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

[405] officers as require especial notice, I respectfully refer to the reports of the regimental commanders, which accompany this. This action being closed by the approach of a stormy night, my command, reinforced by the Eighteenth Mississippi regiment, Colonel Griffin, lay upon their arms on the field of battle until daylight, when it was ascertained that the enemy had disappeared. Removing our wounded and burying our dead, we marched, under the command of Major-General McLaws, by the Enroughty Town road to New Market, and prepared to bivouac for the night, but were almost immediately ordered forward to the support of General Longstreet, then engaged with the enemy at Frazier's farm. On the way, we were halted and permitted to rest until eleven o'clock P. M., when we continued the march to Frazier's farm, arriving just in time to take our position by daylight on the morning of the first of July. About eight o'clock A. M., we advanced in line of battle as far as the Willis Church road, where the forces of General Jackson passed to our right, and we were ordered back along the Long Bridge road, several miles to the rear, where we remained in line of battle until four o'clock P.. M., when we were ordered forward to the open field on the farm adjoining Crew's farm. Here we remained under the fire of the enemy's artillery until about six o'clock P. M., when I was directed by an officer of Major-General Magruder's staff to advance and attack the enemy's battery. Having no special instructions and no knowledge of the ground or position of the enemy, I led the brigade in line of battle through a wood for half a mile toward the right of the enemy's line of fire, exposed all the while to a front and flank fire of artillery, which could not be avoided. During this march, I passed three lines of troops, who had preceded me in the attack. Arriving immediately in front of that portion of the enemy where I determined to assail him, I was indebted to your assistance, Captain, for finding my way to a ravine which led immediately up to the plateau, upon which the enemy was formed. Availing myself of this shelter, I led my command up to the Willis Church road. Here the enemy occupied the open field in two lines, in force, in my front, forming an obtuse angle, facing toward the road in such a manner as to flank any force which might ascend the brow of the hill in my front. Between these two lines of the enemy, at the point of intersection, a battery of artillery was placed, pouring over our heads a crushing shower of grape and canister, while the infantry lines blazed with a constant stream of fire. Still farther to my right, the artillery on the hill near the orchard, enfilading my line, and their infantry in Crew's farm to my right rear, were engaged with some of our forces, whose line of battle was parallel to my own. In this position we occupied a fence and thick hedge in front of the road, forming a considerable obstacle to an advance along the centre of my line, while the rising ground in front screened the enemy from view, except on my extreme right and left. The Second regiment, which extended to near the parsonage, having open ground in front, engaged the left line of the enemy with some effect; but the rest of the command were powerless to accomplish anything in their then position, and I was satisfied that any farther advance at that point would insure the destruction of my command, unless some change was made in the enemy's position. The nature of the ground affording considerable protection to the men, I determined to hold them there, in the hope that some diversion by an attack, either on the right or left, might be created in our favor. After some time, a galling fire was opened from our rear, killing and wounding the men and producing a general feeling of uneasiness in the whole command. Captain Holmes, A. A. G., and Lieutenant Dwight, A. A. I. G., of my staff, went back in person to arrest the fire. Major Rutherford, of the Third regiment, attempted to do the same, and Corporal T. Whitner is especially commended by Colonel Nance for having volunteered for the same dangerous duty. Finding that the fire still continued for some time, doing us more damage than that of the enemy, I ordered the command to retire by the route we came to the next road in our rear. At this point, I found Major Gaillard commanding, re-forming the Second regiment. With this regiment I retired to the next road in our rear, where I again halted, supposing that the other regiments would be found there; but owing to the intricacies of the wood and the approaching darkness, the commanding officers conducted their regiments severally to the field, whence we entered the fight. While collecting on the flag of the Second regiment all the men of the brigade who came by, General Ewell rode up and desired me to advance my command to support a brigade he was about to lead into action in Crew's field. Calling attention to the small number of men with me, and my desire to collect the remainder of the brigade, I indicated my unwillingness to do so, on account of the inefficiency of any support I could render; but as he became very urgent, I yielded, and led the Second regiment, under command of Major Gaillard, to the point indicated. Soon General Ewell's forces appeared, and he led two regiments in beautiful order to the attack under a terrible fire of artillery and infantry. While we were at this point, Sergeant Harley, color-bearer of the Second regiment, exposed himself with gallantry worthy of especial mention, in his efforts to encourage and animate the men around him, and was wounded by a shell while thus engaged. Several regiments having arrived and taken position in our rear in support of General Ewell's advance, and the infantry fire having materially diminished, I brought off the Second regiment about nine o'clock P. M., and re-formed the brigade in the field from which we had advanced.

It gives me great pleasure to commend the conduct of officers and men for coolness and firmness under many trying circumstances on this occasion, and I have nothing to regret but that we were, by a series of accidents, prevented from accomplishing as much for the country on this occasion by the gallantry and discipline exhibited