Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/532

520 line. General Trimble, with portions of his own and General Pender's staff, being with and taking immediate command of the movement.

The line moved forward through the woods into the open field, about one mile in full view of the fortified position of the enemy, exposed to a murderous artillery and infantry fire in front, a severe artillery fire from the right, and and an enfilade fire of musketry from the left. The line moved handsomely and firmly forward. The division in front gaining ground to the right, uncovered the left of Lane's brigade, which caused it to advance more rapidly than the rest of the line. This was checked by an order from General Trimble. When within a few hundred yards of the enemy's works, the line in front being entirely gone, the division moved rapidly up, connecting with the troops on the right, still stubbornly contesting the ground with the enemy, reserving their fire until within easy range, and then opening with telling effect, driving the artillerists from their guns, completely silencing them, and breaking the line of supports formed on the crest of the hill. All the guns in the immediate front of the division were silenced, and the infantry had fallen behind their second and third lines of defence, when the division advancing in an oblique direction, the extreme right of which had reached the works, was compelled to fall back, the troops on the right having already gone, exposing the line to a very deadly fire from that direction immediately on the flank, and a large column of infantry appearing on the left, that flank also became exposed. The two extreme left regiments of Lane's brigade, under Colonels Avery and Barry, advanced some minutes after the rest of the line had given way, and fell back under direct orders.

The gallantry and impetuosity of the brigades of the division engaged in this attack drew from their veteran and wounded commander the highest compliments, as it won the admiration of all who witnessed them.

Lane's veteran troops advanced with that enthusiasm and firmness which had characterized them on every field which has made the soil of Virginia historic, under the immediate supervision of their brigade commander. And the brigade of General Scales, yet weak from the terrible loss it sustained at Chancellorsville, and one-half of the remaining numbers killed or wounded in the attack on the 1st, including the brigade commander and all the field officers save one, who was wounded in this attack, yet moved forward with characteristic gallantry, and its right touched the enemy's line of works and gave way only when the whole force on the right was gone, and the enemy from numerous batteries crowning every height was decimating its reduced ranks.