Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 8.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

Major — On the morning of July 2d, my brigade was placed in position before Gettysburg in the rear of Major Pegram's battery of artillery, in an open field, with woods on my right and left flanks. My position was to the right of the cemetery, about which the enemy's lines of battle were formed. In the afternoon I received an order to advance after Brigadier-General Wright, who was posted on my right in a woods. Before the advance was made I received an order from the Major-General, through his Aid-de-Camp, Captain Shannon, to advance but two of my regiments, and deploy them closely as skirmishers. I had then a thin line of skirmishers in front, and at once sent out the Forty-eighth and Nineteenth regiments, Colonel Jane and Colonel Harris commanding. These regiments advanced some two or three hundred yards beyond the barn and house, which were burned. Later in the day I sent out the Sixteenth, and receiving information that the enemy was threatening their right and left flanks, I took out the Twelfth regiment, and requested Brigadier-General Mahone, who was on my left, in the rear of another division, to send me a regiment to support my left. He being at this time ordered to the right, could not comply. When I reached the barn, I found my regiments (three) well up in advance — they had driven the enemy's pickets in their works, and the artillerists from their guns in their front. It being then nearly dark, I sent the Major-General a message, informing [323] forming him of my position. He then ordered me to fall back to my original position in the rear of Pegram's battery. On the 3d, my brigade was held in reserve to support the battery in my front. The list of casualties has already been sent in to you.

Very respectfully,