followed beyond Brandy Station, at which point a brigade of cavalry, under the command of the Federal General Bayard, was discovered drawn up in line of battle on a commanding hill, evidently determined to dispute our progress, and firing upon my advance column with long-range guns, (Burnside rifles.) As soon as practicable I ordered a charge, and led the Twelfth Virginia regiment, Colonel Harman, directly against the centre of their line, while the Sixth and Seventh were directed against their flank. The men charged gallantly, and after a brief hand-to-hand contest the enemy was routed, with the loss of several killed and a number wounded, capturing sixty-four prisoners, including several commissioned officers. Our loss was three killed and thirteen wounded. Colonel A. W. Harman and Captain L. F. Terrill were especially conspicuous during the engagement, as was also Major Von Borcke, Aid-de-camp to Major-General Stuart. Captain Redman Burke, attached to division headquarters, was wounded in the leg while charging gallantly with the Twelth Virginia regiment. My thanks are specially due to Colonel Jones for the admirable disposition made of his skirmishers and regiment during the engagement with the first main cavalry on picket duty. Very respectfully, sir, Your obedient servant, B. H. ROBERTSON, REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL ROBERT- HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE, ments of Virginia cavalry to reenforce Colonel Munford, leaving the Sixth, Colonel Flournoy, in reserve. Without waiting, Colonel Munford made a brilliant and dashing charge with his regiment in line, engaging the enemy in a hand-to-hand contest, which lasted until the Twelfth regiment had almost reached the scene of action, when the enemy commenced a general and precipitate retreat, being closely pursued by the Second, Twelfth, and a portion of the Seventh regiment of Virginia cavalry. Our men followed beyond Lewis Ford as far as the Centreville and Warrenton turnpike, when darkness put an end to the pursuit. A number of the enemy's dead were left upon the field. Colonel Broadhead, of the First Michigan, was mortally wounded in a handto-hand encounter with Lieutenant Harman, Adjutant of the Twelfth Virginia cavalry. We captured over three hundred prisoners. Our loss, five killed and forty wounded. The conduct of the field officers, as well as that of the men, of the Second Virginia cavalry, surpassed all praise. Sergeant Leopold, of the Twelfth Virginia cavalry, was in the thickest of the fight, and acted most gallantly during its continuance. He was wounded in three places. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, B. H. ROBERTSON, Brigadier-General, commanding Cavalry. REPORT OF COLONEL THOMAS, COMMANDING HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, LIGHT MAJOR: I have the honor to report that this brigade, on August ninth, 1862, was, by order of General Hill, turned from its line of march to the right of the road, and ordered to report to General Jackson; by the latter was placed in line, at rest, in the border of a wood; occupied this position a short time; then, by order of General SIR: On the afternoon of Saturday, August thirtieth, when the rout of the enemy had become general, I moved my entire brigade rapidly forward in order to press his left flank, and, if possible, to intercept his retreat in the direction of Centreville, by way of the Stone Bridge. Be-Jackson, reported to General Hill. By him the fore reaching the Lewis Ford, I observed a body of the enemy's cavalry approaching that point from the direction of Manassas. As there did not seem to be more than a small squadron, I ordered two companies of the Second Virginia cavalry, Colonel Munford, to move forward and attack them. The order was promptly obeyed, when it was ascertained that an additional body of the enemy's cavalry, whose exact strength, owing to their position, I could not make out, were concealed under the crest of a hill, in their immediate front. I then ordered the entire Second regiment to the support of the squadron already engaged, which had been driven back by largely superior numbers. Before this regiment had arrived in supporting distance of the squadron already mentioned, a full brigade of Federal cavalry, under the command of General Buford, had advanced to the top of the hill, where it was drawn up in line of battle. I moved forward immediately with the Seventh and Twelfth regi brigade was placed in a wood, with orders to support General Early, who occupied, at that time, the right of our line. After a short time, by General Jackson, it was ordered to take position to the front and right. While this order was being