Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/329

Rh enemy, heavily posted behind a stone fence which ran along the abrupt slope of the height, some one hundred and fifty yards in rear of the pike. Here the enemy made considerable resistance to our further progress, but was finally forced to retire by the impetuous charge of my command. We were now within less than a hundred yards of the crest of the height, which was lined with artillery, supported by a strong body of infantry, under protection of a stone fence. My men, by a well directed fire, soon drove the cannoniers from their guns, and leaping over the fence charged up to the top of the crest and drove the enemy's infantry into a rocky gorge on the eastern slope of the height, and some eighty or a hundred yards in rear of the enemy's batteries. We were now complete masters of the field, having gained the key, as it were, to the enemy's whole line. Unfortunately, just as we had carried the enemy's last and strongest position, it was discovered that the brigade on our right had not only not advanced across the turnpike, but had actually given way, and was rapidly falling back to the rear, while on our left we were entirely unprotected—the brigade ordered to our support having failed to advance.

It was now evident, with my ranks so seriously thinned as they had been by this terrible charge, I should not be able to hold my position unless speedily and strongly reinforced. My advanced position, and the unprotected condition of my flanks, invited an attack, which the enemy were speedy to discover, and immediately passed a strong body of infantry (under cover of a high ledge of rocks, thickly covered with stinted undergrowth), which fell away from the gorge, in rear of their batteries before mentioned, in a southeasterly direction, and emerging on the western slope of the ridge, came upon my right and rear at a point equidistant from the Emmettsburg turnpike and the stone fence, while a large brigade advanced from the point of woods on my left, which extended nearly down to the turnpike, and gaining the turnpike, moved rapidly to meet the party which had passed around upon our right. We were now in a critical condition. The enemy's converging line was rapidly closing upon our rear—a few moments more and we would be completely surrounded—still no support could be seen coming to our assistance, and with painful hearts we abandoned our captured guns, faced about, and prepared to cut our way through the closing lines in our rear. This was effected in tolerable order, but with immense loss. The enemy rushed to his abandoned guns as soon as we began to retire, and poured a severe