Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 07.djvu/372

364 towards "the redoubt occupied by my (Colonel Bratton's) two companies," was or could have been made.

This regiment first appeared in the field at a distance of at least five hundred yards from the redoubt spoken of, to the south of it towards Fort Magruder, and of course at a still further distance from the enemy's line. The field was an open one towards and beyond the two redoubts held by Colonel Bratton's troops, and the view embraced its whole scope, including the extreme left redoubt or fort mentioned by Colonel Bratton as held by the enemy. Early's brigade officers had been informed by General Hill that there were two redoubts in that direction occupied by South Carolina troops. On emerging into the field the Fifth North Carolina regiment received a shot from a battery on the left beyond the two redoubts, and it promptly changed front to face that battery and to advance upon its supports. There being no indication of an enemy in its front before it changed direction, and the shot having indicated the position of the battery, the regiment was put in brisk motion upon its new direction; and supposing General Hill to be in the woods somewhere, where the centre of the brigade would be I dispatched Major Sinclair to state to him the posture of affairs and to ascertain if that was the battery he desired the regiment to charge, and to urge upon him to expedite the advance of the regiments, which had not as yet appeared on the field—for at this time the Twenty-fourth Virginia, being Early's left regiment, was already engaged with the enemy to our left-front. Its firing could be seen and heard, and showed plainly where the enemy was. General Hill's order to me was, yes, to assail that battery with the bayonet, and do it quickly. While still at some distance from the two redoubts and while advancing at double-quick, Captain Sam. Early, of General Early's staff, rode to me from General Early. He came from, the nearest redoubt, where Colonel Bratton was, and informed me that the General had been wounded and was obliged to retire, and that he directed me to advance as rapidly as possible, as the command of the brigade had devolved upon me. When nearing the redoubts, as my line of march would bring me between them, I requested Lieutenant-Colonel Badham, who was on the right of the regiment, to push forward to the redoubt on the right and notify the officer in command, who I had heard was Colonel Coward, that we were friends, advancing to attack the enemy, and he did so. It would seem, therefore, to be perfectly clear that in so far as the Fifth North Carolina is concerned, Colonel Bratton could not have