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As Stonewall Jackson withdrew from Manassas Junction, he placed his corps at a low ridge creased by an unfinished railroad-bed. Early’s brigade (incl. 13th Virginia) was placed on the left of the Confederate line. When a Union Division marched into view on the Warrenton Pike at sunset, unaware of the Confederate position, Jackson attacked with his brigades in the center and right and a fierce encourter broke out. Towards sunset Early’s brigade was ordered to the right, but baffled by the terrain and the darkness, the brigade halted, never directly engaging the enemy on August 28th.
The Official Records O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME 16 [S# 16] AUGUST 16-SEPTEMBER 2, 1862.--Campaign in Northern Virginia. HEADQUARTERS EWELL'S DIVISION, CAPTAIN: In accordance with instructions from the headquarters of the corps I submit the following report of the operations of this division since the movement from the neighborhood of Gordonsville northward in the month of August last until it reached Bunker Hill in September: This report, however, is necessarily defective in regard to all the other brigades of the division except my own, as there were other division commanders until after the commencement of the battle of Sharpsburg, on September 17, Major-General Ewell having commanded until the night of August 28, when he was wounded in the action near Groveton, and Brigadier-General Lawton having command from that time until he was wounded at the battle of Sharpsburg. It is impossible to supply the necessary information in regard to the particular parts taken by Lawton's and Trimble's brigades in the several actions commencing with the affairs of Hazel River, on the 22d, and Bristoe and Manassas Junction, on August 27, and ending with the battle of Sharpsburg, except as to the part taken by Trimble's brigade at Sharpsburg, as General Lawton, who commanded his brigade until August 29, is absent in Georgia wounded, and Colonel [M.] Douglass, who commanded the brigade from August 29 to September 17, was killed at Sharpsburg on that day, and General Trimble, who commanded his brigade until August 29, is absent wounded, and Captain [W. F.] Brown, of the Twelfth Georgia Regiment, who succeeded him in the command, was killed at Ox Hill, near Chantilly, on September 1. There is the same difficulty in regard to Hays' brigade as to the part taken by it on August 30 at Manassas and at Ox Hill on September 1, as Colonel Strong, who commanded on these occasions, was killed at Sharpsburg. This report, therefore, will not contain particular details of the operations of any brigade but my own in most of the actions in which the division was engaged during the time covered by it. MARCH FROM VICINITY OF GORDONSVILLE TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK. On August 16 the division moved from Liberty Mills, in Orange County, to Mountain Run, in the same county, near Clark's Mountain, below Rapidan Station, where it remained until the 20th, when it crossed the Rapidan at Cunningham's Ford and bivouacked near Stevensburg, in Culpeper County. On the next day it moved past Brandy Station and bivouacked near Saint James Church, on the road toward a ford on the Rappahannock above the railroad station and below the mouth of Hazel River. The next day it moved in the direction of that ford, and on arriving there, the enemy being in position on the opposite bank to dispute the passage, the division was moved to the left, Lawton's brigade leading, crossing Hazel River at a mill, and then moving in the direction of a ford on the Rappahannock above the mouth of Hazel River, where the enemy was also found in force, and the division was then again moved to the left in the direction of the ford at Warrenton Springs by a route through fields and woods, so as not to be exposed to view. At the two fords above mentioned and in moving therefrom the division was exposed to shells fired from the enemy's batteries and sustained slight loss. In moving to the left across Hazel River General Trimble with his brigade was left behind to observe the enemy, and had a fight with a body of the enemy which had crossed from the north bank of the Rappahannock and was threatening the trains and succeeded in driving it back across the river, but I am unable to give the particulars of this affair. CROSSING OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND AFFAIR AT WARRENTON SPRINGS The remainder of the division proceeded to the vicinity of the Warrenton Springs, on the southern bank, and late in the afternoon the Thirteenth Georgia Regiment, of Lawton's brigade, under Colonel Douglass, was crossed at the Springs, capturing a few cavalrymen on picket at that place. Brown's and Dement's batteries, of four guns each, were also crossed over at this point. My own brigade, under the superintendence of General Ewell, who was acting under General Jackson's orders, was crossed over, about a mile below the Springs on an old dilapidated dam, formerly built for purposes of navigation, and Hays' brigade, under Colonel [H.] Forno, was ordered to follow; but my brigade did not succeed in crossing until it was nearly dark, and the crossing was exceedingly difficult, Hays' brigade was left on the south bank for the night. My orders were to occupy a woods on the north bank of the river immediately in front of the place at which I crossed and to establish communications with General Lawton, the whole of whose brigade I was informed would cross over at the Springs. Before I was ordered to cross over there had been quite a heavy shower of rain, which had somewhat swollen the river, and it was raining when I crossed. I moved the brigade into the woods indicated, General Ewell having recrossed after seeing the whole of my brigade over, and in extending the left into the woods on a line parallel with the river a road was found running from the Springs through this body of woods toward the fords and Rappahannock Station below. My left was posted near this road, the right extending to an old field just below where I had crossed. Pickets were put out in front and on the flanks, and Maj. A. L. Pitzer, my volunteer aide, was dispatched to find his way to the Springs and communicate with General Lawton. It had become exceedingly dark by this time, and Major Pitzer, in