executed, a brigade in front of the Third was being forced back; one regiment, the Fourteenth Georgia, was ordered to support it; the Thirtyfifth, Forty-fifth, and Forty-ninth Georgia regiments occupied the extreme right of our line, with orders to hold that position. The advance of the enemy was checked, and this position was held until nearly dark, when an advance was ordered. We moved some distance through the field, and bivouacked that night upon the ground previously occupied by the enemy. On Thursday, August twenty-eighth, near Sudley Ford, this brigade was held in reserve by order of General Hill; was under fire, but took no active part, and, after the enemy gave way, moved forward and bivouacked for the night on the field. Early on Friday, August twenty-ninth, the march was resumed, with directions to be prepared for an attack near the railroad. General Gregg's brigade meeting the enemy there, this brigade advanced to his right, the regiments being thrown in successively until all became engaged. The enemy were in strong position on the railroad. We at once advanced, and drove them from it. This position we were ordered to hold, and, if possible, to avoid bringing on a general engagement, and held it against several attacks of the enemy in strong force during the day. In the afternoon, an overwhelming force attacked us, now almost without ammunition, in front and on the left flanks, and forced us back a short distance, when General Pender's brigade advanced promptly, and in fine order, to the assistance of the Third, most of which joined General Pender, and, together, they drove back the enemy some distance beyond our previous position, which was held until night, the brigade biv ouacking on the field. On Saturday, August thirtieth, we were ordered to take position near the left of the line, which position was held during the day against repeated attacks of the enemy in strong force. Late in the afternoon, the Third brigade, with General Pender's and General Archer's, was ordered to move forward in echelon; the enemy were driven back a distance of a mile and a half, and the brigade bivouacked that night some distance to the rear of the enemy's position during the day. On Monday, September first, near Germantown, the Third was ordered to the support of General Gregg's brigade. After a sharp conflict with a body of the enemy, they were driven back, and the field held by our troops that night. their patient endurance of hardships, cannot be commended too highly. I have the honor to be, Major, With highest respect, your obedient servant, REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL ARCHER. Major R. C. Morgan, A. A. General, A. P. Hill's MAJOR: I have the honor to present the following report of the operations of my brigade, in the series of battles from Warrenton Springs Ford to Shepherdstown, inclusive: WARRENTON SPRINGS ford, 24th August, 1862. the edge of a wood, until the division was reMy brigade remained in bivouac in reserve, in lieved by Hood's division about sunset, and although exposed to heavy shelling from the enemy's batteries, sustained no loss. MANASSAS JUNCTION, 26TH August. The morning of the twenty-sixth August, we arrived at Manassas Junction, when the division was halted in column of brigades to the left of the depot. My brigade was soon after ordered to advance in the direction of a retreating piece of artillery, and on proceeding about a half mile, came in sight of the enemy's infantry, which advanced a short distance in line, and then filed diagonally to the left, to a position near the hospital; General Jackson, riding up at that time, On September fourteenth and fifteenth, this with a battery, ordered me to support the battery; brigade was ordered to support General Pender, The enemy was soon broken, and retreated toward then advancing upon Harper's Ferry. We were the railroad bridge of Bull Run, closely followed exposed to a heavy artillery fire, which caused by a battery and my brigade, as far as the nature some loss, but took no active part, and had of the ground would permit the artillery to folmoved within a short distance of the enemy's low. I then, by order of General Jackson, sent works when they surrendered. At Shepherdstown, on September twentieth, we were placed in position on the extreme right of the line, and ordered to advance toward the Potomac River. Moving forward, we took position commanding the ford, remained under a heavy artillery fire until night, and were then ordered back to camp. Colonel R. W. Folsom, Fourteenth Georgia regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. Manning, Forty-ninth Georgia regiment, and Major W. L. Grice, Forty-fifth Georgia regiment, led their commands