Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/198

 Official Reports of the Battle of Gettysburg. 197

right of the brigade, and charged the enemy three times. We were repulsed the first charge because the men were completely exhausted when they made it, having double quicked a distance of some four hundred yards under a severe shelling and a scorching sun. The second and third charges were made in gallant style, driving the enemy from their position and into their stronghold in the mountain which was impregnable. We retired in good order, night having come on. We were relieved on the next day, 3d inst. by Semmes's brigade, and sent to the extreme right of the line, where we charged the enemy at about 3 o'clock P. M., driving them before us until they were no longer to be found. Our loss during both fights was one hundred and sixteen. Captain M. G. Bass was in command of the regiment after the second charge on the 2d inst. and remained so until we left Gettysburg (Colonel Brown having been wounded in the second charge). I was stunned by the explosion of a shell in the commencement of the engagement and was not able to take com- mand of the regiment in person.

Very respectfully,

B. H, GEE, Major Commanding Regiment.

REPORT OF COLONEL W. S. SHEPHERD, SECOND GEORGIA.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND GEORGIA REGIMENT,

July ayth, 1863. Lieutenant H. H. PERRY,

A. A. A. General:

I have the honor to make the following report of the conduct of the Second Georgia regiment, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William T. Harris, during the sanguinary battle near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania :

After a most tiresome march through the mountains, this regiment, belonging to Benning's brigade, arrived at 12, night, in the neighbor- hood of the scene of an engagement which took place on the ist inst., where it was permitted to bivouac for a few hours. At 3 A. M. it resumed the march, and again halted after proceeding some three miles. At i P. M. it again took up the line of march, moving by a circuitous route to the right. Notwithstanding the extreme heat, and the fatiguing march, the officers and men of this regiment moved