Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 8.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

At half-past 6 o'clock, on the morning of the 12th, we left our bivouac and took the position assigned us on the railroad — my right being about two hundred and fifty yards to the left of the small piece of woods beyond the track, and my left resting on a dirt road which crosses the railroad near the point where it makes a bend. Several batteries were to my left and rear, and General Pender some distance farther back, my left nearly covering his right. When I had made this disposition of my command, I rode to the right of General Archer's brigade, which was posted in the woods some four hundred yards from the railroad, and informed Colonel Turney, who was at that time commanding, that there was an open space of about six hundred yards between us. I also informed General Gregg of this opening — his command, which was to have been my support, being on the Military road opposite this [397] opening, and some five or six hundred yards from the railroad. I subsequently met General A. P. Hill, and spoke to him of our relative positions.

Nothing of interest occurred on Friday and Friday night. Saturday morning I ordered the Seventh and Eighteenth regiments beyond the railroad to support three batteries which had been placed on a hill immediately in their front. Lieutenant-Colonel Hill at once approached the captain of one of the batteries, told him he would insure its safety against any attempt on the part of the enemy to capture it, and that he must let him know when he wished him to move to the front. As soon as the fog lifted, heavy skirmishing commenced along my whole line, and the enemy were seen advancing. Our skirmishers, with the exception of Captain Turner's company on the left, fell back. The batteries just alluded to opened with telling effect and checked their advance. During the firing, Captain Turner withdrew his company, as his men were suffering, and rejoined his regiment. Several pieces of the artillery, after firing a few rounds, hurried from the field, saying they were “choked.” On intimation from one of the Captains of the batteries, Lieutenant-Colonel Hill promptly moved his regiment to the crest of the hill in front of the enemy, and delivered a volley at the sharpshooters who were in range, the artillery all limbering up and driving to the rear. The Seventh and Eighteenth both suffered from the enemy's artillery fire and at times from their sharpshooters. About two hours later, the enemy advanced in strong force across the open field to the right of my front. Colonel Barbour--his regiment being on the right — informed me through Adjutant Oates of the advance, and wished to know what he must do should he be flanked. On being ordered to hold his position as long as possible, he deflected his three right companies, and formed them to the rear at right angles to the track. I at once sent my courier, Mr. Shepperd, to inform General A. P. Hill that the enemy were advancing in force upon the opening--Captain Hawks having been previously sent to apprise him that their skirmishers were in front of the same. Eight regiments were seen to pass my right, and another to move “by the right flank by file left” between the same body of woods and the fence beyond the track. This last regiment then faced by the rear rank and opened fire upon my right. The three companies of the Thirty-seventh became hotly engaged, and General Gregg's command was soon after encountered on the Military road. Although our right was [398] turned by such a large force, our position was deemed too important to be given up without a blow, and nobly did both officers and men await the approach of another large force along our entire front.

As this force was concealed from the Thirty-third, Eighteenth and Seventh regiments by the hill about forty yards beyond the track, they were cautioned to reserve their fire. The Twenty-eighth and Thirty-seventh, however, had open, level ground in their front, and when the enemy had gotten within one hundred and fifty yards of our line, they opened a terrific and deadly fire upon them, repulsing their first and second lines and checking the third. These regiments were subjected not only to a direct, but to right and left oblique fires, that portion of the enemy's force behind the hill nearest the Twenty-eighth firing upon them. As soon as the right of my command became engaged with such an overwhelming force, I dispatched Captain Hawks to General Gregg for reinforcements, with instructions, if he was unable to send them, to apply to General Thomas, or any one else whom he might see in command of troops, for assistance. My whole command held their ground until the Twenty-eighth and Thirty-seventh had fired away not only their own ammunition, but that of their dead and wounded, which, in some cases, was handed to them by their officers. When these two regiments had ceased firing, the enemy in column doubled on the centre, bore down in mass from behind the hill upon the left of the Twenty-eighth and right of the Thirty-third, and the “power of numbers forced them entirely across the railroad.” The Twenty-eighth and Thirty-seventh being flanked right and left, fell back in an orderly manner, and were resupplied with ammunition. A well-directed volley from the Thirty-third checked the enemy for a time, and Colonel Avery ordered a charge, but being unsupported on his right, he countermanded the order and withdrew his regiment into the woods, about seventy-five yards from the railroad. The Eighteenth regiment then fell back about one hundred yards, the right companies firing into the foe until he reached the woods in pursuit. The Seventh, being on the left, fell back in perfect order. During the greater part of the engagement the enemy's artillery played upon the woods in our rear. While awaiting reinforcements, I sent my aid, Lieutenant Lane, to tell Lieutenant-Colonel Hill, if he could possibly be spared, to come to the assistance of my right, as it was heavily pressed. The right, however, was forced to fall back before the order could be delivered. [399] General Thomas came to my assistance, but too late to save my line. He encountered the enemy in the woods, drove them back, and, with the Eighteenth and Seventh regiments of my brigade on his left, chased them to their first position. The Thirty-third, in accordance with orders, held the position in the woods to which it had fallen back until I could move up the Twenty-eighth and Thirty-seventh, when all again resumed their positions on the railroad. That night the whole brigade was aligned on the track and skirmishers thrown forward, preparatory to a general advance. After the order was countermanded, my command rested on their arms until morning, when, having already been on duty upwards of forty-eight hours, there was heavy skirmishing along my whole front — a number of men being killed and wounded. We formed a portion of the second line on Monday, and as we occupied an exposed position, the men soon constructed a very good temporary breastwork of logs, brush and dirt, behind which they rested until Tuesday morning, when it was ascertained that the enemy had all recrossed the Rappahannock.

I cannot speak in too high terms of the gallantry of Colonels Avery, Barbour, Lowe and Purdie, and Lieutenant-Colonel Hill. They all commanded their regiments with bravery and to my entire satisfaction. Colonel Purdie was slightly wounded. Colonel Barbour received a painful wound in the neck, which for a time paralyzed his arm, but he reported for duty again on Tuesday.

The other officers, both field and company, generally discharged their duties well.

Colonel Avery alludes in high terms to the efficiency of Lieutenant-Colonel Cowan. Colonel Purdie, in his report, makes an unenviable allusion to one of his officers, name not given.

The Yankee wretches dragged Lieutenant J. W. Peters, Company C, Thirty-seventh regiment, some distance by the legs after he had been wounded in the head and leg.

The men of the Twenty-eighth and Thirty-seventh fought like brave men, long and well, while those of the other regiments calmly held their positions under a heavy artillery fire--one of the most trying positions in which soldiers can be placed.

I cannot refrain from making special allusion to our conscripts, many of whom were under fire for the first time. They proved themselves worthy accessions to a brigade which had borne itself well in all of the battles of the last eight months.

Captain F. J. Hawks, the Assistant Adjutant-General; Lieutenant [400] Oscar Lane, my aid, and Private James W. Shepherd, my courier, were of great assistance to me throughout the fight, often carrying orders and messages for me under the hottest fire.

Our ambulance corps was very efficient, and removed our wounded rapidly. Lieutenant James A. Bryan, Ordnance Officer, was untiring in his exertions to keep the command supplied with ammunition.

Our loss in officers was two killed, twenty-five wounded and five prisoners; enlisted men, sixty killed, two hundred and thirty-two wounded, one hundred and eighty-three prisoners and twenty-eight missing--an aggregate of six hundred and twenty-five.

Respectfully,