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hearty “well done” of their commanders at Manassas Plains.
I allude particularly to Captain Brown, of the Wise artillery. Captain Hart is also entitled to the highest praise, and showed himself to be an accomplished artillerist as well as a gallant soldier.
I am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Report of Major W. M. Jones.
sir: On the twenty-seventh ultimo, the Ninth Georgia regiment received orders to advance the picket line on the east side of Dr. Garnett's farm, after going to the advance post.
Skirmishers were then thrown out, and, after a brisk skirmish, succeeded in driving the advance of the enemy beyond their earthworks, where they were supported by their artillery, which did us some damage.
The casualties are, to wit: five (5) killed and twenty (20) wounded; all enlisted men. At night received orders to fall back to our former position.
June twenty-eighth.
All quiet in this regiment.
June twenty-ninth.
Prepared to advance upon the redoubt of the enemy, which had been unsuccessfully attempted by the Seventh and Eighth Georgia regiments the previous evening.
Scouts were sent forward, who returned in a short time and reported that the enemy had evacuated their works.
Immediately proceeded to their redoubts, and soon took up the line of march in pursuit of the flying foe. About half an hour's march, succeeded in catching up with their rear guard, who, after slight resistance, again fell back.
Here the line of battle was formed, and immediately proceeded to scour the wood in the direction of Bottom's Bridge.
After advancing some distance and hearing heavy firing on the right, halted and remained in line, awaiting orders, until nine o'clock P. M. Received orders to return to----, (unknown.)
June thirtieth.
Received orders to proceed to the right of our line to reenforce Major-General Longstreet, who engaged the enemy near Crew's farm P. M. of same day. Arrived about eleven o'clock P. M., and took possession of battle-field.
Tuesday, July first.
Formed in line of battle to scour the wood in front of us, and proceeded half a mile; ordered back to the swamp; returned, and took position a quarter of a mile on the right of the river road; remained some time under the protection of a favoring hill from the shells of the enemy, without any casualty.
One o'clock P. M., started for the anticipated battle-field.
After manoeuvring until near six o'clock P. M., entered the field of action, halted in a ravine for protection; remained till near eight o'clock P. M. Here our casualties were three (3) killed, thirty (30) wounded.
Among the latter was Lieutenant J. A. Arnold, company C, and Lieutenant T. J. Hardee, company H.
All the rest were enlisted men.
Ten o'clock P. M., left the field in good order, remaining near the battle-field until the morning of the fourth instant; left in pursuit of the enemy, and proceeded down James River twelve miles, to----cross-roads.
Remained in the neighborhood or picketed until the ninth instant; then fell back to the church on the Darbytown road, six miles east of Richmond, remaining there on picket until regularly relieved by----Mississippi brigade.
Joined our brigade July twelfth, 1862, by your order.
Wm. M. Jones, Major, commanding Ninth Georgia Regiment.
Report of Lieutenant-Colonel Holmes.
sir: Pursuant to orders received of this date, I send you the reports of the actions and a correct list of the casualties which occurred in our regiment in the engagements of the twenty-seventh of June and first of July.
On the twenty-seventh of June, while our regiment was on picket, five companies being immediately on the outposts, with the rest as reserve, composed of the following companies: Company F, Cherokee Brown Rifles; company C, Semmes Guards; company D, Burke Sharpshooters; company H, Wright Infantry, and company I, Buena Vista Guards, were ordered by Colonel Butts forward to the picket line, two hundred yards beyond the Garnett house to the left, to open fire upon the enemy's pickets.
On arriving upon the line, Colonel Butts gave me command of company C, Semmes Guards, commanded by Captain Shepperd, and company F, Cherokee Brown Rifles, Captain Shuford, and ordered me to take those two companies sixty yards to the right and march them to the edge of the woods looking out upon the wheat-field; when in that position, to open fire upon the enemy.
I did so at the time I halted them.
A regiment of the enemy stationed in line opposite us across the field, which I saw plainly, opened fire upon us. I ordered our men to lay down and fire deliberately at them, which order they obeyed handsomely.
The fire then became general on the line opposite us, and extended soon to our left and right, which placed us under an enfilade fire from two points.
I occupied the position at the edge of the woods until nearly half of the men in the companies that I commanded were either killed or wounded.
I then ordered the men to fall back six paces, and get behind trees, which they did, and then they fought until the combat ceased.
The left companies--company D, Burke Sharpshooters; company I, Buena Vista Guards, and company H, Wright Infantry — were commanded by Colonel Butts in person, being to my left sixty yards, remained in their position, being not so exposed as they, when on lower ground, which protected company D and company H very much.
Company I, being on the right of these companies, nearest the right companies
