Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/64

 58 Southern Historical Society Papers.

mistake or forg^etfulness of the staff officer, whose duty it was to extend the order, I received no notice till after ii o'clock at night. I was then roused from a sound sleep by a courier with orders. These orders directed me to report immediately at Secessionville with the regiment. Upon coming out of my tent I found the camp astir, the men had in some (to me) unaccountable way got wind of what was about to be done. The regiment, except the Wee Nees, who were on the picket line, was soon formed on the color front. We marched to Secessionville by way of the bridge at Clark's house. When arrived, we found several regiments of infantry and batteries of artillery which had preceded us in line and ready for action. I was met by a staff officer, who directed me to halt the regiment and report to Brigadier -General A. H. Col- quit (the present United States Senator from Georgia). I found that officer with Generals Hagood and Ripley at the famous Lamar Bat- tery, all as cool and in as good spirits as if there was no serious work in hand. General Colquit was the ranking officer. I think that I was selected to lead the advance because of my thorough acquaintance with the ground upon which we were about to operate. Upon being introduced to General Colquit by General Hagood, he inquired of me —

" Colonel, do you know the road leading to Legare's ?" "Yes, General," I replied; "I know every foot of the island in our front."

" Well, then," said he, " march your regiment out of the works, deploy about two hundred and fifty men as skirmishers, hold the rest in reserve, use the road to Legare's as a directrix, keep your reserves well up with your skirmish line; when it is light enough to see about fifty yards, advance and drive the enemy till you are stopped by them, and I will assist you."

"Very well. General, I will carry out your orders." We then marched out of the Secessionville sally-port and to the road leading by the place where River's House once stood. Com- panies A, B, E, F, G. and H, were thrown out as skirmishers. and companies D, K and I, held in reserve. This disposition was made with as litde noise as possible, but in the darkness the right flank of the skirmish line was thrown too far forward, and encountered the enemy before we were ready to advance. A brisk fire was opened on our right by the enemy, which was promptly returned. It was now nearly daylight, and the signal for a general advance was sounded.