with a skill and gallantry highly honorable to them. Major Lewis Ginter, Lieutenant William Norwood, of the staff, and Lieutenant John Tyler, acting Aid-de-camp, performed their duties with gallantry on the field, and I take this occasion to acknowledge their valuable services to me. the Nineteenth Georgia regiment in direct pursuit, while, with the other regiments, I proceeded down the railroad track, and soon became engaged with the enemy, who made a stand on the opposite side of Bull Run, at and near the railroad bridge. After about a half hour's firing, I crossed the run, and advanced about a half mile, when I was recalled from further pursuit. I then recrossed the run, and took a position on the hill commanding the bridge, where I remained until about ten o'clock P. M., when ordered to return to the Junction. My loss in this action was four killed and seventeen wounded. The regiments of my brigade were commanded as follows: First Tennessee, Colonel Turney; Seventh Tennessee, Major Sheppard; Fourteenth Tennessee, Colonel Forbes; Nineteenth Georgia, Captain L. Johnson; and Fifth Alabama battalion, Captain Bush. MANASSAS PLAINS, 28TH, 29TH, AND 30TH AUGUST. With few exceptions, the officers and men of this command conducted themselves on the field in a manner highly honorable to them. Their The twenty-eighth August, after marching courage, their cheerful obedience to orders, and through Centreville, up the Warrenton turnpike, and across Bull Run, my brigade was formed in line on the right of and fronting a by-road, the direction of which was nearly parallel with the railroad cut. Branch's brigade was formed to my rear, and Field's on my right, and two batteries in the open field about three hundred yards in front. About five o'clock P. M., when the engagement commenced, I moved forward to support the batteries, and remained under a heavy fire of shell and round shot from batteries to the front and left, but without sustaining any loss, until twilight, when the artillery fire ceased, and the whole division moved by the right flank into the The next mornrailroad cut in the woods. ing, my brigade, with Braxton's battery, was posted on a hill on the extreme left of the division, with skirmishers thrown out to the front, and on the left flank. In this position it was not actively engaged, although it was somewhat annoyed by shell from batteries in front, but not in sight. About three o'clock P. M., I moved, by order of General Hill, to the right, until my right rested on a road which crosses the railroad at right angles, and remained there within supporting distance of other brigades of the division, which had been engaged during the day. 655 replenished our ammunition during the night, and next morning changed places with Early's brigade, which had come in on our left the evening before, and in front of which a heavy skirmishing fire had been kept up all the morning. I relieved General Early's pickets with one hundred and thirty men, under the brave Lieutenant-Colonel George, of the First Tennessee regiment, who is always ready and anxious for the most daring service. The firing between my pickets and the enemy's skirmishers in the wood in front, became so rapid and continuous, that, fearing my men were wasting their ammunition, I sent my Aid-de-camp, Lieutenant O. H. Thomas, to ascertain what it meant, and to stop unnecessary firing. He traversed the whole line of pickets, exposed to the aim of the enemy's sharpshooters, and returned to me, reporting the constant fire o'clock, the troops on our extreme of my men as necessary to maintain their ground. About right having become hotly engaged, I received orders from General Hill to draw out my brigade, if not already engaged myself, and go to the support of the right. But while I was receiving the order, the enemy drove in my pickets, and attacked my brigade. After returning his fire for ten or fifteen minutes, I charged across the railroad cut, and drove him back into the woods. No About four o'clock P. M., during an interval of one joined me in this advance except Colonel the assaults of the enemy, General Pender sent Smith's regiment of Early's brigade. General his Aid-de-camp. requesting me to relieve him, Early ordered him back, and my right regiment and with the consent of General Hill, who was (Colonel Turney's) returned with him. My reginear me at the time, I immediately marched ments obtained a fresh supply of ammunition down, and filed to the right into the railroad cut. from the cartridge-boxes of the dead Yankees, As my leading files entered the railroad cut, I and resumed their position in the line. About perceived the enemy advancing up it from the five o'clock in the afternoon, an