Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/529

Rh of a ravine to reform his line, and moved rapidly forward, preserving an alignment with General Scales on his left. Upon ascending a hill in front, this brigade was met by a furious storm of musketry and shell from infantry posted behind temporary breastworks, and artillery from batteries to the left of the road near Gettysburg. The brigade steadily advanced at a charge, reserving its fire as ordered, easily dislodging the enemy from his several positions, and meeting with little opposition, except from an enfilade fire from the artillery on the left, until it came within two hundred yards of his last position, the ridge upon which was situated the Theological College. The brigade, in crossing a line of fencing, received a most withering and destructive fire, but continued to charge without returning the fire of the enemy until reaching the edge of the grove, which crowns the crest of the ridge. Colonel Perrin here finding himself without support, either on the right or left—General Lane having been delayed by the attack on his flank, and General Scales' brigade having halted to return the fire of the enemy after their brigade-commander had been wounded—attacked the enemy determinedly in his immediate front with success, suffering greatly from an enfilade fire on both flanks, and then dividing his command by ordering the two right regiments to change front to the right, and the two left regiments to change front to the left, he attacked the enemy in flank, posted on the right behind a stone wall, and on the left behind a breastwork of rails, easily routing them, driving them through the town to Cemetery Hill.

This movement caused the artillery on the left, which had continued to keep up a constant and destructive fire upon the advancing lines of the division, to limber up and move to the rear, Much of this artillery would have been captured, but the two left regiments (Perrin's brigade) met a second force of the enemy posted behind a stone fence to the left of the college, which were easily dislodged, but not in time to intercept the fleeing batteries.

Too much credit cannot be awarded to Colonel Perrin and the splendid brigade under his command for the manner and spirit with which this attack was conducted. To the former the government has recognized his valuable services in a manner the most grateful to the true soldier, by a prompt promotion; to the latter, all who are acquainted with their gallantry on this occasion, unite in their commendation; to both, their commander, who fell mortally wounded on the succeeding day, was most enthusiastic in their praise.

General Scales on the left, with his left resting on the turnpike, after passing the troops of General Heth, advanced at a charge upon the flank