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

[723] guns. Captain Pegram being in front, his battery was carried forward and placed in position in an old redoubt. Captain Braxton's battery was posted on the east side of the railroad, and the batteries of Captains McIntosh and Crenshaw occupied the intermediate ground. The enemy's battery was soon silenced, and a New Jersey brigade was, after some very pretty practice on the part of Captains Pegram, Crenshaw, McIntosh, and Braxton, broken and put to flight. We moved on with the intention of following them up, but the character of the country was such as to render successful pursuit impossible, and the idea was abandoned. There was no loss on our side; but it is believed that the loss of the enemy was considerable. Wednesday night, at twelve o'clock, we took up line of march for Centreville, and from thence we marched to the battle-field of Manassas, where we arrived Thursday evening, the twenty-eighth of August. The artillery took no part in the engagement of that afternoon. On Friday, the twenty-ninth August, the batteries were placed in position on the ridge in rear and to the left of General A. P. Hill's division. Captain Braxton's battery was engaged early in the forenoon on the extreme left, with the loss of some of his horses. Upon the cessation of the enemy's fire, ours ceased also. In the afternoon, a section of Captain Pegram's battery hotly engaged the enemy on the right. His position was in rear of General Fields's and Gregg's brigades. The loss of this section was very heavy, and, the fire continuing with unremitted severity, it was withdrawn. Captain Braxton was then ordered to the position, and, with five guns, held it, with loss, under a terrific fire, until night closed in upon the field. Captain Crenshaw's battery was also engaged during the day from a point in rear of General Pender's brigade. On Saturday, August thirtieth, the batteries of Captains Braxton, Pegram, Latham, Davidson, McIntosh, and Crenshaw were all engaged at intervals on the left and rear of the infantry. The enemy made several demonstrations with both infantry and artillery on the left, all of which were promptly repelled by those batteries.

In the battle of Ox Hill, Monday, September first, my command did not participate, though near the spot and under fire; two of the batteries, viz., Captain McIntosh's and Braxton's, being in position.

At Leesburg, the batteries of Captains Latham and Fleet, and a section of Captain Pegram's, were, by order, left in camp to recruit. Nothing worthy of mention in this report transpired in our march through Maryland, nor until our arrival at Harper's Ferry on the thirteenth of September.

In the afternoon of Sunday, the fourteenth, my artillery, by order of Major-General Hill, went into battery on a height some two miles south-west of Bolivar Heights, from which point we shelled the woods on Bolivar Heights, south of the enemy's earthworks. About sunset of the same evening, the rifle section of Captain McIntosh's command went into battery on Bolivar Heights at a point about eight hundred yards distant from the enemy's earthworks, General Hill's division being in advance of him.

Before dawn next morning, Monday, eighteenth, a section from the batteries of Captains Braxton, Pegram, and Davidson, and the full battery of Captain Crenshaw, were carried, though with much difficulty, to the point occupied by Captain McIntosh, (Captain Crenshaw's battery was held in reserve, there being no position for his guns.) At daylight, the batteries opened with rapid and effective fire upon the enemy's works, and were responded to by two batteries, firing quickly and without good direction.

By General Hill's order, our fire ceased as soon as that of the enemy was discontinued, which occurred in an hour. At the latter part of the engagement, Captain Crenshaw relieved Captain Braxton, whose ammunition was exhausted.

After a short interval, the enemy's guns again opened, but slowly and without effect. The guns of Captains Pegram and Crenshaw were advanced about four hundred yards nearer their earthworks, and opened furiously upon it. In five minutes a white flag floated upon the works, and the battle ceased. In this battle our casualties were slight, as heretofore reported.

I carried four of my batteries into the fight at Sharpsburg, viz., Braxton's, Pegram's, McIntosh's, and Crenshaw's; Captain Davidson's was left at Harper's Ferry with General Thomas's brigade. My command arrived upon the field at about three P. M., and went immediately into action. Captain McIntosh took position to the right and in rear of General Toombs's brigade — in rear of the position afterward taken by General Archer's brigade. Here he was hotly encountered by several batteries of the enemy, to whom he responded vigorously until his attention was attracted by the steady and formidable advance of the enemy's infantry upon his position. The infantry on the left not supporting him, the enemy continued to advance in defiance of his rapid and effective fire, until within sixty yards of his guns, when Captain McIntosh was forced to withdraw his men, horses, and limbers. By this time, General Archer's brigade had formed in line of battle to the rear of the battery, and, before the enemy reached the guns, charged and drove them back in great confusion. Captain Pegram's battery was posted on the right of Captain McIntosh's, and directed to fire chiefly upon the enemy's infantry. One gun of this battery (the ammunition of the balance having given out) together with Captain Braxton's rifle, which had been engaging the enemy from a point to the right and rear of Captain Pegram's, were, at four and a half P. M., placed in battery on a height forming the extreme right of the light division, and giving an enfilading fire. From this point, they were worked with beautiful precision and great effect upon the infantry of the enemy till nightfall closed the engagement. Captain Pegram's gun was withdrawn after a few