endeavoring to get to the Springs, rode upon a party of six of the enemy's cavalry, who had passed up the road a few moments before we had reached it. He was made a prisoner by this party, who were endeavoring to make their way to the Springs, but finding some difficulty in the way had halted. After he had been compelled to surrender his arms the party started with him back on the road they had come, and the major, with great presence of mind, informed them that they were all his prisoners; that if they attempted to pass out in any direction they would be fired upon by some of our pickets, as they were completely surrounded, but if they submitted to his directions he would take them in safe, which they con-eluded to do, and the major did actually bring them in as prisoners after they had captured him. After this attempt I did not deem it prudent to make another effort to establish communication with the Springs that night, as it was very dark and threatening rain, and there was no one in the command who had sufficient knowledge of the localities to find the way. During the night there was a very heavy rain and in the morning I found that the river had become very much swollen, and was so high as to defy all attempts at crossing, and a messenger sent to the Springs returned with the information that only the Thirteenth Georgia Regiment, of Lawton's brigade, had crossed over the night before. As soon as I ascertained the condition of things I dispatched a note for General Ewell or General Jackson, whichever should be first met with, informing them of my condition, and that if the enemy should come upon me with heavy force my whole command must be captured, and suggesting the propriety of my attempting to extricate my force with that at the Springs by moving up the river toward Waterloo Bridge. This was sent by a messenger, with directions to swim the river with it was possible. Before this note could be delivered I received a verbal message from General Jackson, which had been delivered across the river at the Springs and was brought to me by a sergeant of one of the batteries at that place, directing me to move up toward the Springs and take command of all the force there, and post my command with the left flank resting on the river and the right on a creek to the north of the Springs which emptied into the river below and was past fording also, there being no enemy in the fork, and stating that he was having the bridge repaired across the river, which would soon be in a condition for infantry to pass over. In a short time afterward I received a note from General Jackson in response to mine, containing similar instructions, and directing me in addition to move up toward Waterloo Bridge if the enemy appeared in too heavy force, keeping close to the river, and informing me that he would follow along the opposite bank with his whole force to cover my movement. I accordingly moved up toward the Springs, posting Colonel Walker with his regiment (the Thirteenth Virginia) and the Thirty-first Virginia on the road, so as to protect my rear. On getting near the Springs I found that Colonel Douglass had moved his regiment and the artillery to a hill just below the Springs which runs across from the river to the creek mentioned, and along this I posted the Twelfth Georgia Regiment, the Twenty-fifth, Forty-fourth, Forty-ninth, Fifty-second, and Fifty-eighth Virginia Regiments, with the Thirteenth Georgia on the left, all being so disposed as to present a front to the northwest, the rear being guarded by Colonel Walker with the Thirteenth and Thirty-first Virginia Regiments, and the right flank, which was the only one exposed, being secure for a short time on account of the condition of the creek, which is called Great Run. Companies were thrown out on this flank to prevent any attempt to cross the creek, and a bridge which was partially flooded was destroyed. A body of the enemy's cavalry was discovered early in the morning by Colonel Douglass on the north of the creek, and they were hovering around my right flank on the opposite side of the creek all the morning. During the morning General Jackson sent over an officer to pilot one of my staff officers over the route to Waterloo Bridge, which it might be necessary to pass over in case of emergency, and my adjutant-general (Maj. Samuel Hale, jr.) was sent with him to ascertain the route. In the mean time the creek began to fall rapidly, and in the afternoon it was in a condition to be crossed. It also began to be evident that the enemy was moving up from below in heavy force and that my command was in a critical condition. It was entirely concealed from the enemy's view by being posted in the woods, and this fact no doubt saved it, for it was evident the enemy was aware of the fact that a force was across the river, and from the caution with which he moved he thought it was much larger than it really was. Late in the afternoon a heavy column of infantry with artillery made its appearance opposite to my right flank, and I then changed my front so as to present it toward the enemy, without, however, his being aware of it, as my whole movement was concealed from his view by the woods. The artillery was also so posted as not to be observed by him. About this time Colonel [Brigadier-General] Robertson, with two or three regiments of cavalry and two pieces of artillery, came from the direction of Warrenton, and after consulting with me posted two pieces of artillery on the hill to the north of the Springs which commanded a view of the enemy, and opened fire upon him. This was responded to by a battery of the enemy in a few moments, and I sent two Parrott guns from Brown's battery to the assistance of Robertson's pieces, which were of short range, and a brisk cannonading was kept up until near sundown, with no damage, however, to my infantry or artillery, the only persons killed or wounded belonging to the cavalry, which happened to be in the line of the artillery fire and in rear of our pieces. After the cessation of the artillery fire a column of the enemy was observed to advance, it being then near dark and a mist rendering objects quite indistinct. Infantry was also seen moving off to the left, and in a few moments the enemy delivered a volley into the woods where my infantry was posted and then gave three cheers, followed by a tiger in