Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/184

 Official Reports of the Battle of Gettysburg. 183

we did at a double-quick across a ploughed field for half a mile, the enemy's batteries playing upon us with great effect, until we arrived at a stone fence, behind which the enemy's first line of infantry was posted, which position we soon succeeded in carrying with the bayo- net. Then having reached the foot of the mountain, the command halted a few minutes to reform the line. We advanced up the mountain under a galling fire, driving the enemy before us, until we arrived at a second line, where a strong force was posted behind another stone fence. Owing to the exhausted condition of the men and the roughness of the mountain side, we found it impossible to carry this position. We retired in good order, though not until we had ex- pended our ammunition. Having received a fresh supply of cartridges about dark, remained in the enemy's front, some two hundred yards distant, during the night. Early on the next morning we threw up a line of breastworks composed of rock, and assumed the defensive, which position we held during the day, until late in the afternoon, when the regiment was ordered some distance to the right to meet the enemy's cavalry, which we soon dispersed. There we remained in position until dark, when the remainder of the brigade moved to our rear, and were ordered to connect with it on the right, where we remained until the morning of the 4th.

Both officers and men behaved with much coolness and gallantry, and many brave and good soldiers fell, a noble sacrifice to their country's cause.

The official list of casualties handed in will show the total of our casualties to be eighty-seven.

I am, Colonel, very respectfully, &c.,

L. H. SCRUGGS, Lieutenant- Colonel Com' d"g Fourth Ala.

REPORT OF COLONEL J. L. SHEFFIELD, FORTY-EIGHTH ALABAMA.

CAMP FORTY-EIGHTH REG'T ALA. VOLS., August jth, 1863.

SIR, I have the honor herewith to give a statement of the part taken by the Forty-Eighth Alabama in the battle of Gettysburg on the ad and 3d of July, 1863:

On the morning of the 2d inst. this regiment, with the brigade,