Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 07.djvu/125

Rh Major Wilson to collect some of the Second Mississippi bat- talion, and sent them on the left of the Twenty-eighth Georgia. Passing to the right where Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston, before being wounded, had attached some of his companies to the Fourth North Carolina, I kept on the right with this mixed command up to the earthwork and rifle pits, placing them to hold the rifle pits and use them in reverse.

Arriving there, my horse, which had been shot at an earlier hour, became now so disabled that I was compelled to abandon him—accepting the use of Captain Mannings' until required by him to go after ordnance. I then mounted an artillery horse, which was twice struck with musket balls whilst I was upon him. Finding Major-General Hill, my division commander, near me, I reported to him, and rendered assistance for a time in conducting the reinforcements now arriving to their positions, and in rallying such regiments or parts of regiments as wavered anywhere on our part of the line. My own command now upon the field was intermingled in the manner already stated to a large extent with Colonel Anderson's brigade. The Second Florida and Thirty-eighth Virginia, having continued in the fight until a late hour, were sent back, under orders to supply their exhausted ammunition, about the same time with the Forty-ninth Virginia. These orders were given to them by Captain Meem, my Adjutant-General, upon learning that they were without a supply, and the orders were ratified by me. Riding back at the request of General Hill to communicate with General Wilcox, whose brigade was coming up, I found that Colonel Smith, Forty-ninth Virginia, had been directed by General Longstreet to join these regiments with his own and carry them back to the front. I of course resumed command of them myself, and now take especial pains in justice to them to call attention to their good conduct. The Second Florida captured the colors of the Eighth New York and forty-five or fifty prisoners, with several horses; was leading the advance and with other troops clearing men and horses from the section of artillery planted near the road, which the enemy never afterwards regained. The regiment kept in the fight up to the enemy's camp on the left. (See Colonel Perry's report of their action, part of which I saw and all of which I believe to be correct.)

The Thirty-eighth Virginia captured the marker's flag of the 104th Pennsylvania (Ringgold regiment) and nine prisoners, including one captain, and kept well up in the fight with or near the