Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 04.djvu/190

182 yards between this regiment and the right of the Seventh, and into this the enemy was forcing his way, causing the Seventh to swing back more and more, still fighting, at a distance not exceeding thirty paces, until the two wings were doubled on each other, or nearly so.

Finding that the battery on my left had been silenced, I sent for the Second South Carolina regiment to come to the right; but by this time the enemy had swung around and lapped my whole line at close quarters, and the fighting was general and desperate. At length the Seventh South Carolina gave way, and I directed Colonel Aiken to reform them at the stone wall some two hundred yards in my right-rear. I fell back to the Third regiment, then hotly engaged on the crest of the stony hill, and gradually swung around its right as the enemy made progress around our flank. Semmes' advanced regiment had given way. One of his regiments mingled with the Third, and among the rocks and trees, within a few feet of each other, a desperate conflict ensued. The enemy could make no progress in front, but slowly extended around my right. Separated from view of my left wing by the hill and wood, all of my staff being with that wing, the position of the Fifteenth regiment being unknown, and the Seventh being in the rear, I feared the brave men around me would be surrounded by the large force pressing around them, and ordered the Third regiment and the Georgia regiment with them to fall back to the stone house whither I followed them. On emerging from the wood I saw Wofford coming in in splendid style. My left wing had held the enemy in check along their front and lost no ground. The enemy gave way at Wofford's advance, and with him the whole of my left wing advanced to the charge, sweeping the enemy before them, without a moment's stand, across the stone wall beyond the wheat field, up to the foot of the mountain. At the same time, my Fifteenth regiment and part of Semmes' brigade pressed forward on the right to the same point. Going back to the stone wall near my rear, I found Colonel Aiken in position, and at the stone building found the Third South Carolina and the regiment of Semmes' brigade. I moved them up to the stone wall, and finding that Wofford's men were coming out, I retained them at that point to check any attempt of the enemy to advance. It was now near nightfall, and the operations of the day were over. Gathering all