REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL BENNING Very soon afterward his batteries commenced OF ACTION AT THOROUGHFARE GAP.

playing on the mountain. This they continued to do, short intervals excepted, until the close of the action.

The company of skirmishers was then posted as pickets down the side of the mountain. In a short time, they observed the enemy endeavoring to place a battery on the right of the outlet of the gap, at a point from which it could have commanded the south side of the gap as entirely as the batteries already established commanded the north side. This movement of the enemy was reported to me by Major Waddell, who, at the same time, suggested the propriety of sending forward the men of the regiment who were armed with long-range guns to fire on the enemy's party engaged in planting this battery. At once I adopted the suggestion. These men, numbering, I think, not more than thirty, immediately took such positions in front as they could find, from which the enemy's party was visible, and, at about four or five hundred yards, opened fire on it. Just at this time Colonel Holmes, with the Second, came up, he having received the directions he halted for from General Jones, and I ordered those of his men who were armed with

The brigade marched into the gap from Salem by the left flank. This threw the Twentieth Georgia in front, the Second Georgia next, the Fifteenth Georgia next, and the Seventeenth Georgia in the rear. When it entered the gap, the enemy were pouring into the gap shot and shell on the south side from two or three batteries, so situated as to sweep much of the railroad and more of the turnpike on that side. Soon after the Twentieth came under this fire, I was ordered, by General D. R. Jones, to take two of the regiments and to seize and hold the point of the mountain on the right of the gap. This mountain terminated quite abruptly at the gap, and was high enough to command its whole outlet, as well as most of the approaches on the side of the ene-long-range guns, about ten or twelve, to join the my. On both sides the mountain was very steep, and it was covered with a dense undergrowth of stiff bushes, mostly ivy.

i

others so armed. The enemy withstood the fire from these guns with much obstinacy, the position being evidently one of the very highest value to him. Finally, however, he gave up the attempt to establish the battery, and carried off his guns. But in a short time the attempt was renewed. This time it was soon abandoned, under our stinging fire.

As soon as I received the order, I sent forward the Twentieth, under Major Waddell, to the point indicated, and went back for the next regiment, the Second, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Holmes, and ordered him to follow the Twentieth as quickly as possible. The Second was then on I beg leave to say that, if this battery had been the railroad, and separated some little distance once established, the effect would have been to from the Twentieth, and the descent down the give the enemy complete command of both sides embankment of the railroad was difficult. The of the gap and a great distance into it, and also consequence was, that the regiment did not reach of the part of the mountain on which our two the point from which the Twentieth had started regiments were posted. It is obvious that from until the latter was out of sight. Colonel Holmes, positions such as these he could not have been consequently, halted there for directions. Mean-driven, except at a great cost of one of two time I had, as soon as I gave him the order, gal- things - time or blood; neither of which did loped forward to the Twentieth, which I overtook the state of affairs then existing admit of double-quicking toward the mountain through a paying. field, exposed to a hot fire from the enemy's bat- The Second Georgia was ordered by me to take teries. As soon as it reached the foot of the post on the right of the Twentieth, and throw out mountain, it was formed in line of battle, and pre-pickets as far to the front as possible. This order ceded at a short distance by a company of skirmishers, under Lieutenant Thomas, it commenced the ascent. This, though the ground in some places was almost precipitous and everywhere was covered with stiff bushes, it accomplished at a rapid gait. And it was well that it did so, for, when the skirmishers reached the summit, the enemy's skirmishers, supported by a line of infantry, were in sight, coming up on the other side. Fire was immediately opened on him by our skirmishers, and by the time the regiment itself arrived at the summit, short as that was, the enemy's skirmishers had commenced falling back, and directly their supporting line also withdrew and left us in possession of the mountain. If the enemy had succeeded in seizing this mountain, he would have had complete command of the gap. VOL. IX.-Doc. 43

was admirably executed by Lieutenant-Colonel Holmes, who posted each picket himself, in person, and far down the mountain side. The two regiments were small, the Second very small, and, when stretched to the utmost, they were far from being long enough to occupy the line required by the ground, and, therefore, the right flank was still without protection. I directed Colonel Holmes to reconnoitre the ground in his front as far forward as he could, and, if he found the way clear, to advance his pickets as skirmishers out of the wood into an open ravine behind the house at the foot of the mountain, the ravine being perpendicular to the mountain, and running far enough into the field for its mouth to be nearly or quite opposite the left flank of the enemy's battery. In about a half an hour, he had made

the reconnoissance, and had got his skirmishers into the ravine.

