Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/54

42 in killed and wounded and a large number of prisoners sent to our rear. We suffered severely from the enemy's batteries and musketry in this attack. While we were in pursuit, a strong force of the enemy appeared on my right flank and rear. We changed our front to meet this force. General Gordon continued the pursuit of the enemy toward the town. We met the force on our right, attacked and routed him, pursuing him across the plain in front of Gettysburg; but few of this force escaped us. We then moved towards the "Theological College," to the right of Gettysburg, where the brigades of Generals Daniel, Ramseur, Iverson and Colonel O'Neal were engaged with the enemy. As we advanced towards the enemy—our position at that time being on his right flank—the enemy withdrew his forces from the College hill to the railroad. We then moved rapidly by the left flank to cut him off from the town. We did not succeed, as he retired faster than we advanced. We followed as far as the outer edge of town, when I received an order to halt the column, and to form line of battle in the street running east and west through the town. We remained in line here until about 8 o'clock P. M., July 2d, when we moved by right flank, forming line and advancing towards the enemy's position on Cemetery hill.

This column of attack was composed of Generals Ramseur, Iverson, and this brigade. We moved forward until the line arrived within one hundred yards of the enemy's line. After consulting with Generals Ramseur and Iverson, the line was ordered to fall back to a dirt road, some three hundred yards to the rear. We remained in this position until 1.30 o'clock A. M., July 4th. We were then ordered to fall back to the heights near the Theological College.

This command was actively engaged in heavy skirmishing during the 2d, 3d and 4th July.

In the action of July 1st, Lieutenant-Colonel Winn was killed and Lieutenant-Colonel Lumpkin fell severely wounded (leg since amputated) while gallantly leading their respective regiments in a charge against the enemy. To Colonel Edward Willis and Major Isaac Hardeman, of the Twelfth Georgia regiment; Colonel J. T. Mercer, Lieutenant-Colonel T. W. Hooper and Major T. C. Glover, of the Twenty-first Georgia regiment; Major W. H. Willis, of the Fourth Georgia regiment, and Major W. H. Peebles, Forty-fourth Georgia regiment, I attribute the success of this command. The