Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/280

266 In the act of taking their position the Regiment was subjected to a very fierce shelling from a battery of the enemy about six or eight hundred yards on our right which enfiladed our line; fortunately, however, we suffered very little loss from this, having but two men slightly wounded. I moved the Regiment forward about a hundred yards by your order, towards a road in our front and ordered Lieut. Lahew with his company to deploy forward as skirmishers into the woods and to engage the enemy who were supposed to be there. Very soon I heard shots from the skirmishers; your aid, Capt. Beckham, at this time delivered me an order to move my Regiment by the left flank and to connect my line with the 11th, occupying a cornfield, which order was obeyed. We remained in this position a few moments when Col. Stewart's Reg't, 56th of Pickett's Brigade, joined my right, immediately the Brigade on our right became hotly engaged; we reserved our fire, no enemy appearing on our front. After the fire had continued fifteen minutes, Col. Stewart reported to me, that the troops on his right had fallen back. I also observed that they had abandoned the left of the 11th. I communicated my intention to Col. Stewart and to Major Clemmons, of the 11th, to fall back about ten or fifteen steps behind a fence, which was simultaneously done by the three Regiments in good order. We held this position until long after dark, under a severe fire of musketry obliquely on our right flank, and in front until nearly every cartridge was exhausted.

Shortly after the enemy had ceased firing, about o'clock P. M., I received your order to withdraw my Regiment, which was done in good order, and halted to rest on the Boonsborough and Fredericktown road with the other Regiments of your Brigade.

In this engagement I was particularly struck with the determined courage of officers and men; they held their ground manfully against largely superior numbers, as far as I could judge from the heavy fire of the enemy upon our right and front. Those who deserve particular mention for distinguished gallantry and activity were Capt. I. T. Burke, of Company D; Lieut. Thos. Perry, of Company A; Lieut. S. S. Turner, of Company B, and Lieuts. Athey and Littleton, of Company C; Color