I then directed him to place his regiment where the skirmishers were, and to send these beyond the house to the crest of the ravine ridge, from which crest the enemy were visible, and then to post his regiment in line behind them and near them. All these orders were executed by him with great promptness and judgment. After giving him these orders, I put the Twentieth in motion, to connect with him on his left. This movement was completed at about sunset. Thus the two regiments had swung around so that their right was now on the flank of the enemy. Soon after the new line of pickets showed their heads on the crest of the flanking ridge in the field, the enemy ceased firing, and moved to his rear with his whole force. The two regiments remained in their last position, without any change, until after night, as I had received an order, while they were taking up that position, from General Jones to support General Drayton in an attack which he was about to make on the enemy from the front. The retreat of the enemy prevented that attack from being made.

At about four o'clock P. M. of the thirtieth of August, in obedience to the order of General D. R. Jones, I put the brigade in line of battle, with its right resting on the road from Gainesville to Manassas, and its left toward the right of General Kemper's command. Shortly afterward I was ordered by General Jones to advance in line of battle, keeping my distance from General Kemper. I ordered the brigade accordingly to advance, which it did for a mile and a half or two miles, when it encountered the enemy's infantry. This advance was through fields, and for a great part of the way under the shell of the enemy's artillery. When the line reached the Chinn house, its position was such that the Twen tieth Georgia regiment had to go to the left of that house, and the other regiments, the Second Georgia, the Fifteenth Georgia, and the Seventeenth Georgia, to its right. This caused a wide separation of the Twentieth from them. As the Twentieth was passing the house, some officers of other commands met them, crying, “Come this way; your aid is needed; the enemy are close by." This drew me to the Twentieth, and, when the regiment passed the house, I discovered the enemy a few hundred yards distant, almost in our front, but a little to our left, in a pine thicket. To that thicket I carried the regiment, and, on reaching it, ordered them to charge it. The pines were found to be very dense, and some of them of large size for a second growth. The regiment obeyed the order with alacrity, and advanced with as much alacrity as the thicket would admit of, receiving a heavy fire from the enemy, and returning it without halting. The thicket proved to be one of considerable length, with its left resting on the dry bed of a small stream or branch. The enemy fell back as we advanced, until we reached its lower end. There we obtained a good view of them, and saw them running in complete rout, a huddled mass. From their appearance, there must have been several regiments of them. They soon got out of sight by the speed they made under the fire in their rear. But on emerging into the open ground, we also discovered a battery on the opposite side of the dry branch to which I have referred, and not more than four hundred yards off, which, the thicket being then clear of its own troops, opened I reflected a moment on its whole fire on us. what was best to be done. It appeared to me that to stay where we were was certain destruction; to retreat would be exposing ourselves for a long distance to the enemy's shells, and might have other worse effects. I thought that, upon the whole, it was better to try to take the battery, especially as I could not see any infantry support near it. I determined to make the attempt, and accordingly gave the order to charge the battery. This order was obeyed with a shout, and on the MAJOR: Of the part borne in the second bat- regiment went, at a run. At about fifty or sixty tle of Manassas, on the thirtieth of August last, yards from the front of the battery the level by this brigade, which, in the compulsory absence branch bottom terminated, and the ascent of the of General Toombs until late in the battle, I car-hill on which the battery was placed commenced. ried into action, I respectfully submit to you the following report:

