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

[671] the notice of the commanding General the conspicuous conduct of Colonel Ransom, of which the General can learn more by inquiry of Colonels Hall and Jenkins, Forty-sixth North Carolina; Major Flemming, too, of the Forty-ninth, evinced a cool daring and soldierly presence of mind eminently praiseworthy.

Lieutenant and Adjutant Cooke, of the Twenty-fourth, was foremost in leading his regiment while under my eye, and I have had frequent occasions to observe qualities which make him second to none in courage and capacity.

Lieutenant-Colonel Bryson, of the Twenty-fifth, was cool and gallant. I cannot further particularize.

To the members of my staff I owe much for their prompt and untiring assistance--Captain Rowland, A. A. G.; Lieutenant Brodnax, A. D. C.; Mr. Mason, volunteer Aid, and Lieutenants Ashe and Thomas, the last my ordnance officer, who was ever in the right place. My orderlies, privates Pierson and De Vom, of the Twenty-fourth, acted with unwonted intelligence and gallantry throughout the day, in bearing messages, under the hottest fire. The latter had his horse shot.

Though not a part of my brigade, I cannot properly close my report without mentioning the Forty-sixth North Carolina volunteers, Colonel Hall commanding. About midday he reported to me, with his regiment, and was at once ordered into position on my right, which was unflinchingly maintained throughout. The conduct of the regiment was all it should have been, and the bravery of Colonel Hall and Lieutenant-Colonel Jenkins reflects the highest credit upon themselves and the service. A list of casualties is hereunto appended.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

Captain: A very brief narrative will suffice to exhibit the operations of this brigade in the battle of Manassas.

When the enemy's attack on the left of our line was repulsed, I was directed by Brigadier-General Wilcox to throw my brigade on his broken columns. Disposing my troops in two lines, with the first, consisting of the Third Virginia, the Fourteenth Alabama, and the Eighth Florida regiments, I pushed across the field, to the end of intercepting the enemy in his retreat. Perceiving my design, the flying Federals turned to the left, sought the shelter of a neighboring wood, and attempted to arrest our advance. But neither a terrific artillery fire on their flank, nor an unexpected fusillade in front, could check the impetuous onset of my brave men. Into the woods they dashed, and, with little delay, dislodged the enemy from his cover. This accomplished, I changed front to the right, with the view of charging the batteries, from whose fire my troops suffered so seriously.

In pursuance of a suggestion from General Wilcox, I concerted with Brigadier-General Featherston a plan of attack on these batteries. It was agreed that, while General Featherston turned the enemy's flank, I should assail him in front. In the execution of this scheme very little difficulty was encountered, the enemy, on our approach, invariably abandoning his position, almost without a struggle. Several of his detached pieces and caissons we captured, but generally he succeeded, by a timely flight, in escaping with his batteries. Indeed, with his expulsion from the wood where he first sought shelter the fighting with us ceased. Afterward it was a mere chase, in which the enemy exhibited such fleetness that we could inflict upon him only a trifling loss. The pursuit was vigorously pressed, nevertheless, until darkness arrested our farther progress. The brigade bivouacked on the advanced position won by our arms.

In the progress of the action, I had the misfortune to be separated from my command by a circumstance to which I allude only in explanation of my absence. Returning from a search after two of my regiments, which, in the confusion of the fight, had become detached from the brigade, I advanced unconsciously beyond the enemy's line, and was a while detained in my embarrassing position. Eventually, however, I was so fortunate as to effect my escape and rejoin my command.

Of the conduct of officers and men in this fight, I have to speak in the most complimentary terms. The Fifth and Eighth Florida regiments, though never under fire before, exhibited the cool and collected courage of veterans. Special mention of peculiar merit in individuals I reserve for another communication.

The loss of the brigade, as shown by the list of casualties, was comparatively inconsiderable, not exceeding one hundred and fifty in killed, wounded, and missing. Among the killed, however, was my Assistant Adjutant-General, Captain Walter Wrenn, a young gentleman of the purest and most amiable character, of a genius developed and adorned by rare attainments in every department of polite learning, and of a courage which had serenely confronted death on more than one battle-field. He fell in the moment of victory, and in the act of cheering on a charge.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

sir: I submit the following report, showing the action of my brigade at the battle of Manassas Plains, fought on the thirtieth day of August last:

At an early hour on the morning of the thirtieth,