As ordered, I formed
my regiment from hill-top to hill-top at open intervals to move in rear of
Colonel Rains' regiment and support him. Lieutenant-Colonel Miller was ordered
to take command of the left wing, composed of Companies A, D, F, and I,
commanded by Captains Hoyle, Finch, Hunter, and Mathews, and for the movements
of said companies upon the field I refer you to the report of
Lieutenant-Colonel Miller, which is hereto appended and made a part of my
report.* The six companies, viz, B, C, E, G, H, and K, commanded by Captains
Marks, McDearman, and Armstrong, and Lieutenants Davis, Holden, and Harrison,
constituting the right wing, were under my immediate command, and moved forward
in line of battle in the direction of the heights in front of our position.
Upon reaching a
point within eighty yards of the heights, we discovered a number of men
ascending the heights and entering the fortifications, but supposing these men
to be a portion of Colonel Rains' command, I did not order them to be fired
upon.
At this point we
received a heavy volley of rifles and musketry. The command moved on, however,
without returning the fire, until within forty paces of the enemy's works,
before we discovered they were not Colonel Rains' men, at which time the men
were ordered to cover as well as they could and to return the enemy's fire. In
this position we maintained a heavy fire for twenty-five minutes, when I
ordered Captain Armstrong and Lieutenant Harrison to move their companies
around to my extreme right, to prevent a flank movement of the enemy, which I
saw they were about to make. These officers executed the order with promptness
and alacrity under fire. The fire was kept up by all the companies for an hour
and ten minutes, and seeing that it was impossible to fall back without great
loss, I ordered the works to be charged. Four companies gallantly charged the
works as ordered, officers and men seemingly vieing with each other as to who
should be first to reach the works of the enemy.
After the
fortification was reached, and many of my men had got within the works, driving
the enemy from the first parallel, not receiving any support, and being nearly destitute of
cartridges, I ordered my command to fall back, which it did in good order.
While this was being executed the other two companies maintained their position
as ordered.
I take pleasure in
stating that the officers and men all acted with great coolness and firmness,
such as would do credit to veteran troops, and for more than an hour sustained
a heavy fire.
Killed, 11; wounded,
34.
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
* Not found.
