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

[699] to escape from being surrounded, changed the direction to left oblique, thus causing large intervals between the regiments on the left and right of the line. The Fifth Texas, under the command of Captain Turner, moved with spirit across the field, and occupied the woods on our right, where it met the enemy and drove them, and held them back until their ammunition was exhausted, and then fell back to the woods, with the balance of the brigade. The Fourth Texas regiment, which in our line of battle was between the Fifth and First Texas, was moved by General Hood to the extreme left of our line on the pike road, covering our flank by holding the enemy in check. This brigade went into the action numbering eight hundred and fifty-four, and lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, five hundred and sixty--over one half.

We have to mourn the loss of Majors Dale, of the First Texas, and Dingle, of Hampton's legion, two gallant officers, who fell in the thickest of the fight. Also Captains Tompkins and Smith, and Lieutenant Exum, of Hampton's legion; Lieutenants Underwood and Cleaveland, of the Eighteenth Georgia; Lieutenants Huffman, Russell, Waterhouse, Patton, and Thompson, of the First Texas. These brave officers all fell while gallantly leading their small bands on an enemy five times their number. They deserved a better fate than to have been, as they were, sacrificed for the want of proper support. The enemy, besides being permitted to cross the creek with scarcely any resistance to our left, were allowed to place their artillery in position during the night, not only without annoyance, but without our knowledge.

Without specially naming the officers and men who stood firmly at their post during the whole of this terrible conflict, I feel pleased to bear testimony, with few exceptions, to the gallantry of the whole brigade. They fought desperately; their conduct was never surpassed. Fragments of regiments as they were, they moved boldly upon and drove before them the crowded lines of the enemy up to their cannon's mouth, and, with a heroism unsurpassed, fired upon their gunners, desperately struggling before yielding, which they had never been forced to do before.

I herewith transmit the reports of Captain Turner commanding the Fifth Texas regiment; Lieutenant-Colonel Carter, commanding the Fourth Texas; Lieutenant-Colonel Work, commanding the First Texas; Lieutenant-Colonel Ruff, commanding the Eighteenth Georgia, and Lieutenant-Colonel Gary, commanding Hampton's legion.

Respectfully submitted.

General: I have the honor, herewith, to submit the following report: The brigade, consisting of the First, Second, Ninth, Tenth, Fifteenth, and Coppens's battalion Louisiana volunteers, reported near Gordonsville, on or about the twelfth August, 1862, and was assigned to duty in the division of Major-General T. J. Jackson. Being the senior Colonel in the brigade, the command devolved upon me. I had command but one week, when Brigadier-General W. E. Starke reported for duty and took command. Shortly after Brigadier-General Starke's arrival, we took up the line of march and continued it until we reached the ford on the Rappahannock, near Brandy Station, on or about the twenty-first August, at which period we found the enemy strongly posted on the opposite bank. On the morning of the twenty-second we resumed the march, and crossed the Rappahannock at Major's Mill, on Hazel Fork, on the twenty-fifth; passed through Thoroughfare Gap on the morning of the twenty-seventh, and reached Manassas the same day. That night we fell back, and took position near the little farm called Groveton. On the afternoon of the twenty-eighth, the enemy appearing in sight, we formed our line of battle on the crest of the hill overlooking Groveton, and awaited his attack. The battle commenced at five o'clock P. M., and lasted until nine o'clock P. M., resulting in the repulse of the enemy, we holding the battle-ground. In this engagement, the Brigadier-General commanding the division receiving a severe wound, the command of the division devolved upon Brigadier-General W. E. Starke, and the command of the brigade fell upon me. On the morning of the twenty-ninth, being in reserve, we were not thrown forward until about twelve o'clock, at which time we received an order to charge. Driving the enemy before us, we again fell back to our position, remaining in it during the night. On the morning of the thirtieth, Brigadier-General W. E. Starke ordered me to send half of one of my regiments forward and occupy the railroad cut as a point of observation, to be held at all hazards. About eight o'clock in the morning, the enemy commenced throwing forward large bodies of skirmishers into the woods on our left, who quickly formed themselves into regiments and moved forward by brigade to the attack, and massing a large body of troops at this point, with the evident design of forcing us from our position. They made repeated charges on us while in this position but were compelled to retire in confusion, sustaining heavy loss and gaining nothing. It was at this point that the ammunition of the brigade gave out; the men procured some from the dead bodies of their comrades, but the supply was not sufficient, and, in the absence of ammunition, the men fought with rocks and held their position. The enemy retreated, and we pressed forward to the turnpike road, there halted and camped for the night. On the thirty-first we took up the line of march, and, on the first of September, at Chantilly, we again met the enemy and repulsed them. We resumed our line of march; passed through Dranesville and Leesburg; crossed