Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/411

 Hagood'a Brigade. 405

seventh, Lieutenants Ford and Vandeford and Chappell, of the Twenty-first, and Lieutenant Smith, of the Eleventh, are wounded, and Captain Axson, of the Twenty-seventh, was killed at the head of his company.

" I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

"JOHNSON HAGOOD, " Brigadier- General Commanding' '

" H'DQ'RS HOKE'S DIVISION, July 2, 1864.

" CAPTAIN In obedience to orders from department headquarters, I respectfully report that a plan of an attack upon the enemy was settled upon on the 23d June, 1864, which plan is fully known to the commanding general. On the night of the 23d June General Hagood was made familiar with the mode of attack sufficiently for him to make the necessary arrangements. No other officer of my command was aware of the intended advance. This precaution was taken fear- ing that by some means the enemy might learn our intentions and prepare for us. .'

" In accordance with the plan my arrangements were made, which are fully and properly given in the enclosed report of General Hagood. Dividing my forces to the left into two heavy skirmish lines, one to be supported by the other, and the whole to be supported by Briga- dier-General Anderson's brigade of Fields' s division, formed in line of battle behind the hill in rear of the entrenchments then occupied by Hagood's left. As was directed, the artillery from the batteries on the north side of the river opened fire upon the entrenchments of the enemy as soon as the morning mists had cleared away, and con- tinued its fire with great accuracy, but no execution, for half an hour. After the lapse of five minutes the fire of these guns was directed upon the batteries of the enemy, drawing in a great degree their fire from the advancing infantry, which, as far as I could see was the only service rendered by our guns. Indeed, I fear we were injured more than we gained by their use, as it notified the enemy of our in- tended attack. My intention was to attack immediately after our guns opened upon the enemy's batteries ; but as General Anderson had not reported I delayed, and immediately one of his staff-officers appeared, by whom General Anderson was informed that in fifteen minutes the advance would certainly take place, which would give