Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 04.djvu/189

Rh Seventh South Carolina, as soon as we reached the cover of the hill I moved it a few paces by the right flank. Unfortunately this order, given only to Colonel Aiken, was extended along the left of the line, and checked their advance. Before reaching this point I had extended an order to Colonel Kennedy, commanding Second South Carolina regiment, then moving in magnificent style (my left-center regiment), to charge the battery in their front, being the second battery mentioned above, and which most annoyed us, leaving Barksdale to deal with that at the orchard.

Meanwhile, to aid this attack, I changed the direction of the Seventh regiment, Colonel Aiken, and the Third, Major Maffett, to the left, so as to occupy the rocky hill and wood, and opened fire on the battery. Barksdale had not yet appeared, but came up soon after and cleared the orchard with the assistance of the fire of my Eighth South Carolina, Colonel Henegan, on my left, and James' battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Rice, the next in order of battle. This brigade then moved so far to the left as no longer to afford me any assistance. In a few minutes after my line halted the enemy advanced across the wheat field in two lines of battle, with a very small interval between the lines, in such a manner as to take the Seventh South Carolina in flank. I changed the direction of the right wing of the regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Bland, to meet the attack, and hurried back to General Semmes, then some one hundred and fifty yards in my right-rear, to bring him up to meet the attack on my right, and also to bring forward my right regiment, Fifteenth South Carolina, Colonel DeSaussuere, which, separated from the command by the artillery at the time of the advance, was now cut off by Semmes' brigade. Its gallant and accomplished commander had just fallen when I reached it, and it was under the command of Major Gist.

General Semmes promptly responded to my call and put his brigade in motion towards the right, preparatory to moving to the front. I hastened back to the Seventh regiment, and reached it just as the enemy, having arrived at a point about two hundred yards from us, poured in a volley and advanced to the charge. The seventh received him handsomely and long kept him in check in their front. One regiment of Semmes' brigade came at a double-quick as far as the ravine in our rear, and for a time checked him in their front. There was still an interval of one hundred