Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 09.djvu/164

Rh

, May 13, 1864.

Major-General C. M. Wilcox, Commanding Division:

General,—General Lee directs me to acknowledge the receipt of the flags captured by Lane's brigade in its gallant charge of yesterday, and to say that they will be forwarded to the Honorable Secretary of War, with the accompanying note, and the names of the brave captors.

, A. D. C.

What General Early says about Lane's Brigade at Spotsylvania Courthouse, on the 12th May.—In his "Memoir of the Last Year of the War for Independence," &c., General Early says: "Before daybreak on the morning of the 12th, Wilcox's brigades were returned to him, and at dawn Mahone's division was moved to the right, leaving Wright's brigade of that division to cover the crossing of the Po, on Field's left. On this morning the enemy made a very heavy attack on Ewell's front, and broke the line where it was occupied by Johnson's division. A portion of the attacking force swept along Johnson's line to Wilcox's left, and was checked by a prompt movement on the part of Brigadier-General Lane, who was on that flank. As soon as the firing was heard, General Wilcox sent Thomas's and Scales's brigade to Lane's assistance, and they arrrivedarrived [sic] just as Lane's brigade has repulsed this body of the enemy, and they pursued it for a short distance." *  *   *

"Subsequently, on the same day, under orders from General Lee, Lane's brigade of Wilcox's division, and Mahone's own brigade (under Colonel Weisiger) were thrown to the front, for the purpose of moving to the left and attacking the flank of the enemy that had broken Ewell's line, to relieve the pressure on him, and, if possible, recover the part of the line which had been lost. Lane's brigade commenced the movement, and had no proceeded far, when it encountered and attacked, in a piece of woods in front of my line, the Ninth corps, under Burnside, moving up to attack a salient on my front. Lane captured over three hundred prisoners and three battle flags, and this attack on the enemy's flank, taking him by surprise, no doubt, contributed materially to his repulse. Mahone's brigade did not become