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

To the members of my staff I am much indebted, for the promptness, energy, and gallantry they displayed in conveying orders, and pressing on the different parts of the line which were beyond my personal supervision.

Where the engagement was so general, and the numbers so large, and all acted so well, it is difficult to enumerate instances of personal gallantry. For some of these, however, and for the parts taken by different portions of my brigade, I beg leave to refer to the reports of the different commanders of regiments, herewith submitted. I beg leave to refer also to the annexed list of killed and wounded.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Soon after the musketry fire had fairly commenced, I received orders from the Major-General commanding to form in line of battle on the left of the road leading up the hill, a few hundred yards beyond “Willis Church,” the brigades of General Winder and others continuing this line to the right of the same road. Soon after this line was formed, it was apparent that the shells of the enemy were about to inflict serious injury upon us, while we were entirely inactive. After several casualties in different parts of the command, upon consultation with General Winder, we determined to retire the line about three hundred yards to the rear, until we should receive orders to advance.

In this last position I remained until after sunset, when I received verbal orders to move up the road to the gate-posts near which the Major-General commanding had his headquarters, then to file to the right through the woods, advance toward the fire of the enemy, and report to Major-General Hill. The ground admitted only of a flank movement, and I led the Thirteenth Georgia (the right of the brigade) as rapidly as possible through the woods, toward the point indicated. Leading in person the foremost regiment, of course I could not see, through the woods, whether the other regiments were closed up behind us. When I reached the open field, and stood, with the Thirteenth regiment, under as heavy a fire of shot and shell as was ever known to the most experienced veterans, I ascertained that the other regiments of the brigade had taken a different route, or missed the road through the woods.

It was then nearly dark, the fire of the enemy's battery was doing great execution, our friends evidently wanted assistance, and no time was to be lost. Ordering the Thirteenth to lie down in a ravine for a few minutes, until I could go forward toward the battery, and endeavor to ascertain the best route by which to advance, I soon discovered that I must move with the fire of the battery as my only guide. This regiment was ordered up from the ravine, and it advanced rapidly and handsomely over every obstacle — woods, ditches, fences, streams — until the height on the same level with the enemy's battery, opposite Littleton's house, was gained. Still onward they pressed, and met with a heavy loss from the fire of musktery that was posted to support the battery. While crossing the road, just below the height to which this regiment was advancing, I was met by Brigadier-General Winder, who suggested that the height might be reached by a better route along the position where a portion of his command was engaged. I then permitted the head of the column to proceed, under the lead of Colonel Douglass, and attempted to direct the remainder toward the route indicated by General Winder. The darkness and confusion made it difficult to adopt any new order, or check the impetuosity of this regiment. Having gained this height, the advanced position of General Jackson's army, I determined to hold it until further orders. I returned promptly for the rest of my command, found the