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march of the day, would have succeeded in capturing a very large number of prisoners; as it was, we captured more, by far, than the number of men in the command, but the troops were too exhausted to move rapidly, as they could otherwise have done.
We were the first to enter the town of Gettysburg, and halted to rest on the road leading to Fairfield.
We remained in that position during that night and Thursday.
On Thursday evening about dusk we advanced to make a night attack upon the enemy's works, but when we had approached to within a few hundred yards and drawing the fire of their pickets, which wounded several of my men, we were recalled and placed in the road, where we remained until 3 A. M. on Saturday morning, at times subjected to severe cannonading, when we were taken to the crest of the hill in our rear, which position we retained until Sunday morning, when we were withdrawn.
Too much cannot be said in praise of both officers and men of my command, all, with a few exceptions, conducted themselves most admirably.
Appended is the list of casualties during the engagement.
I am, Captain, very respectfully your ob't serv't,
Bryan Grimes, Colonel Fourth N. C. S. T.