Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/242

 236 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Major Eshleman reports : " It having been understood by a pre- vious arrangement that the artillery should advance with the infan- try, I immediately directed Captain Miller to advance his and Lieutenant Battle's batteries. Captain Miller, having suffered severely from the loss of men and horses, could move forward only three pieces of his own battery and one of Lieutenant Battle's sec- tion. Then, with one piece of Major Henry's battalion, under the direction of Major Haskell, he took position 400 or 500 yards to the front, and opened with deadly effect upon the enemy. With the ex- ception of these five guns no others advanced."

GENERAL PENDLETON's EXPLANATION.

The chief of artillery, General W. N. Pendleton, gives this ex- planation of the failure of the artillery to support the attacking column:

' ' Proceeding again to the right, to see about the anticipated ad- vance of the artillery, delayed beyond expectation, I found, among other difficulties, many batteries getting out or low in ammunition, and the all-important question of supply received my earnest atten- tion.

' ' Frequent shell endangering the first corps ordnance-train in the convenient locality I had assigned it, it had been removed farther back. This necessitated longer time for refilling caissons. What was worse, the train itself was very limited, so that its stock was soon exhausted, rendering requisite demands upon the reserve-train, farther off. The whole amount was thus being rapidly reduced. With our means to keep up supply at the rate required for such a conflict, proved practically impossible. There had to be, therefore, some relaxation of the protracted fire, and some lack of support for the deferred and attempted advance."

WHAT GENERAL LEE SAID.

This statement is relieved of its ambiguity by General Lee, who tells the result as follows:

"The troops moved steadily on, under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, the main attack being directed against the enemy's left centre. His batteries reopened as soon as they appeared. Our own having nearly exhausted their ammunition in the protracted