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

[655] and across Bull Run, my brigade was formed in line on the right of and fronting a by-road, the direction of which was nearly parallel with the railroad cut. Branch's brigade was formed to my rear, and Field's on my right, and two batteries in the open field about three hundred yards in front.

About five o'clock P. M., when the engagement commenced, I moved forward to support the batteries, and remained under a heavy fire of shell and round shot from batteries to the front and left, but without sustaining any loss, until twilight, when the artillery fire ceased, and the whole division moved by the right flank into the railroad cut in the woods. The next morning, my brigade, with Braxton's battery, was posted on a hill on the extreme left of the division, with skirmishers thrown out to the front, and on the left flank. In this position it was not actively engaged, although it was somewhat annoyed by shell from batteries in front, but not in sight.

About three o'clock P. M., I moved, by order of General Hill, to the right, until my right rested on a road which crosses the railroad at right angles, and remained there within supporting distance of other brigades of the division, which had been engaged during the day.

About four o'clock P. M., during an interval of the assaults of the enemy, General Pender sent his Aid-de-camp requesting me to relieve him, and with the consent of General Hill, who was near me at the time, I immediately marched down, and filed to the right into the railroad cut. As my leading files entered the railroad cut, I perceived the enemy advancing up it from the left, into the wood. Unwilling to commence the fight until my troops were in position, I did not call their attention to the enemy until half of my last regiment (Colonel Turney's First Tennessee) had entered the cut. I then pointed out the enemy on the left, and ordered that regiment to fire, which it did with great effect. The first fire of this regiment was instantly answered by a furious assault upon my whole front. At this time my own brigade was the only one in sight along the whole line; but for twenty minutes or more, it firmly and gallantly resisted the attack, and maintained its position until the troops came up on my right and left, in time to save me from being flanked. Soon after the arrival of these fresh troops, we charged and drove the enemy back several hundred yards, and then quietly returned to our position. In a few minutes fresh forces of the enemy arrived, and attacked us as vigorously as the first; they were as firmly resisted, and as gallantly repelled by another charge. At this second charge, many of my men were out of ammunition, and charged with empty rifles. I did not average over two cartridges to the man. A third assault was met and repulsed in the same manner, my brigade charging upon the enemy with loud cheers, and driving them back with their empty rifles. It was after sunset when we resumed our position, and we lay upon our arms that night, with a strong picket in front to prevent surprise, replenished our ammunition during the night, and next morning changed places with Early's brigade, which had come in on our left the evening before, and in front of which a heavy skirmishing fire had been kept up all the morning. I relieved General Early's pickets with one hundred and thirty men, under the brave Lieutenant-Colonel George, of the First Tennessee regiment, who is always ready and anxious for the most daring service. The firing between my pickets and the enemy's skirmishers in the wood in front, became so rapid and continuous, that, fearing my men were wasting their ammunition, I sent my Aid-de-camp, Lieutenant O. H. Thomas, to ascertain what it meant, and to stop unnecessary firing. He traversed the whole line of pickets, exposed to the aim of the enemy's sharpshooters, and returned to me, reporting the constant fire of my men as necessary to maintain their ground. About----o'clock, the troops on our extreme right having become hotly engaged, I received orders from General Hill to draw out my brigade, if not already engaged myself, and go to the support of the right. But while I was receiving the order, the enemy drove in my pickets, and attacked my brigade. After returning his fire for ten or fifteen minutes, I charged across the railroad cut, and drove him back into the woods. No one joined me in this advance except Colonel Smith's regiment of Early's brigade. General Early ordered him back, and my right regiment (Colonel Turney's) returned with him. My regiments obtained a fresh supply of ammunition from the cartridge-boxes of the dead Yankees, and resumed their position in the line. About five o'clock in the afternoon, an order came through General Pender for a general advance. I advanced in line with General Pender's brigade, which formed on my right, through the wood into the open field beyond, where the enemy's battalions were posted. One battery, of six guns, was posted about three hundred yards distant from the point where we entered the open field, and a little to the left of the direction of my advance. I moved on in the same direction until about half that distance was passed, then swung round to the left, and marched in double-quick directly on the battery. My troops never for a moment faltered in their gallant charge, although exposed to the fire of two other batteries, besides the constant fire of the one we were charging, and of its infantry supports. The enemy stood to his guns, and continued to fire upon us until we were within seventy-five yards, when he abandoned three of his pieces, which fell into the hands of my brigade on the same spot where they had been served so bravely. General Pender overtook and captured the other three pieces. I left the pieces I had captured to be taken care of by whomsoever might come after me, and pushed on without halt against the infantry, who still made a feeble resistance in the edge of the wood. They did not await our coming, but had retreated out of sight by the time I had entered the wood.

Here I halted and re-formed my brigade, and on moving forward again came up with General