order came left, into the wood. Unwilling to commence the through General Pender for a general advance. fight until my troops were in position, I did not I advanced in line with General Pender's brigade, call their attention to the enemy until half of my which formed on my right, through the wood into last regiment (Colonel Turney's First Tennessee) the open field beyond, where the enemy's bathad entered the cut. I then pointed out the enemy talions were posted. One battery, of six guns, on the left, and ordered that regiment to fire, which was posted about three hundred yards distant it did with great effect. The first fire of this regi- from the point where we entered the open field, ment was instantly answered by a furious assault and a little to the left of the direction of my adupon my whole front. At this time my own bri- vance. I moved on in the same direction until gade was the only one in sight along the whole about half that distance was passed, then swung line; but for twenty minutes or more, it firmly and round to the left, and marched in double-quick gallantly resisted the attack, and maintained its directly on the battery. My troops never for a position until the troops came up on my right moment faltered in their gallant charge, although and left, in time to save me from being flanked. exposed to the fire of two other batteries, besides Soon after the arrival of these fresh troops, we the constant fire of the one we were charging, charged and drove the enemy back several hun- and of its infantry supports. The enemy stood dred yards, and then quietly returned to our po- to his guns, and continued to fire upon us until sition. In a few minutes fresh forces of the ene- we were within seventy-five yards, when he abanmy arrived, and attacked us as vigorously as the doned three of his pieces, which fell into the first; they were as firmly resisted, and as gallant- hands of my brigade on the same spot where they ly repelled by another charge. At this second had been served so bravely. General Pender charge, many of my men were out of ammunition, overtook and captured the other three pieces. I and charged with empty rifles. I did not aver-left the pieces I had captured to be taken care of A third as- by whomsoever might come after me, and pushed age over two cartridges to the man. sault was met and repulsed in the same manner, on without halt against the infantry, who still my brigade charging upon the enemy with loud made a feeble resistance in the edge of the wood. cheers, and driving them back with their empty They did not await our coming, but had retreated rifles. It was after sunset when we resumed our out of sight by the time I had entered the wood. position, and we lay upon our arms that night, with a strong picket in front to prevent surprise, Here I halted and re-formed my brigade, and on moving forward again came up with General REBELLION RECORD, 1864. mishers, on the right of the road, soon became engaged with those of the enemy. I immediately formed line of battle, my left resting on the road, and advanced steadily, driving the enemy's pickets before us, until I approached the crest of the hill, in full view and range of their batteries, when I filed out of the field into the woods on my right, in order to flank the enemy's guns, and continued to advance as rapidly as the rough ground and abatis would permit, until it became dark, and I had become entangled in the almost impenetrable abatis, when I halted, and we lay on our arms, within four hundred yards of the enemy's batteries, during the night. Pender's, which had entered the same wood to the right of my brigade, and had halted for the same purpose. During the movement through the wood, our brigades had crossed each other's directions, and I found myself on his right, instead of on his left, as at the beginning. From this point our brigades moved on together to the Lewis house, where, a little after dark, we en- | countered, in the field to the left of the house, a body of the enemy's infantry, whose numbers we could not ascertain for the darkness of the night, and with whom, after they had to our challenge answered, "For the Union," we exchanged a single volley, and then drove them from the field. Here we found a large hospital filled with wounded, and during the night and next morning cap-been placed in position during the night, opened a The next morning, our artillery, which had tured about prisoners, and collected a large destructive fire, and while I was struggling through number of arms. In this engagement my loss was seventeen General Hill to get in rear of the guns, the the abatis, endeavoring to execute an order from killed and one hundred and ninety-six