Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/194

 193

men were in the best obtainable position .uul dooming a further ad- vance without reinforcements impr.iotioalile, a great many of the regiment having been already disabled, I looked for Colonel Powell to know his next order. Failing to sec him, I concluded at once that he, like many of his gallant officers and men, hat! fallen a victim to the deadly missiles of the enemy, which were being showered like hail upon us. I moved towards the centre, passing many officers and men who had fallen, having discharged their whole duty like truo soldiers. I had not proceeded far when I discovered the pros- trate form of our noble Colonel, who had fallen at his post his face to the foe. I hastened towards him, when I received a wound in my left arm. On reaching the Colonel I found that he was not dead, but seeing the rent in his coat where the ball had passed out, my fears were excited that his wound would prove mortal. The hemorrhage from my own wound forced me from the field, leaving the command upon Major Rogers.

The officers and men of my wing of the regiment continued to discharge their duties in a manner worthy of our cause so long as I remained upon the field, and from their conduct heretofore, I would not hesitate to vouch for them during the remainder of the battle. Captain Cleveland, of company H, was on the right, whose skillful management of his own company aided me vastly in the direction of my wing.

K BRYAN, Lieutenant- Colonel Fifth Texas Reg't.

REPORT OF MAJOR J. C. ROGERS, FIFTH TEXAS REGIMENT.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH TEXAS REGIMENT,

Near Hagerstown, Md. t July 8th, 1863.

Lieutenant J. W. KERR,

A. A. A. Gen't:

I have the honor to forward a continuation of the report of part taken by the Fifth Texas regiment in the action of the ad and .3d insts., altor the wounding of Colonels Powel and Bryan, when the command devolved upon me:

Tin- regiment still holding tin- position as left by Colonel Brvan, fiim- with arciir.u-v aiul deadly effect, the order came to fall back from some unknown source, and finding that the ro^imont, on our