Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 04.djvu/244

236 of my own battalion, to fire upon the "Peach Orchard" position, while Henry's battalion accompanied and fought with Hood's division in its attack upon "Round-Top." The first-mentioned battalions opened fire from two pieces of wood, Cabell's on the right about six hundred yards, and my own on the left about four hundred yards from the enemy's position. At such close quarters the fight was most severe and bloody, and in some batteries the casualties were so heavy that I was compelled to get assistance from the infantry to work the guns after a half hour's fighting. The obstinacy of the enemy at last induced me to send for the remaining eight guns of my own battalion, till then held in reserve; but just as they arrived the enemy commenced to give way and the infantry charged upon them. These eight guns were immediately ordered to join in the charge, and Major James Dearing, who had come upon the field in advance of his own battalion (marching with Pickett's division and not yet arrived), was ordered to take charge of them. They advanced at a gallop to within canister distance of the retreating enemy, and did great execution upon him. The remaining guns followed as soon as the teams could be cleared of the horses killed; and our lines were formed anew upon the position from which the enemy had been driven, and whence we cannonaded him until dark. During the night ammunition was replenished, and Dearing's battalion, of eighteen guns, and the Washington Artillery, of fourteen guns, arrived and reported to me by order of General Longstreet, by whom I was directed to prepare for a general attack upon the enemy to our front and left. I accordingly placed in position the whole command of artillery, except a part of Henry's command, left to fight on the right, in one battery of seventy-five guns, extending from the Peach Orchard on the right to the point of woods on the left, where we joined with the Third corps. At 11 A. M. I reported to General Longstreet that the artillery was ready to open fire, and was directed by him to take a position whence I could observe the effect of the fire when opened, and at what I conceived to be the most favorable moment to order General Pickett to charge the enemy with his division, which was to inaugurate the general charge. I should have stated above that besides the seventy-five guns in battery, I had reserved only nine, under Major Richardson, who had been ordered to me with them