The conduct of both officers and men was everything that could be desired, and to particularize any of either would, I almost fear, be doing injustice to the rest. I will, however, venture to say that the conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Holmes, Major Waddell, Captain Seago, second in command of the Twentieth, and Lieutenant Thomas, commanding its skirmishers, especially of Colonel Holmes, repeatedly attracted my admiration. The two other regiments, the Fifteenth and Seventeenth, ceased to be under my immediate command after I was ordered to seize and hold the mountain. I am certain, however, from trustworthy information, that they well performed the part assigned them, which was to remain passive in their place, in the gorge, whilst the action was going on in front. They did so. This place was much exposed to the shells of the enemy, from which they suffered considerably.

I am, Major, your obedient servant,

HENRY L. BENNING,
Colonel Seventeenth Georgia, commanding
Toombs's Brigade.

N. B. Thoroughfare and Manassas are put
in a single report for the Twentieth Georgia by
Major Waddell, who commanded the regiment.
That report accompanies my Manassas report.

HENRY L. BENNING,
Colonel, commanding Brigade.

REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL BENNING

OF SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS.

HEADQUARTERS TOOMBS'S BRIGADE, CAMP NEAR WINCHESTER, October 8, 1862. Major Coward, A. A. G.:

The ascent, for a short distance, was rather steep, and then was considerably less so up to the guns,

tenant W. N. Huchins, Acting Adjutant; company A, Captain A. B. Ross and Lieutenant W. W. Brazeal; company B, Captain Mitchell; Lieutenant J. M. Granberry, wounded; company C, Captain W. Y. Dearry, wounded, Lieutenant Robert Jordan and Lieutenant J. H. Spier, killed; company D, Captain S. W. Blance, Lieutenant J. L. Carter and Lieutenant J. S. Hammock, wounded; company K, Lieutenant George F. Adams and Lieutenant L. W. Davis; company E, Captain R. D. Little and Lieutenant J. A. Maddon; company L, Lieutenants G. S. Thomas, W. L. Abbott, and J. R. Richards; company G, Lieutenant T. S. Fontaine, wounded; company H, Lieutenant T. C. Huebreath, killed; company I, Captain C. B. Mines; Lieutenant J. T. Scott, wounded.

so that men lying down at the foot of the hill was really brilliant, and the name of every offiwould be protected, by the intervening little crest, cer and of every man deserves to be known; but from the battery's fire. When the regiment I have room only for the officers. They are, reached the foot of the hill, I ordered them to Major J. D. Waddell, commanding regiment; halt and lie down, to recover their breath a little. Captain E. M. Seago, second in command; LieuThis they did. In about five minutes, during which a terrific storm of missiles was passing just over their heads, I ordered them to rise and take the battery. They rose at the word, and quickly advanced up the hill and beyond the crest, and some of them almost up to the guns. Whilst, however, we had been resting at the foot of the hill, the enemy had not been idle. They had got several pieces into position on our right flank, at a short distance from us, and with these they also opened upon us, thus subjecting us to a fire both in front and flank. This was not all. Heavy infantry supports, though not to be seen when the charge was ordered at the thicket, had now become visible, in close proximity to the battery in our front. No supports to us were anywhere in sight. Under these circumstances, I thought it would be madness to let the regiment go on; The loss of the regiment was heavy. The that if they took the battery they would not be killed were twenty-two, the wounded one hunable to hold it, and therefore would, after taking dred and seven, and the missing six, exclusive of it, either have to retreat or all be captured or ex-officers. The number carried into action was, exterminated. I preferred to fall back at once, although some of the men were almost up to the guns. I accordingly gave the order to fall back. And then the regiment, in tolerable order, fell back about two hundred yards, under a terrific fire from both of the batteries and from the infantry supports. When it came to the dry bed of the branch already mentioned, then I halted it, and ordered the men to lie down in the bed of the branch, and thus get as much protection from the enemy's fire as possible, and at the same time be in a position from which they could return that fire with some effect. This they did.

