Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 5.djvu/63

Rh that success, the brigade of R. H. Anderson bore a most conspicuous part, and to describe its operations is now the writer’s duty.

The battle, which had been ordered to begin at an early hour in the morning, was not opened until Hill led his splendid division to the attack at 1 p. m. The four brigades of the division, Rodes and Rains on the south of the road, and Garland and G. B. Anderson on the north side, with Bondurant’s and Carter’s batteries, had beaten Casey’s Federal divisions with its supports, driven them back on the Federal second line, at Seven Pines, captured eight guns, and was now attacking the Federal line intrenched right and left across the Williamsburg road, at Seven Pines, running toward Fair Oaks. Pressing his attack on this position in front, and on the Federal left, Hill sent back for another brigade to co-operate in the attack, by moving along the railroad on his left and striking at the Federal right and rear. k In a few moments,&quot; says General Hill, &quot;the magnificent brigade of R. H. Anderson came to my support, and being ordered by Hill immediately on his extreme left, it began its effective operations. General Hill ordered Colonel Jenkins, with the Palmetto sharpshooters and the Sixth South Carolina, Colonel Bratton, to march through the woods beyond his extreme left to the railroad, move down it toward the Federal right flank at Seven Pines, and strike at the rear of that position, while the rest of Anderson s brigade attacked on the immediate left of Hill, between Casey s captured line and the railroad, Anderson directing his own and Jenkins movements. The sequel will show how remarkably well these battlefield orders were carried out. Jenkins, with his own and Bratton s regiment, and the Twenty-seventh Georgia, from one of Hill s left brigades, formed line of attack in the woods, facing northeast, and gallantly moved against a portion of General Couch’s division posted there. General Anderson, with the Fourth