Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/190

 184 Southern Historical Society Papers.

siderable evidence in the field of the effectiveness of the fire of our men.

We remained in line of battle till about 8 o'clock A. M., were then put in motion and marched across a field and running stream to the hills in a northeasterly direction from railroad station. The Twenty-seventh led our forward movement, the Twenty-fifth followed, and the Twenty-first brought up the rear. General Bushrod R.John- son ranked Hagood, and had directed him to go into the woods and feel for the enemy. The object of the movement was not made known to the men, not even to the regimental officers. The men conse- quently moved off with their knapsacks on their backs, but soon discarded them and left them piled in the field before we reached the woods. There was a considerable interval between the regiments. We were not long in the woods before the Twenty-seventh was lost to sight. The Twenty-fifth had proceeded about one-half or three- quarters of a mile when brisk firing was heard in our front. The Twenty-seventh had struck the enemy and the fight had commenced. It was soon ascertained that Butler was advancing to attack us, and General Hagood determined to fall back before him to the line of the railroad. I was directed to halt the regiment and throw out three companies as skirmishers. I detached Company B (Washington Light Infantry), Company C (Wee Nee Volunteers), and Company K (Ripley Guards) and led them forward. The firing soon became very brisk in our front, though, owing to the density of the woods, we could not as yet see the enemy. Their balls were striking the trees all around and about us. As soon as I got our skirmish line well established I put it under command of Major Glover and rode back to where I had left the other seven companies. They were gone, and for awhile I was on the field without a command. I was not long in doubt, however, till I met an officer who informed me that General Hagood had withdrawn my seven companies towards the railroad. I soon overtook them marching back by the same route which we had come. The men recovered their knapsacks as we returned. I was directed by General Hagood to take post on the railroad with my right resting a little to the left of Craig's House, and to remain there till directed to move by him. During all of this time the firing in the woods, from which we had come and where our three companies and the Major were left, was very lively. We found ourselves in an excellent position, the battalion which I now com- manded being in a railroad cut, the sides of which were about breast high. The Tennesseeans were on our right and the Twenty -seventh