Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/438

 Colonel Hagood's Report of Campaign of 1864. 437

ing the men and wasting their energies at a time when both should have been economized for the struggle on the parapet. I was op- posed to this; but believing it to be an order, acquiesced. The enemy shortly opened fire on us, which increased in effect every moment, and soon began to tell fearfully on the ranks. At this criti- cal moment, the brigade which preceded us gave way, and rushing through our line caused irremediable confusion. Added to this, the village of soldiers' huts, which lay in our track, offered the tempta- tion to skulk, which many failed to resist, and which was impossible, in the confusion, to prevent. With those of my men who still ad- hered to their colors, I continued to advance until I attained a point within sixty (60) yards of the fort. Here, owing to the little sup- port which was accorded to me by the remainder of the brigade, I ordered my regiment to halt, and began firing, to divert my men. I awaited here ten or fifteen minutes for reinforcements, but their failure to come up, and the fearful destructiveness of the enemy's fire, impressed me with the necessity of falling back, which I ac- cordingly did. I rallied my men at the earliest practicable moment, and reported to the Brigadier-General commanding, who instructed me to return to my position of the morning. A short time after- wards, I was ordered to advance again on the enemy, bearing to the left, so as to strike his works on the right of Colonel Walker's regiment, which was reported as having gained them. I executed this order, but discovered no enemy this side of the fort; the flank- work having been manned by only a line of skirmishers who were driven from it by Law's brigade before the arrival of Walker.

After dark we were withdrawn to our old position. My losses in this engagement amounted to three officers and ten men killed, nine officers and sixty-two men wounded.

Two days later, we threw up a line of works in advance of our old position. In doing this I had one (r) man killed and two (2) wounded.

At sunrise on the morning of the 7th of October, we attacked the enemy on the Darbytown Road, and drove him from two lines of works. My regiment and Colonel Bowen's were advanced to storm the redoubt on the enemy's extreme right, occupied by his dis- mounted cavalry, which was carried in fine style. General Field then directed me to change front to the right, and attack in flank with the two (2) regiments (Second and First) a redoubt further to the right which was defying the efforts of Anderson's entire brigade. I executed this order, the men charging with great spirit and driving