wounded. place surrendered. My loss in this action was Amongst the former, Captain Bush, commanding one killed and twenty-two wounded. the Fifth Alabama battalion, killed twenty-ninth August; and, among the latter, Colonel W. A. Forbes, Fourteenth Tennessee, mortally, on the thirtieth August, near the enemy's battery. Colonel Forbes died of his wounds a few days after. The regiments of my brigade were commanded as follows, viz.: First Tennessee, Colonel Turney; Seventh Tennessee, Major Sheppard; Fourteenth Tennessee, Colonel Forbes, until wounded, and then by Major Lockhart; Nineteenth Georgia, Captain F. Johnson; and the Fifth Alabama battalion on the twenty-ninth August by Captain Bush, and on the thirtieth August by Lieutenant Hooper. Among the officers whose gallantry I especially noticed in this action were Lieutenant-Colonel N. J. George, First Tennessee, and Lieutenant Charles Hooper, Fifth Alabama; and, among the privates, Dr. J. H. G. Quarkett, of Captain pany, Hampton legion, detailed as courier at my 's comheadquarters, who, after his horse was killed under him on Friday, fought with conspicuous valor, and private F. M. Barnes, of company A, Fourteenth Tennessee regiment, who seized the colors from the hands of the wounded color-bearer, and bore them bravely through the fight. My thanks are especially due to Aid-de-camp O. H. Thomas, the only officer of my staff present, my Assistant Adjutant-General being absent sick since a few days after the battle of Cedar Run, for most gallant, intelligent, and efficient service throughout the action. OX HILL, SEPTEMBER 1ST. At the battle of Ox Hill my brigade was held in reserve, within supporting distance of Gregg's and Thomas's brigades. Night came on, and the battle ceased before its support was needed. HARPER'S FERRY, SEPTEMBER 14TH AND 15TH. The evening of the fourteenth of September, my brigade, Field's, and Pender's moved from a point on the railroad by a by-road, toward the southern defences of Bolivar Heights. My skir as follows, viz.: First Tennessee, Colonel Turney; SHARPSBURG, 17TH SEPTEMBER. Ferry, being too unwell for duty, I turned over The next morning, after the capture of Harper's the command of the brigade to Colonel Turney, First Tennessee, under whom, with the exception of Sharpsburg, while I followed in an ambulance. of the Fifth Alabama, it marched to the battle-field This was a long and fatiguing march. Many of the men fell exhausted from the march by the way, so that when the four regiments of my brithree hundred and fifty men. gade reached the battle-field, there were only forming into line on the ground assigned to it by I resumed command just as the brigade was General Hill, on the extreme left of his division, but not in sight of any of its other brigades. Marching by flank, right in front, along the Sharpsburg road, the brigade was halted and faced to the right, forming line of battle faced by the rear rank. General Toombs was in line on the same road, about three hundred yards to my left, with open ground in front. In front of my position was a narrow cornfield, about one hundred yards wide, then a ploughed field about three hundred yards wide, on the opposite side of which scattering musket fire, through the tall corn, to was a stone fence. I moved forward, under a the edge of the ploughed field, when I found only the right regiment (the Fourteenth Tennessee) with me, the others having fallen back to the which was mistaken for an order from me. I reroad. Some one had called out, "Fall back," moved forward against the enemy, posted in force formed the line as rapidly as possible, and again behind the stone fence. In passing over the short distance of two hundred and fifty yards from the cornfield, I lost nearly one third of my already greatly reduced command; but it rushed forward alone at double-quick, giving the enemy but little time to estimate its small numbers, and drove him from his strong position. By this time it was nearly sunset. General Branch's brigade came down about thirty minutes after I reached the wall, and formed some thirty paces to my rear, where General Branch was killed, and Colonel Lane, assuming command of his brigade, moved it down to my left. The next morning, about nine o'clock, the little strength with which I entered the fight being completely exhausted, I turned over the command to Colonel Turney, reported to the MajorGeneral commanding, and left the field. My brigade remained all that day in the same position where I had left it, and on the morning of the nineteenth of September, together with Gregg's and Branch's brigades, formed the rear guard of the army on its return to the Virginia shore. My loss in this action was fifteen killed