Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 4.djvu/78

60 forced to leave this piece. Lane says of the fight of this section: &quot;Never were two guns served more handsomely.&quot; On their retreat toward Hanover Court House, this regiment found the enemy between it and the rest of the brigade and lost many prisoners. However, Webb's assertion that &quot;it was almost entirely captured,&quot; is far wide of the mark, as Lane reports that it reached its brigade on the Chickahominy with 480 men. Colonel Lane says of his retreat: &quot;Already exhausted from exposure to inclement weather, from hunger, from fighting, it was three days before the regiment, by a circuitous route, rejoined the brigade where it was wildly and joyfully received. It was highly complimented by Generals Lee and Branch for its behavior on this masterly retreat."

While Lane was engaged with Butterfield, Branch advanced his other regiments toward Peake's crossing and found the enemy stationed across the road. Branch thus describes his movements: &quot;My plan was quickly formed, and orders were given for its execution. Lee with the Thirty-seventh was to push through the woods and get close to the right flank of the battery. Hoke, as soon as he should return from a sweep through the woods on which I had sent him, and Colonel Wade, of the Twelfth, were to make a similar movement to the left flank of the battery, and Cowan (Eighteenth) was to charge across the open ground in front, Latham meanwhile bringing his guns to bear on their front. Hoke, supported by Colonel Wade, had a sharp skirmish, taking 6 prisoners and 11 horses, but came out too late to make the movement assigned to him; and Lee having sent for reinforcements, I so far changed my plan as to abandon the attack on the enemy's left, and sent Lieutenant-Colonel Hoke to reinforce Colonel Lee, relying on the front and right attack. Colonel Cowan, with the Eighteenth, made the charge most gallantly; but the —