Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/202

 194 Sontln'rn J/>'*fur>'<-ttl Society Papers.

The loss of officers on July 2d placed Captain Fleming in com- mand of his regiment, which he led in the charge of the 3d imme- diately after the repulse of Pickett. Speaking of it afterward to the author, he said that, in leading the 2d Florida in this charge, he ex- perienced the happiest moments of his life.

After making the charge on the 3d, being compelled by over- whelming numbers and want of support to retreat and give up the position gained at such fearful cost, Captain Fleming and Captain William E. McCaslan, of the 2d Florida (the latter Acting Assistant Adjutant-General of the brigade), were leisurely and gloomily retir- ing side by side to the former position of the Confederate lines, dis- cussing the terrible ordeal of battle through which they had passed during the last two days; McCaslan remarked that, no matter how one escaped the dangers of any particular battle, he was exposed to the same in the next, and it seemed impossible to pass in safety through them all. The words were scarcely uttered when a shell from one of the enemy's batteries struck him on the head, and he fell dead.

Thus terminated the career of a gallant soldier and courteous gentleman, admired and respected, and his loss deeply lamented by the whole brigade.

The following is the report of the part taken by the Florida bri- gade in the battle of Gettysburg in a letter from Colonel Lang, of the 8th Florida (who was temporarily in command), to General Perry, who, at the time of the battle, was ill with typhoid fever:

" BUNKER HILL, VA., July 19, 1863. ' ' General Perry :

"DEAR SIR, I avail myself of this favorable opportunity of giving you an account of the part taken by the brigade in the Gettysburg fight of 2d and 3d of July.

"On the mofning of the ist, while marching from Fayetteville to Gettysburg (our brigade being the rear guard of Anderson's divi- sion), heavy firing was heard in front, and I received orders to pass beyond the wagons and close up on the troops in front. After this, the division was posted in the following order, two miles in rear ot Gettysburg, viz: Wilcox on the right; then Perry, Wright, Posey and Mahone. We remained in this position until Longstreet's coips arrived on the following morning. Pender and Heth had the day before (/. e., the ist) driven the enemy to his stronghold on the heights back of town, with considerable loss on both sides, our loss