Alfred Roman, The military operations of General Beauregard in the war between the states, 1861 to 1865

[466] Colonels Preston, Manning, Chestnut, Miles, Rice, Heyward, and Chisolm—to whom I tender my thanks for their unflagging, intelligent, and fearless discharge of the laborious, responsible duties intrusted to them. To Lieutenant S. W. Ferguson, Aide-de-Camp, and Colonel Heyward, who were habitually at my side from 12 noon until the close of the battle, my special acknowledgments are due. The horse of the former was killed under him by the same shell that wounded that of the latter. Both were eminently useful to me, and were distinguished for coolness and courage, until the enemy finally gave way and fled in wild disorder in every direction—a scene the President of the Confederacy had the high satisfaction of witnessing, as he arrived upon the field at that exultant moment.

I also received, from the time I reached the front, such signal service from H. E. Peyton, at the time a private in the Loudon Cavalry, that I have called him to my personal staff. Similar services were also rendered me repeatedly, during the battle, by T. J. Randolph, a volunteer Acting Aide-de-Camp to Colonel Cocke.

Captain Clifton H. Smith, of the general staff, was also present on the field, and rendered efficient service in the transmission of orders.

It must be permitted me here to record my profound sense of my obligation to General Johnston, for his generous permission to carry out my plans, with such modifications as circumstances had required. From his services on the field—as we entered it together, already mentioned—and his subsequent watchful management of the reinforcements as they reached the vicinity of the field, our countrymen may draw the most auspicious auguries.

To Colonel Thomas Jordan, my efficient and zealous Assistant AdjutantGen-eral, much credit is due for his able assistance in the organization of the forces under my command, and for the intelligence and promptness with which he has discharged all the laborious and important duties of his office.

Valuable assistance was given to me by Major Cabell, chief officer of the Quartermaster's Department, in the sphere of his duties; duties environed by far more than the ordinary difficulties and embarrassments attending the operations of a long-organized, regular establishment.

Colonel R. B. Lee, Chief of Subsistence Department, had but just entered on his duties; but his experience and long and varied service in his department made him as efficient as possible.

Captain W. H. Fowle, whom Colonel Lee had relieved, had previously exerted himself to the utmost to carry out orders from these headquarters, to render his department equal to the demands of the service; that it was not entirely so, it is due to justice to say, was certainly not his fault.

Deprived by sudden severe illness of the services of the Medical Director, Surgeon Thomas H. Williams, his duties were discharged by Surgeon R. L. Brodie to my entire satisfaction. And it is proper to say that the entire medical corps of the army present, embracing gentlemen of distinction in the profession, who had quit lucrative private practice, by their services in the field, and subsequently, did high honor to their profession.

The vital duties of the Ordnance Department were effectively discharged under the administration of my Chief of Artillery and Ordnance, Colonel Samuel Jones.