Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/95

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, August 20th, 1863.

Major, Assistant Adjutant-General:

Major—In compliance with orders received from division headquarters, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my brigade from June 4th, 1863, the time the division left Grace church, to July 20th, when, in consequence of sickness, I turned over the command to Colonel Brabble.

The brigade, consisting of the Thirty-second, Forty-third, Forty-fifth, Fifty-third regiments and Second battalion North Carolina troops, in all about twenty-two hundred men, left Grace church with the division on the 4th of June, 1863, and marched in the direction of Culpeper Courthouse, which place we reached on the 7th without encountering the enemy, and encamped three miles beyond the town.

On the morning of the 9th firing was heard in the direction of Brandy station, and I received orders to proceed in that direction. About twelve o'clock I arrived near Brandy station and received orders from Lieutenant-General Ewell and General Lee to proceed to the station and report to Brigadier-General Hampton. Upon arriving at the station I reported to General Hampton and was by him placed in line of battle about one mile in advance of the station to support some cavalry that had fallen back before the enemy—their skirmishers being at this time a little in advance of their position and their artillery firing upon the enemy at long range.

A short time after this I received orders from, the Major-General commanding the division to throw out skirmishers to the front and move my line some half mile to the rear. After remaining in this position a short time the enemy began to retire, and I received orders to advance my skirmishers and retire my line still further to the rear—keeping my troops concealed behind the hills during the movement. The enemy retired before my line of skirmishers.

About 5 o'clock P. M. I received orders to call in my skirmishers and move to a wood near the "Botts" house, and there go into camp. On the following day I left camp with the division, making a night march and moving in the direction of Front Royal, which place we reached about 12 M. on the 12th, and crossed the Shenandoah on the same day, taking the road to Berryville via Millwood.