Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/569

Rh was myself on the right, and was wounded a few moments before, but seeing this movement to the rear went towards the left of my line to find it, too, beginning to break away—doubtless because they were abandoned, for the fire was not near so heavy as on the right. I ordered them to fall back to the crest from which we started. The fire on the right was most terrific, but fortunately the balls ranged high and my loss was less than I feared it would be. My regiments were in line thus, from right to left: Walker's on the right, Steadman, Hagood, Bowen, and Coward's on the left. My casualties sum up, in killed and wounded, one hundred and ninety (190). Nearly half of them occurred in the right regiment (Walker's); more than half in my two right regiments (Walker and Steadman's). I lost some of my best officers and men. Captain Quattlebaum, P. S. S., a most faithful officer, who has signally distinguished himself in this campaign, was here shot dead upon the field. Lieutenant William Norris, Fifth South Carolina regiment, a noble man and most worthy officer, was, I fear, mortally wounded, and fell into the hands of the enemy. Lieutenant Lewis, P. S. S., had his leg broken, and was captured. He has been heard from—is doing well, but his leg was amputated. The service has sustained a loss in these three officers. My command behaved to my satisfaction on this occasion, and officers and men have my thanks for their gallant and spirited conduct.

To my staff I am indebted for their prompt and efficient services. I was deprived of the valuable services of my A, A. General, Captain Serrel, early in the action. His horse was killed under him, and he was so much injured by the fall as to necessitate his removal to the rear. Captain Lyle, acting Inspector, and Lieutenant Judge, aide-de-camp, acted with their usual gallantry, and rendered most useful assistance. I left my brigade on the crest from which this last charge was made and did not get back to it until the 20th of November. During my absence it had been engaged twice—on both occasions successfully resisting assaults of the enemy. You are referred to Colonel Walker for a report of these actions. I found it, on my return, on a new line, between the Charles City and the Williamsburg roads, fortifying. Since we have been engaged in erecting winter-quarters and strengthening our works, until the 10th December, when we were ordered out to the front on what turned out to be a reconnoisance of the enemy's line about Deep Bottom. Found on New Market heights, between the Libby house and Big Spring, a large isolated fort with ditch and strong abattis around it; this was an outpost, and not the right of their line. Their right rested on the marsh of the Four