Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 9.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[349] becoming very heavy, I was ordered forward with my division. Branch's brigade took the route, and, with springing steps, pressed forward. Arriving upon open ground, he formed his line and moved to the support of the troops engaged in his front. Field and Pender were successively thrown forward. Field pressed forward with such ardor that he passed far in front of my whole line. The Sixtieth Virginia, Colonel Starke, and Fifty-fifth, Colonel Mallory, charged and captured two batteries of Napoleon guns, and the Sixtieth crossed bayonets with the enemy, who obstinately contested the possession of these guns. General Pender, moving up to the support of Field, found that he had penetrated so far in advance that the enemy were between himself and Field. A regiment of Federals, moving across his front and exposing their flank, were scattered by a volley. Pender continued to move forward, driving off a battery of rifled pieces. The Forty-seventh Virginia, Colonel Mayo, having gotten possession of a battery, turned its guns on the enemy, and thereby greatly assisted Gregg, who was hotly engaged on the left. To this regiment also belongs the honor of capturing Major-General McCall. The brigade of General Featherstone having become very much scattered, and been forced back, Colonel McGowan, with the Fourteenth South Carolina, retrieved our ground. On our extreme right matters seemed to be going badly. Two brigades of Longstreet's division had been roughly handled, and had fallen back. Archer was brought up and sent in, and, in his shirtsleeves, leading his gallant brigade, affairs were soon restored in that quarter. About dark the enemy were pressing us hard along our whole line, and my last reserve, General J. R. Anderson, with his Georgia brigade, was directed to advance cautiously, and be careful not to fire on our friends. His brigade was formed in line,--two regiments on each side of the road,--and, obeying my instructions to the letter, received the fire of the enemy at seventy paces, before engaging them. Heavy reeforcements to the enemy were brought up at this time, and it seemed that a tremendous effort was being made to turn the fortunes of the battle. The volume of fire that, approaching, rolled along the line, was terrific. Seeing some troops of Wilcox's brigade who had rallied, with the assistance of Lieutenant Chamberlaine and other members of my staff, they were rapidly formed, and being directed to cheer long and loudly, moved again to the fight. This seemed to end the contest, for in less than five minutes all firing ceased, and the enemy retired. My brigade rested upon the battle-ground until relieved, near dawn, by Major-General Magruder.

The trophies of my division this day were fourteen pieces of artillery and two stands of colors.

The next evening was fought the battle of Malvern Hill. Finding that General Magruder needed assistance, I sent two brigades — Branch's and Thomas's, (Anderson's.) They were, however, not actively engaged. My division, however, was placed in line of battle near the scene of action, and under fire, but passive.

In this series of battles, in which my troops so well did their part, I beg leave to remind the General-in-Chief that three of my brigades had never before been under fire. Two of my batteries, Pegram's and Davidson's, (the latter having just been ordered up from my camp,) were engaged at Malvern Hill, and for two hours each nobly did their work, as their battered condition and many casualties sadly attested.

Among the general and field officers killed and wounded during these battles are Colonels Campbell, C. C. Lee; Lieutenant-Colonels Johnson, Smith, Green, Shackelford; Majors Bronaugh, Burke, and McLaughlin, killed, and Brigadier-Generals J. R. Anderson and Pender; Colonels W. J. Hoke, Riddick, Connor, McGowan, Goodner, Cowan, A. J. Lane, J. H. Lane, Thomas, Hardeman, and Starke; Lieutenant-Colonels Folsom, Simmons, Barber, Christian, H. H. Walker, Howard, and Majors Fite, Livingstone, Hickerson, and Grice, wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Coleman, of the artillery, during the absence of Lieutenant-Colonel R. L. Walker, from sickness, acted as my Chief of Artillery, and with energy and efficiency. The gallantry of Lieutenant Chamberlaine, the Adjutant, was conspicuous. The members of my staff--Major R. C. Morgan, A. A. General; Major J. G. Field, A. Q. M.; Major E. B. Hill, Division Commissary; Major J. M. Daniel, Volunteer A. D. C., (wounded severely at Cold Harbor;) Captain Adams, signal officer, serving on my personal staff; my Aids-de-camp, Lieutenants F. T. Hill, and Murray Taylor, and Captain Douglass, my chief engineer officer — were all gallant and zealous in the discharge of their duties. Surgeon Watson, Medical Director, made efficient arrangements for the care of the wounded. The ambulance corps and drivers deserve especial mention for their active and untiring exertions in bringing off the wounded. Especial mention for conspicuous gallantry is made of the following officers : Colonels Starke, Mallory, McGowan, Thomas, Riddick, Barnes, Hamilton, Hoke, J. H. Lane, Cowan; Lieutenant-Colonels Folsom, Gray, McElroy, Simpson, H. H. Walker; Majors C. C. Cole, Vandegraff; Lieutenants Young, Norwood, Crittenden, Bryan, Haskell, Shotwell, Thirty-fourth North Carolina; Captains Collins, Engineer; and of the artillery, Pegram, Davidson, Braxton, Crenshaw, Andrews, McIntosh, and Lieutenant Fitzhugh, and Sergeant J. N. Williams. Sergeant-Major of Nineteenth Georgia regiment, Captain Wright and his company of cavalry, from Cobb's legion, acting as my escort, were of great service to me, and by my permission made a gallant charge upon a body of the enemy's infantry. There are many cases of individual daring, both among officers and men, and I regret that I do not know their names.

This report, being made out so long after the events transpired, is not, of course, so perfect as I would desire, and injustice may be done officers and regiments. I respectfully refer you to the