to keep equidistant from Mahone and Posey, keeping my flanks protected by a strong line of skirmishers and flankers. In this order I moved steadily on my right, about three quarters of a mile to the left of the plank road, until I fell upon a strong body of Yankee infantry posted in the woods, about one half a mile in the front (as I afterwards discovered) of a strong line of rifle-pits, protected by abatis formed by the felling of the thick forest timber for some distance in front of their intrenchments. Quickly engaging the enemy with vigor he gave way, and I pursued him up and into his strong works. Here my small command encountered the most terrible fire of artillery and musketry I have ever witnessed, and our farther advance was temporarily checked. About this time firing on my left was heard, and I felt assured Posey was up to his work. Not having heard from or of General Mahone, I despached an officer of my staff to seek him and inform him of my position, and beg him to move forward to my support. Immediately after this messenger left me, Major Taylor, an officer in command of General Mahone's line of skirmishers, approached me and informed me that he knew nothing of the locality of General Mahone's brigade, except when last heard from it was very far in the rear, and that he (Taylor) should wait or fall back with his skirmishers until he could be brought near to his brigade. I urged him not to do so, as I had just sent word to General Mahone, informing him of the condition of things in front, and urging him to come to my support, and which I thought he would speedily do. Directly after this Major Taylor left me, and I saw no more of him or General Mahone's forces during the day. Being thus without support on my right, I determined to move a little towards the left, where I continued to hear Posey's fire, and ordered Major Jones, with his Third Georgia regiment, to deploy his line, and pushing up to the enemy's works examine his position and report. About this time the firing far on the left of Posey's position became heavy, and I felt assured that Jackson was advancing there. Major Jones moved his regiment rapidly up to within a few rods of the enemy's works, where, pressed by Posey and Perry on my immediate left, and Jackson farther on, the Yankees gave way and fled from their intrenchments. We pressed forward and immediately occupied them, although on my right the enemy still retained possession of their works and opened a pretty sharp fire of shell and musketry upon us as we took possession of their abandoned rifle-pits. I was then ordered by Major-General Anderson to move up the Third Georgia regiment and dislodge the enemy's sharpshooters on our right, and then push forward for the enemy's battery, which was playing so incessantly upon us. The order was given, and the Third Georgia commenced its movement along the line of rifle-pits towards the plank road, led by Major Jones. In a few minutes he received a severe wound in the right arm, (since amputated,) and the command devolved upon Captain Andrews, who continued to advance, until having reached the plank road about two hundred yards from Chancellorsville, I ordered him to charge the enemy, then in some confusion around and in the rear of the brick house. This charge was made with spirit, and the enemy fled, leaving us in entire possession of his strong position. At this point we captured three pieces of artillery and eight caissons, and about three hundred prisoners. I immediately re-formed my brigade (now somewhat scattered in running through the woods and timber) along the road in front of the brick house, and ordered four companies of the Third Georgia forward on both sides of Ely's Ford road as skirmishers to feel for the flying foe. Soon as I had my line formed and ready to press on, I reported the fact to Major General Anderson, who, with General Lee, had ridden upon the field, and then received orders to move down the plank road for a few rods and await further orders. Meanwhile my skirmishers had overtaken the running Yankees, and had succeeded in capturing an entire Yankee regiment, (the Twenty-seventh Connecticut,) with all its field officers and about six or seven hundred men. I continued to scour the woods for an hour or two, and captured quite a number of straggling Yankees.

Late in the afternoon I was ordered down a by-road in the direction of the United States Ford, following Posey's brigade. Nothing of importance occurred during this march, and at night bivouacked near Childs's house. My loss during this day was pretty severe, amounting to seventeen killed, and one hundred and sixty-three wounded, including in the list of killed some of my best officers.

On Monday morning I received orders to move back up the road, towards Chancellorsville, until I reached the turnpike road; and from thence was ordered down the turnpike to Salem Church, five miles above Fredericksburg, which point we reached about noon, when I halted to receive further orders. Major-General Anderson then directed me to move off to the right of the road, and passing well to the left of the enemy's line, to take position on the slope of the hills in rear of Downman's farm. Here I formed line of battle, my right upon the left of Hoke's brigade, of Early's division, Posey's right upon my left.