Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 23.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

[50] Longstreet's column came up, and the leading brigade was formed under fire and thrown upon the victorious Federals. Here is said to have occurred the thrilling incident of General Lee's offering to head this brigade in person, and their refusing to advance unless he would remain behind. Others of Longstreet's brigades were put in as fast as they came up, and in a short time all of the lost ground was regained from the enemy, and in turn his left flank attacked and a heavy loss inflicted upon him. Our brigade was not hotly engaged the balance of this day, and no very serious fighting was done by any part of the opposing armies the next day, and on the 8th we started for Spotsylvania to put ourselves in Grant's front and intercept his march towards Richmond. At one time during the fighting on the 5th our regiment lay down behind a line of dead Federals so thick as to form a partial breastworks, showing how stubbornly they had fought and how severely they had suffered. It was a novel experience, and seems ghastly enough in the retrospect.