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

[565] after, the column was deployed in line of battle just at the skirt of the wood facing a large field and another piece of wood — the division fence being near the centre of the Second regiment. By order of Colonel Ronald, commanding, the brigade was moved to the front. Almost immediately afterward, a regiment of the enemy appeared on the other side of the field. This regiment, though supported by others in the wood, fled after a short resistance, and the Second regiment, with the Fourth and Fifth, drove the enemy through the wood they occupied. Finding no enemy in the front, and that the right wing of the brigade was pressed, the Second regiment was ordered to its support, Captain Moore, of company I, being left with a strong company to scout the wood and prevent surprise. Joining the right wing, the enemy was driven again from position, and followed till night rendered pursuit dangerous.

I cannot too highly commend the conduct of the officers and men of my command, and though exposed for some hours to the enemy's fire, providentially no one was killed, and but seven wounded.

See list below.

Respectfully,

Lieutenant: I herewith transmit a report of the part taken by the Forty-eighth regiment of the Second brigade, commanded by Captain Wm. V. C. Hannum, in the battle of the ninth instant:

My regiment, being the advance of the Second brigade, left camp near Rapidan River, about eight o'clock A. M., and followed the First brigade until about two o'clock P. M., when it was ordered, with the rest of the brigade, to the front, when we were halted to allow the Hampden artillery, Captain Caskie's battery, to pass to the front, during which time a shell from the enemy's gun, bursting in our ranks, killed five, and wounded six men. The order was given to advance, when, leaving the road to the left, we proceeded about a quarter of a mile, under cover of the woods, for the space of half an hour. At the expiration of half an hour, we were again ordered to advance by the flank a distance of probably a quarter of a mile, where we were thrown into line of battle upon the left of the Twenty-first Virginia regiment, which constituted the right of our brigade, the Forty-second Virginia regiment upon our left. The regiment at this time, being commanded by Captain Hannum, was, by order of Lieutenant-Colonel Garnett, so thrown into line as to cause the right and left flanks to form right angles with each other. Skirmishers were sent to the front with orders to fire as soon as the enemy came within range of their guns. The firing soon began with the skirmishers, which in a few minutes became general, and lasted for about an hour. Finding that the enemy had got in our rear, almost entirely surrounding us, we were ordered to make our way out; but a portion of the regiment, not understanding the order, remained at their post, continuing to fire at the enemy in front. At this time reenforcements came up, driving the enemy from our rear. Our regiment was partially re-formed, and then participated in a charge made across the field, pursuing the enemy until dark.

The casualties were as follows: Four missing, nineteen killed, and forty-three wounded.

sir: I respectfully submit the following as a report of the part my regiment took in the battle of the ninth instant, near Mitchell's Station, in Culpeper County, Virginia:

In placing the brigade in line of battle, my regiment occupied the extreme right, connecting with the line of the Second brigade, and supported on the left by the Thirty-third Virginia volunteers. After having formed in line of battle, we remained for some time under a heavy fire of shot and shell from the enemy's artillery. I then, under orders, advanced my regiment, in line with the brigade, through a dense forest, with heavy undergrowth of brush and much fallen timber, to the fence dividing the woodland from a cleared field. Owing to the density of the forest, the enemy, who were in line of battle directly in front of us, was not discovered until he fired upon us. I then ordered my regiment to advance to the fence and return the fire. This was promptly done, and was kept up for some time with such effect that two regiments of the enemy, which immediately confronted us, commenced falling back rapidly in much disorder. However, just as we had succeeded in repelling the enemy in front of us, it was discovered that the regiment which supported us on the right had been driven back, and the enemy were rapidly advancing on our right, cross-firing us, and endeavoring to get in our rear. Here the fire was very heavy. I lost three men killed and one wounded, and not having sufficient force to drive back the enemy and hold my position, the regiment was compelled to fall back. This, on account of thick brush and fallen timber that covered the ground, caused the regiment to scatter considerably. After retreating about one hundred and fifty yards, we met a brigade (which I took to be Branch's) coming to