and ninety wounded; among the latter, Colonel McCowel, Fourteenth Tennessee, severely, and Captain Flint, Nineteenth Georgia, dangerously. The gallant conduct of both these officers attracted my attention, though, when all who were engaged behaved so gallantly, it is difficult to select examples of particular merit. Captain R. II. Archer, my Assistant AdjutantGeneral, though not yet recovered from a severe illness, Lieutenant Thomas, Aid, and Lieutenant Lemmon, Ordnance Officer, rendered brave and efficient assistance, and charged with the troops upon the enemy. The regiments of the brigade were commanded as follows: First Tennessee, Colonel Turney; Seventh Tennessee, Lieutenant Howard, Adjutant; Fourteenth Tennessee, Lieutenant-Colonel Lockhart, and Nineteenth Georgia by Major Neal. SHEPHERDSTOWN, 22D SEPTEMBER. I resumed command of my brigade the evening of the nineteenth of September. On the morning of the twentieth the division moved down to repel the enemy, who were crossing the Potomac at the Shepherdstown Ferry. Line of battle was formed in a cornfield, about three fourths of a mile back from the ferry. Pender's brigade moved forward in the direction of the ferry, and General Gregg's and Colonel Thomas's toward a point somewhere to the right. When General Pender had gotten about half way to the ferry, General Hill directed me to take command of the three remaining brigades, (Field's, commanded by Colonel Brockenbrough, on the right; Lane's in the centre; and my own, under the senior Colonel Turney, on the left,) and advance to the support of Pender. I moved straight forward until within a few hundred yards of General Pender's brigade, when, on his sending me back information that the enemy was attempting to flank him on the left, I moved by flank to the left, and the left regiment of my brigade, as soon as it was unmasked by Pender's, and each other VOL. IX.-Doc. 42 regiment as soon as unmasked by the preceding one, went in at double-quick. Colonel Lane's next, and then Field's, were in like manner, and with equal spirit, thrown forward on the enemy, killing many and driving the rest down the precipitous banks into the river. The advance of my command was made under the heaviest artillery fire I have ever witnessed. Too much praise cannot be awarded to officers and men for their conduct. The little corps, in this, as in all the battles, has displayed as much valor as any troops in the field. Lieutenant Shelley, commanding that corps, displayed his usual gallantry, remaining under fire in the discharge of his duty, after a severe wound, until ordered off the field. Captain Archer and Lieutenants Thomas and Lemmon, of my staff, rendered valuable and efficient assistance. We held our position until dark, when we returned to camp, and took up our line of march the same night toward Martinsburg. The regiments were commanded as follows: First Tennessee, Colonel Turney; Fourteenth Tennessee, Lieutenant-Colonel Lockhart; Seventh Tennessee, Lieutenant Howard, Adjutant; Nineteenth Georgia, Captain F. Johnson. The loss of the brigade was six killed and fortynine wounded. Respectfully, your obedient servant, J. L. ARCHER, Brigadier-General, commanding. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL PENDER. CAMP NEAR BUNKERSVILLE, VIRGINIA, October 14, 1802. Lieutenant-General T. J. Jackson: GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by my brigade in the battle of Manassas Junction, the two days' fighting at Manassas, the battles of Ox Hill, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, and Shepherdstown: At Manassas Junction, while lying under cover from the occasional shots from the enemy's artillery, a brigade of their infantry was seen approaching, upon which our battery opened, and they soon broke. My brigade being in rear and a little to the right of Generals Branch and Archer, I advanced so as to form an extension of their line of battle; but as they advanced upon the enemy, my brigade continued to move forward, passing by the hospital near our advance redoubts, and from thence, bearing a little to the right, in the direction where the railroad crosses Bull Run, going east; but when getting a little lower down than the railroad bridge, I changed direction so as to get possession of it. My skirmishers met the enemy at the river, and soon my whole brigade was engaged with the enemy across the river. I held this position for a while, and then threw two regiments across, preparatory to advancing farther, but at the instigation of General Hill, withdrew, going lower down, and crossing in order to cut the enemy off; but they had left before I could form on the east side of the river. Thus ended the fighting that day as far |