Whilst the regiment was charging through the pine thicket, and when it had gotten about half way through it, I discovered, close to our left, near the edge of the thicket, by the branch, two or three of the enemy's pieces of artillery, completely abandoned. When or why these were abandoned I do not know. But it is certain that, abandoned at whatever time and for whatever cause they might be, they were not captured guns as long as the large pine thicket close by them was full of the enemy's infantry to guard and protect them. These guns, therefore, I respectfully submit, the Twentieth Georgia is entitled to the credit of taking. After disposing of the regiment as aforesaid in the bed of the branch, I thought it was time for me to leave it, and seek the other regiments of the brigade, and give them my services.

I accordingly left the Twentieth, and was with it no more during the battle. It will be seen, however, from the report of Major Waddell, who commanded the regiment, that it continued to fight to the last, and not without effect.

I cannot close this notice of the part taken by the Twentieth in the battle without asking leave to bestow the tribute of my warmest admiration upon the conduct of both officers and men. It

clusive of officers, only three hundred and thirtyfive; and of these, nearly one third were barefooted, without a piece of leather to their feet. After leaving the Twentieth, I went to seek the other three regiments. On passing from the pine thicket into the large field in which they commenced the fight, no troops, except a few small parties, were visible. After some inquiry, I was told by a man, who seemed well informed, that the regiments had gone down on the right, to support Stuart's cavalry in pursuit of the enemy. I galloped in that direction for about a mile and a half, as I thought, when I came in sight of the cavalry, and saw that no infantry was near it. I then returned; and soon after reaching the same field, I observed a brigade approaching, led by a General. To him I advanced, and found him to be General D. R. Jones, accompanied by General Drayton. They were bringing General Drayton's brigade into action. General Jones informed me that the three regiments were then under the immediate command of General Toombs, who had shortly before that time reached the field. I also learned that they were not then engaged in the action, and would not be again; that after a long and hot fight, with heavy loss to the Seventeenth, they had been ordered back a little, to be replaced by fresh troops. I concluded then, that instead of going to the Seventeenth, which alone was, by the recent arrival of General Toombs, left me to command, I would report to General Kemper, and ask him to let me serve him as an Aid. I did so, and he kindly accepted my offer, and I remained with him until the battle was over and he left the field.

It will have been perceived that it was impossible for me to have any personal knowledge of the part taken by these three regiments in the action, as I was not with them. I learned, however, from the best sources, that their conduct was

excellent in a high degree promotive of the gen- gles with it, the right resting on the road and eral happy result on the right, and in the highest the left connecting with General Jackson's line. degree creditable to themselves. The loss of the The Texas brigade had been previously formed Seventeenth was very heavy, it being one hun-on the right of the road, its left joining my right. dred and one, out of not more than two hundred With a strong line of riflemen in front, which carried into action. Major Pickett, who com- drove the enemy's skirmishers as it advanced, the manded the regiment, fell late in the fight, des- brigade moved forward, accompanied by Generals perately wounded by a ball through the breast. Longstreet and Hood, until it reached a comHardly had Captain Jones, the next in rank, as- manding position in front of the enemy, about sumed the command before he was killed by a three fourths of a mile from Dogan's house, ball through the temple. The Second regiment which seemed to be the centre of his position. was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Holmes, At this point, a severe artillery fire was opened and the Fifteenth by Colonel Willican. Both of by the enemy's batteries. A halt was ordered, these gallant officers have since been killed in and the troops remained in position until our arbattle. They fell at Sharpsburg. Major Pick-tillery could be brought forward. Our batteries ett's wound has kept him from every kind of took position on a ridge to my left and rear, and duty. The consequence is, that we have now, for opened fire with marked effect upon the enemy. reports of the conduct of these three regiments, to depend on officers, none of whom, except Captain French, was in command during the action, and he but for a short time, near its close. It is to be expected, therefore, that the regimental reports must be less full and perfect than they would have been but for those casualties. I beg, however, to invite your particular attention to them, as they fill a vacuum in my own report. They are the reports of Captain Lewis, for the Second Georgia; that of Major Shannon, for the Fifteenth Georgia; and that of Captain French, for the Seventeenth Georgia. It only remains for me to bring to your notice the conduct of the second company of Washington artillery, commanded by that ever-ready and excellent young officer, Captain Richardson. And in respect to its conduct I must refer you wholly to the report of Captain Richardson himself, for I was, during the whole battle, so otherwise engaged that I could not witness its acting. That action was, however, from all that I hear, admirable. I am, Major, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

HENRY L. BENNING.
Colonel, commanding Toombs's Brigade.

