Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/558

 552 Southern Historical Society Papers.

assailed point. Reaching near the point of attack a few minutes after it began, a part of Anderson's brigade and the two guns opened upon the enemy's left flank, whilst Gary poured in a galling fire in front ; the enemy wavered a few minutes, and then gave way in con- fusion, and fell back out of range for the day. The conduct of Gary on this occasion was very judicious and gallant. Only a portion of the enemy had crossed from Petersburg during the previous night, but all this day (August the 14th), from the elevation at New Market Heights, a stream of reinforceinents could be seen coming over. Telegraphing at once to General Lee, who was at Petersburg, the con- dition of things, he sent to me also large reinforcements which were reaching me at intervals during the 15th. During this day the enenn' made no attack, but were hard at work fortifying in my front, i^y morning of the i6th all my reinforcements had arrived and were in position, my line extending considerably to the left of Fussell's mill in the direction of the Charles City road.

There was now under my command about fifteen thousand troops, consisting of the permanent troops I have previously named, my own division, now immediately commanded by Brigadier-General Gregg, and a brigade or two each, I think, from Heth's, Wilcox's, Mahone's, and Pickett's divisions. I regret that I cannot recall just now precisely whose brigades they were, but one I know was Har- ris's Mississippi brigade, one was Girardy's Georgia, one w^as Vir- ginia, two were North Carolina, one commanded by General Conner, one Wright's, and the other I do not recollect. 1 should add that W. H. F. Lee's division of cavalry had also reported to me, and covered my left on the Charles City road I think it was about 10 or II o'clock A. M. of the i6th that the enemy made an assault in heavy masses on a part of my line about six hunded yards to the left of Fussell's mill. He had hit upon the most unfavorable point in our line of defence, for the ground was irregular, and what was of much more consequence, there was a dense forest of oak and pines in this immediate front, which we had only had time to cut away for a few yards (about fifty) in front of our works, thus offering a secure shelter to, and screening the enemy from our men till he got within fifty yards of our works. But he was met with a heavy and well- directed fire as soon as he showed himself through the bushes, and quickly withdrew. It was about a half hour after this, that whilst sitting on the ground with my staff and couriers, about one hundred yards in rear of the centre of the assault, with our horses hitched to some bushes close by, tiiat I heard a scattering fire and some cheer-