Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/325

Rh in one of the brigades. About 9 A. M. the division was moved to the left about a quarter of a mile, and in the same order of battle was formed in the rear of Major Pegram's battalion of artillery, which was posted on the crest of a high hill, the ground between us and the enemy being like that of our first position. About 1 P. M. the artillery along our entire line opened on the enemy, and was promptly replied to; for two hours the fire was heavy and incessant. Being immediately in the rear of our batteries, and having had no time to prepare means of protection, we suffered some losses—in Davis' brigade two men were killed and twenty-one wounded. The order had been given that when the artillery in our front ceased firing, the division should attack the enemy's batteries, keeping dressed to the right and moving in line with Major-General Pickett's division, which was on our right, and marched obliquely to the left. The artillery ceased firing at 3 o'clock, and the order to move forward was given and promptly obeyed. The division moved off in line, and, passing the wooded crest of the hill, descended to the open fields that lay between us and the enemy. Not a gun was fired at us until we reached a strong post and rail fence, about three-fourths of a mile from the enemy's position, when we were met by a heavy fire of grape, canister and shell, which told sadly upon our ranks. Under this destructive fire, which commanded our front and left with fatal effect, the troops displayed great coolness, were well in hand and moved steadily forward, regularly closing up the gaps made in their ranks. Our advance across the field was interrupted by other fences of a similar character, in crossing which the alignment became more or less deranged. This was in each case promptly rectified, and though its ranks were growing thinner at every step, this division moved steadily on in line with the troops on the right. When within musket range we encountered a heavy fire of small arms, from which we suffered severely; but this did not for a moment check the advance. The right of the division, owing to the conformation of the ridge in which the enemy was posted, having a shorter distance to pass over to reach his first line of defence, encountered him first in close conflict, but the whole division dashed up to his first line of defence, a stone wall, behind which the opposing infantry was strongly posted. Here we were subjected to a most galling fire of musketry and artillery, that so reduced the already thinned ranks that any further effort to carry the position was hopeless, and there was nothing left but to retire