The fire of the artillery and skirmishers continued, almost without intermission, until near four o'clock P. M., when heavy musketry on my left announced an attack of the enemy on General Jackson's position. Soon after this attack commenced, a brigade of General Jackson's command moved out of the wood on my left, drove the enemy from his position on the bridge, to the left of the hamlet of Groveton, and captured a piece of artillery posted there. I immediately moved my line forward as far as Groveton, where it was halted on a line with the troops to my left.

At about six o'clock, a Federal battery, supported by a large body of infantry and some cavalry, was advanced along the turnpike to within four hundred yards of our position. The guns had scarcely unlimbered, when I was ordered by General Hood to charge. Moving rapidly forward, the brigade came first under fire of the battery, then in range of the enemy's infantry. Delivering volley after volley, my men continued a rapid and uninterrupted advance upon the battery and its supports. As they approached the guns, three of them were limbered up and carried off at a run, along the turnpike. One remained, and continued to fire until my men

REPORT OF COLONEL E. M. LAW OF SECOND were so near it as to have their faces burnt by BATTLE OF MANASSAS.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, September 10, 1862. Captain W. H. Sellers, Assistant Adjutant-General: SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the participation of the brigade under my command in the action of Friday and Saturday, twenty-ninth and thirtieth August.

its discharges. Without faltering, they pressed forward, and the piece was taken. At this point, a flanking fire was opened upon my right by a body of the enemy, which was advancing on the opposite side of the road, and passing to my right and rear. I at once formed a portion of the Second Mississippi regiment along the road and at right angles to the line of advance, and returned the fire with effect, the enemy breaking Leaving Thoroughfare Gap at sunrise on the and retiring. The Second Mississippi now pressed twenty-ninth, the brigade marched in the direc-forward beyond the road, and, together with the tion of Manassas Junction. At Gainesville, Texas brigade on the right, cleared the field of on the Warrenton turnpike, the line of march the enemy. Meantime, on the left, my other changed abruptly to the left, along the turnpike, regiments, Fourth Alabama, Eleventh Mississippi, in the direction of Centreville. On arriving and Sixth No th Carolina, reënforced by the about midway between Gainesville and the Stone House, which is situated at the junction of the turnpike and the Sudley Ford road, I was ordered by Brigadier-General Hood, commanding the division, to form the brigade in line of battle to the left of the turnpike, and almost at right an

Twenty-third South Carolina, were advancing and driving the eno. afore them. The advance was continued until darkness prevented further operations. I ordered a halt, and estab lished my line across the turnpike, half a mile from the position whence the advance began. A

charge of cavalry on the road and an infantry attack on the extreme left were made after dark. Both were easily repulsed.

Eleventh Mississippi regiment to advance on the left of the Warrenton turnpike, caused it to move to the right, near Chinn's house, and, by this The opposing force of the enemy, as I learned means, it was detached from the rest of my comfrom captured officers, consisted of General mand. It advanced with the troops in that part King's division, of four brigades, and a battery of the field, fighting gallantly and incurring of howitzers. One piece was captured, and about heavy loss, and at night rested on our most adone hundred prisoners. Among the prisoners vanced line. Captain Reilly's battery was dewere Captain Judson, Assistant Adjutant-Gen- tached from the brigade, and, together with the eral to General Hatch, and Captain Garish, of the other batteries of the division, was placed under battery. command of Major Frobel, chief of artillery of the division. Following closely after the infantry, the batteries contributed their full share to the success of the day.

