Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 03.djvu/235



Vol. III

In the Field, May 30th, 1864.

During the latter part of last month I received orders to break up my winter camp on the Sugar Valley road and move my division to the position assigned it in front of Dalton. I went into bivouac in Crowe Valley, and immediately went to work to complete the defences of the portion of the line allotted me from the signal station upon Rocky Face mountain on my left to Ault's creek on my right. General Pettus was placed upon the left, General Reynolds on the left-centre, General Cumming on the right-centre, and General Brown on the right. General Pettus was ordered to hold the mountain with a regiment of rifles. The movements of the enemy very soon showed that his greatest efforts would be against the mountain, which was, in fact, the key to my position; and accordingly, on the — instant, General Pettus was ordered to occupy the mountain with his brigade, and the vacancy in the trenches created by his removal filled by extending intervals to the left.

On the 8th instant, the enemy pushed forward his skirmishers vigorously, supported by a line of battle, against the angle in Pettus' line at the crest of the mountain. This attack was quickly and handsomely repulsed by that portion of his line which occupied the angle. In compliance with instructions from the Lieutenant-General, Brown's brigade was then moved from its position on my right to the left of Pettus on the crest of the mountain, who was thus enabled to contract his lines and strengthen his weak point—the angle referred to. Brown's place in the works was first