Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/85

Rh, when the whole regiment advanced steadily to their support. In this advance, Company B did distinguished credit to itself, and its commander, Captain R. S. Young, by the readiness with which it became aligned, and its marked steadiness in advancing under a very heavy fire. As we approached, Colonel Campbell ordered the skirmishers to form upon the right of the regiment, and the line advanced to a rail fence in front of the woods. Here we engaged the enemy, vastly superior to us in numbers. After holding this position for some time, and finding that he was not so rapidly reinforced as he anticipated, Colonel Campbell ordered his regiment to retire to the rear of the woods and reported to Major-General Hill for orders. The seven companies under Colonel Campbell, after driving the enemy through the woods, were ordered by Major-General Ewell to change their position by a movement by the right flank. After moving about a quarter of a mile, they were ordered to advance across a swamp and over an abatis of felled trees, up a hill, upon an entrenched position of the enemy. It was in this advance that our patriotic Colonel lost that life which was so dear to his whole regiment. The colors, when the advance began, were in the hands of Corporal Henry T. Fight, of Company F. He was instantly shot down, when they were again seized by Corporal James Harris, of Company I; he was also shot down, when Colonel Campbell himself seized the colors, and advancing some twenty paces in front of his regiment, ordered them not to fire but to follow him. Within twenty paces of the enemy's line he was shot down, when Lieutenant Duncan C. Haywood, commanding Company E, again seized our flag, the staff of which had been shot in two, and advanced to the front of the regiment. He also immediately lost his life, whereupon the flag of the regiment was carried out of the action by Corporal Geary, of Company C.

It was now nightfall, and Major Junius L. Hill, who had behaved with his usual distinguished gallantry, finding that more than half of our force was destroyed, and himself exhausted by long action and a severe shock from one of the enemy's bombs, formed such of his men as he could collect and reported to me.

The flag which was borne during this conflict was literally shot to pieces, and bore upon its field the marks of thirty-two balls. This is the best indication of the heavy fire to which our brave men were exposed.

My portion of the command, which, in obedience to orders, had