Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 07.djvu/308

300 All this was to be seen at a glance, and I moved promptly and directly on the redoubt across the open field. My movement had the effect that I expected it to have—they halted, unlimbered their guns and serenaded us with shot and shell throughout our advance, and on our reaching the work their infantry opened on us as we entered it. They then retired their line to the crest of the hill and formed on both flanks of the work that they had taken. I extended a line of skirmishers from the redoubt occupied by my troops to some distance into the woods, and remained in this position watching and expecting them for some three hours, for I thought that they would surely discover my real strength in a short time and move down on me. I advised Colonel Jenkins of my movement and position, and expressed my confidence in being able to hold the two redoubts, but suggested that more troops be sent into the woods on my left. He sent a detachment of the Fourth regiment to reinforce me, and with it I extended my line of skirmishers still further into the woods on my left. The enemy, however, did not advance on me; but late in the evening our friends did—Early's brigade charged my works from the left and rear. Nobody, either officer or scout, had come to the front to reconnoitre, and they did not even know where the enemy were. They charged me (two regiments of them) across the line of the enemy, one regiment against each of the works that my troops occupied. I did not know that they were near until they emerged from the wood on the charge, and seeing their mistake I rushed out to stop them and change their direction before they were exposed to the fire of the enemy; but they would not heed, and on they went until they reached my redoubts, when they for the first time learned where the enemy were. Two of Early's regiments were stopped in the wood and proper direction given to them (the Twenty-fourth Virginia and Hoke's North Carolina regiment). The two that charged my works were the Fifth North Carolina and a Virginia regiment commanded by a Lieutenant-Colonel Early—a brother, I was told, of the General. The Fifth North Carolina charged across the entire front of the enemy to the redoubt occupied by my two companies, and on finding it already ours, with scarce a halt, changed direction and advanced most handsomely against the enemy (my two companies joining them in the charge) to within, I think, at least fifty yards of the enemy's line, when they encountered a small fence, partly torn down by the enemy, and unfortunately