Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/442

430 were kept a short distance in rear, as no place could be found from which they could be used with advantage. Of the ten guns in position, three rifles and two Napoleons were posted on the left of Anderson's division, and not far from Pegram's battalion, and on the right of these and in front of Anderson's left, at the distance of four hundred yards, five Napoleons were placed. These positions, separated by a body of timber, were about 1,400 yards from the enemy's batteries, strongly posted on an eminence. Immediately on my right were the batteries of the First corps. My battalion being necessarily separated, that part of it next to Pegram's position, consisting of three of Wyatt's and two of Graham's guns, was placed in charge of Captain Wyatt, while Captain Ward was directed to superintend the guns of his own and of Brooke's battery.

About seven o'clock on the morning of the 3d, while I myself was at the position occupied by Captain Ward, the guns under Captain Wyatt opened on the enemy's position. In a few minutes the fire of several of their batteries was concentrated on these five guns, and seeing that the contest was a very unequal one, and not knowing the origin of the order for opening, I directed the firing to cease. I afterwards ascertained that Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill had ordered it. In this affair Captain Wyatt lost eight of his best horses. A caisson of the enemy was exploded. In the general engagement that occurred about the middle of the day, the battalion participated.

Upon the repulse of our troops, anticipating an advance of the enemy, I ordered up the howitzers.

The enemy, however, failed to follow up his advantage, and got no service out of these useless guns. About dusk on the evening of the 4th the battalion moved in the direction of Hagerstown Maryland, where it arrived on the 7th. On the 11th the battalion was placed in position in line of battle, which it occupied till the night of the 13th, when, with the army, it fell back and recrossed the Potomac on the 14th. After remaining several days in the vicinity of Bunker Hill, the march was resumed on the 19th, and on the 25th July the battalion reached Culpeper Courthouse, and moved to its present locality near Mitchell's station on the 28th.

In closing this report, I refer with pleasure to the unexceptionable conduct of the officers and men of all the batteries in the face of the enemy.

, Major Commanding Artillery Battalion, Third Corps.