Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/30

 Gregg's Brigade in the Second Battle of Manassas. 29

(the Thirteenth) and ourselves. We had no time to form a regular line to meet them, but such as proved itself equal to the task was 'soon filled up. I directed companies A C and L to wheel to the right, which, with their reduced numbers, just filled in the space between Colonel Edwards and ourselves. He, too, formed some of his men to the right. The enemy pressed in on us in pursuit of the troops on our right, which had been broken. But they met desperate resistance. They came upon us in ten and twenty paces, but our men stood gallantly to their posts. The work of death was terrific, but as each man fell, his place was filled by another. Here Captain Barksdale, Lieutenant Munro, Lieutenant Hewitson.and Ser- geant Smith, Company C, distinguished themselves by their gallantry and efficiency. But the unequal fight could not long have been maintained. Fortunately, just at this time Colonel Barnes with the Twelfth came to our assistance. With a shout the Twelfth came charging with the bayonet, and the Georgians having rallied behind and supporting him, the enemy gave way, and were driven back across the woods from which they came."

I am glad, my comrades of the Twelfth, that I happened to have preserved the copy of the report made by me at the time, as it en- ables me thus to supply an omission in the facts furnished General McGowan when, after the deaths of General Gregg and Colonel Barnes, and the loss of all the reports that had been made, he was called upon, in the absence, too, of those who could have given him the information, to make the report of the brigade. I am sure we are indebted to him for the admirable report he made. I am sure, too, it is no disparagement of our friends of the Fourteenth, nor lack of full appreciation of their gallant conduct, mentioned by General Jackson, when I claim for Colonel Barnes and yourselves the dis- tinguished part the Twelfth bore in that action.

I recollect, just before the battle, Colonel Barnes saying to me that he intended to use the bayonet on every opportunity. He said he thought long-taw firing a mistake on our part; that it wasted ammuni- tion, which was a matter of great consequence to us, and more than that, lost to us the advantages of the elan of our troops, which he thought greater than that of the enemy, and he was determined, therefore, to close with him whenever the occasion offered. When, then, Grover and his New Englanders broke in upon our neighbors and threatened to cut off our brigade from the corps, I looked anxiously for the Twelfth, which I knew was lying just in our rear. I did not have to wait long. Up you were in a moment, and Col- onel Barnes, true to his purpose, gave the order for the charge without stopping to fire. General Gordon is enthusiastic over the charge of Grover' s brigade, but I think if he could have seen the Twelfth as they rose with a rush and a shout, and with cold steel