Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/564

552 murder about the casualties of this month, and sad, sad is the regret, when death thus strikes the brave. We lost on this line fifty-three killed and seventy-two wounded, many of them mortally.

On the night of the 28th we were relieved, and took cars on the morning of the 29th on the Petersburg railroad for Rice's station; from thence we marched across James river at Drewry's Bluff to the vicinity of Fussell's Mill, and were put in position on the morning of the 30th to meet the enemy, who had made demonstration on that point, but found that he had retired on the night previous. My brigade was moved up during the day along the line of works over New Market Heights and put in position on that line, with its right resting on Four-Mile creek. We remained in this position, with our pickets well out in front, enjoying freedom from the presence of the enemy until the morning of the 13th of August, when the enemy assaulted and, after three efforts, succeeded in driving in my pickets, capturing and killing some of them. It was here that Captain Beatty, of the P. S. S., one of the most efficient officers of this brigade, fell mortally wounded; the enemy in his front were successfully repulsed, he was slain, and some of his men captured by the enemy, who had driven in the pickets on our left and came up in rear of his lines. I mention this as due to the gallant officers and men who were captured there. Our picket line was finally driven in, pretty badly mutilated. The enemy opened a furious cannonade upon our main line, which, however, did not last long. Our skirmishers were advanced, and they threatened his left, resting near the Yarborough house, which, perhaps, induced him to withdraw. While this was occurring here it seems that the enemy were moving heavy columns up the Darbytown and Charles City roads, which necessitated a sliding of the whole division to the left. I was ordered to follow and keep up connection with the brigade on my left. This was done, and night found my brigade with its right resting upon the Drill house and extending along New Market heights beyond the Libby house. On the next morning the affair on the left became more serious. The enemy succeeded in taking a portion of our line about Fussell's Mill. My already attenuated line was depleted to furnish force to drive them out. Two of my regiments—the Fifth South Carolina, Colonel Coward, and Second South Carolina rifles, Colonel Bowen—were sent down without delay, and, I was told by others than themselves, rendered most effective assistance in driving the enemy away and recovering our line. While this was going on on the left the enemy assaulted my line near the Libby house, but were easily repulsed by the picket line, aided by the artillery on the heights. In