Col. J. J. Dickison, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 11.2, Florida
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[151] confined chiefly to Archer's brigade. When Longstreet arrived we were advanced to the front and posted on the right of town, in full view of the enemy's batteries, strongly posted beyond an open field, one mile in our front. While taking this position, Wilcox engaged three or four regiments of the enemy posted in a wood on our right, but, after a fight of ten or fifteen minutes, the Ninth Alabama drove them back, and we received orders to hold our position, without pressing the, enemy, until Longstreet could come into position on our right. He came into position and engaged the enemy about 3 o'clock p. m., our line being similar to the one formed in the rear of Fredericksburg after the Chancellorsville fight—that is, Longstreet on the right and Ewell on the left, almost confronting each other and forming nearly a right angle with Hill, in the center. We received orders to conform our lines to Longstreet's movement and advance with him. About 4:30 p. m. Longstreet having advanced to Wilcox, he swung his right forward and advanced. As soon as his left reached my right, I conformed to the movement and advanced at double-quick upon the strongly fortified position in front, exposed to artillery and musketry fire from the start. About half way across the field the enemy had a line of batteries strongly supported by infantry. Our men suffered terribly, but advanced nobly to the charge. We swept over the batteries without once halting, capturing most of the guns and putting the infantry to rout with great loss. Indeed, I do not remember having seen anywhere before the dead lying thicker then where the Federal infantry attempted to take a stand.

Pressing rapidly on after the flying Yankees we arrived behind a small growth of timber at the foot of the heights. Here I called a halt in order to allow the men to catch breath and reform our line before charging a battery and infantry in our front and below the heights. While reforming my line a heavy column was thrown against Wilcox, forcing him back. I held my ground until the enemy had advanced more than 100 yards to my rear and were about to cut off my retreat, when I gave the order to fall back. Unfortunately there was no ground which offered any protection short of the place from which we had advanced, and we were compelled to give up all the ground we had gained. This, however,