The following is a recapitulation of the loss in the several regiments composing the brigade, as shown by the accompanying lists of casualties:

Killed. Wounded.

During the night of the twentieth, under orders from General Hood, I resumed the position to the rear of Groveton, which I had occupied in the morning. At daylight on the thirtieth, the In both actions the conduct of the troops was enemy advanced a heavy line of skirmishers admirable. On the thirtieth their manœuvres, toward this point. These were met by my rifle-under severe fire, were characterized by the men and those from the Texas brigade, and promptness and precision of veterans-no dissharp skirmishing continued until about three organization or confusion occurring while in action. o'clock in the afternoon, when the main attack of This was due, in a great measure, to the efficiency the enemy began. This attack, which was made of my field and staff officers. Colonel Liddell, by General Morrell's Federal division on General of the Eleventh, and Colonel Stone, of the SecJackson's right, in full view of my position, was ond Mississippi, Lieutenant-Colonel McLemore, no sooner repulsed than the whole line was or- Fourth Alabama, and Major Webb, Sixth North dered forward, and my brigade advanced to Carolina, commanding regiments, handled their Groveton, in support of a battery which was men with consummate ability. The officers of my placed at that point. Here it remained for half personal staff, Lieutenants Terrell and Cussons, an hour or more, under a terrific fire of artillery, rendered the most valuable service, discharging when I received orders from General Hood to every duty faithfully and gallantly. Lieutenant move across the turnpike to the left of the Texas Cussons was captured by the enemy while on a brigade. On reaching an eminence a few hun-reconnoissance in front of the lines. Privates dred yards to the right of the road, which com- Smith, Fourth Alabama, and Sharpe, Hampton manded a view of the field, I perceived large legion, acting as officers, also contributed valuanumbers of our troops pressing in to the right, ble assistance. toward the Blackburn Ford road. Unable to distinguish the locality of the Texas brigade, and seeing that the enemy was pushing a heavy force into the ravine and pine thickets directly in front of me and just below Dogan's house, apparently for the purpose of securing their formidable bat- Fourth Alabama, tery posted there, I carried forward three regi-Eleventh Mississippi, ments to that point. Placing the Sixth North Sixth North Carolina, Carolina and Fourth Alabama in the pines, and Second Mississippi, the Second Mississippi on their left and at the foot of the hill on which the house is situated, I waited a short time for the Eleventh Mississippi, which had been directed to move upon the battery from the left of the turnpike, intending to attack at the same time, from the right, with the Second Mississippi. While in this position, the REPORT OF COLONEL E. M. LAW OF BATTLE enemy advanced on the right of the house, but was repulsed by a well-directed and destructive fire from the Sixth North Carolina and Fourth Alabama. The Eleventh Mississippi not coming up, I united the Sixth North Carolina and Fourth Alabama with the Second Mississippi, and moved upon the battery, which, taking time by the forelock, escaped when the infantry was beaten. The enemy's wounded and a few prisoners were of September. left in our hands. I continued the advance be- When the army arrived at the heights on the yond Dogan's house, driving the enemy back-south side of Antietam River, on the morning of ward until after dark, when, by General Long- the fifteenth, I was ordered to take position about street's order, I halted for the night. At daylight one mile from Sharpsburg, on the Hagerstown on the thirty-first nothing was to be seen of the enemy, except evidences of a precipitate retreat. A mistake in the delivery of my order to the

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I am, Captain, very respectfully,

E. M. LAW, Colonel, commanding Third Brigade.

OF SHARPSBURG.

HEADQUARTERS, THIRD BRIGADE,
October 2, 1862.

Captain W. H. Sellers, Assistant Adjutant-Gen

eral:

SIR: I have the honor to report the part taken by my command in the engagements at Sharpsburg, Maryland, on the sixteenth and seventeenth

turnpike. The right of my brigade rested at St. Mumma's Church, and the line extended along the turnpike, in the edge of a wood which bor