Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/190

 Official Reports of the Battle of Gettysburg. 189

dark, having detailed companies E and I for the purpose, I sent three pieces of the artillery captured to the rear. There were three other pieces, two at one point and one at another, that I was unable to move for the reason that they were located between the lines of the enemy and our own, and were so much exposed that they could not be approached except under a murderous fire. While they could not be removed by me, neither could they be approached by the enemy, for the same fire that drove the artillerists from their guns and the infantry from their support, was ever in readiness to keep them in check and drive them back. With but two exceptions, to-wit: Private Childress, of company E, and Private Brooks, com- pany K, each and every man of the regiment proved himself a hero. Hundreds might be mentioned, each of whom, with reason and pro- priety, might point to his gallant acts and daring deeds, and the Lieutenant-Colonel commanding feels that he cannot call attention to the bearing of a few only of these without doing some share of in- justice to those not mentioned, and though he is urged to mention the names of Privates Salter, company I, Kirksey and Barfield, company B, and Barbee, company L, for great and striking gallantry, and does mention them; he feels that he is neglecting others of equal merit.

Private Barbee, though a mounted courier acting for Major-Gen- eral Hood, entered the ranks of his company (L) and fought through the engagement. At one time he mounted a rock upon the highest pinnacle of the hill, and there, exposed to a deadly raking fire from artiLery and musketry, stood until he had fired twenty-five shots, when he received a minie-ball wound in the right thigh and fell.

Having exhausted their original supply of ammunition, the men supplied themselves from the cartridge boxes of their dead and dis- abled comrades and from the dead and wounded of the enemy, fre- quently going in front of the hill to secure a cartridge box.

Many of the officers threw aside their swords, seized a rifle, and going into the ranks, fought bravely and nobly.

The regiment lost in killed twenty-five, in wounded forty-eight, and missing twenty. A list of the names of whom, giving the com- pany and character of wound (of those wounded) is hereto annexed as part of this report.

Respectfully submitted,

P. A. WORK,

Lieutenant- Colonel Com' d'g First Texas Rcg*t In Engagement of July zd, i86j.