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seriously engaged. The attacking column which
Lane encountered, got up to within a very short distance of a salient defended by
Walker's brigade of
Heth's division, under
Colonel Mayo, before it was discovered, as there was a pine thicket infront, under cover of which the advance was made.
A heavy fire of musketry from
Walker's brigade and
Thomas's which was on its left, and a fire of artillery from a considerable number of guns on
Heth's lines, were opened with tremendous effect upon the attacking column, and it was driven back with heavy loss, leaving its dead in front of our works.
This affair took place under the eye of
General Lee himself.” * * * *
General Lee compliments the sharp-shooters of Lane's brigade.
It is due the corps of sharp-shooters of my brigade to state that after the flank movement on the 12th of May,
General Lee sent for me and told me that he had witnessed the gallantry of these brave men, as well as the cheerfulness with which they had endured the hardships of the day, and that he had such a high appreciation of their services as to make him unwilling to order them forward again, but as they had been thoroughly tried and he wished to make another very important reconnoisance on the
Fredericksburg road he would be glad if they would make it for him. I at once told him that however tired they might be I knew they would go wherever he wished them.
To which he replied, “I will not send them unless they are willing to go.”
I went for
Captain W. T. Nicholson, at that time commanding them, and introduced him to
General Lee, who repeated what he had just said to me. In a few minutes afterwards our sharp-shooters passed
General Lee with cheers, and again pushed vigorously to the front.
Major,--In compliance with orders from the
Major-General commanding I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my command, consisting of three brigades, commanded respectively by
Brigadier-Generals Wirt Adams,
L. S. Ross, and
Colonel P. B. Starke, during the late advance of
Sherman's army from Big Black to
Meridian and its return to
Vicksburg.
The enemy commenced crossing Big Black on the afternoon of the 3d February; were met by
Colonel Wood's regiment,
Adams's brigade,