regular style. I had two of Captain Dement's Napoleon guns run to the left of my line and infantry to a point from which they could fire upon the enemy, and caused them to open with canister. This fire was so well directed, although objects could not be distinguished, that the enemy was thrown into confusion and driven back, as was manifest from the cries and groans of his men, which were plainly heard by ours. There was no further attack on me, but it was evident, from the noises heard and the reports of one or two persons who had seen columns of the enemy passing from below, that a heavy force was near at hand, and that preparations were being made to surround my force, and I sent a messenger to General Jackson with information as to the state of things, and by his directions the remainder of General Lawton's brigade was crossed over on the temporary bridge which had been constructed, the Sixtieth Regiment, under Major [T. J.] Berry, having been crossed over just before night. General Lawton got over about 1 o'clock, and informed me that he had seen written instructions to General Ewell directing him to cross over himself at daylight, and if it was evident the enemy was in heavy force to recross the troops, as it was not desired to have a general engagement at that place. I immediately dispatched a messenger to General Ewell to inform him that there was no doubt of the enemy's being in heavy force, and if I was to be recrossed it had better be done at once without waiting for daylight, as the enemy by moving to the left could place artillery so as to command the bridge and ford at the Springs, and from the sounds of carriages moving in that direction I was satisfied such was his purpose, and that it would be accomplished before I could recross if it was postponed until daylight. In response to this General Ewell came over a little before 3 o'clock, and after consultation with me gave the order for recrossing, which was accomplished, Lawton's brigade going first and carrying over the artillery by hand and then my brigade followed, the whole being completed very shortly after daylight. My command was thus rescued from almost certain capture, as it has since appeared from General Pope's report that he had brought up his whole force to attack what he supposed to be General Jackson's whole force. I lost no men killed or wounded, though a severe punishment must have been inflicted on the enemy by the canister from our artillery. Our situation was felt by every officer and man to be of the most critical nature, and I cannot speak in too high terms of the deportment of the whole command. The men had had nothing to eat since the day they had crossed over, and for two nights and a day they lay upon their arms, yet they did not murmur, but exhibited the utmost resolution to repulse the enemy at all hazards should he come. When the enemy fired his volleys into the woods where the men were posted they did not throw away ammunition, but coolly reserved their fire until the enemy should get to close quarters, determined to make it a death struggle. This commendation is equally due to Colonel Douglass and his officers and men and the officers and men of the two batteries mentioned as to my own brigade. After recrossing, my brigade, as well as that of General Lawton, was moved back to the vicinity of Jeffersonton to rest and cook rations. MOVEMENT UPON THE ENEMY'S LINE OF COMMUNICATION TO THE REAR Early on the morning of the 25th the division moved, under orders from General Jackson, to Henson's Mill, above Waterloo Bridge, where it crossed the Rappahannock, and then proceeded by Orleans and encamped at night near Salem, in Fauquier County. Very early next morning it marched by Salem and through Thoroughfare Gap in the direction of Gainesville, at which latter place it took the road to Bristoe Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. The division, which on this day (as well as on the day before) was in the advance, moved as follows: First, Hays' brigade? under Colonel Forno; second, Trimble's brigade; third, Lawton's brigade; fourth, my own brigade. Hays' brigade reached the station a short time before sunset, just as several trains were approaching from the direction of Warrenton Junction. There being no force at this place, except a small detachment of cavalry, which was soon dispersed, Colonel Forno succeeded in arresting and capturing two trains of empty cars, the first which approached making good its escape by forcing its way over the obstructions placed on the road towards Manassas Junction. General Trimble, as soon as he arrived, was detached with two regiments of his brigade to Manassas Junction, and the other brigades as they arrived and Hays' brigade were placed in position by Major-General Ewell so as to prevent surprise and any approach on the railroad. As soon as it was light next morning the three brigades of the division left at Bristoe were placed in position as follows: Lawton's brigade was posted on the left of the railroad, Hays' brigade on the right of it, and my own brigade to the right of Hays', in a pine woods, our line of battle being fronted toward Warrenton Junction and occupying a ridge a short distance from Bristoe in the direction of that Junction. Colonel Forno, with four regiments of Hays' brigade and one of Lawton's and one piece of artillery from D'Aquin's battery, was then ordered to the front to reconnoiter and destroy the bridge over Kettle Run and tear up the track of the railroad. He found the enemy had brought up on a train of cars a body of infantry sufficient to fill nine cars, but having doubtless discovered our force to be larger than was thought, was re-embarking it. A few shots from the piece of artillery were fired at the train and it made its way back again after receiving some damage. The Sixth Louisiana, under Colonel Strong, was left on picket 2 miles in front on the railroad, and the Eighth Louisiana was put to work destroying the railroad bridge and tearing up the track, and Colonel Forno returned with the rest of the force. In the mean time the Fifteenth Alabama, of Trimble's brigade, and the Twelfth Georgia Regiment, of my own brigade, were sent to join General Trimble at Manassas Junction, an order having been received for the transfer of the latter regiment. Under orders from General Ewell, later in the day, the Forty-ninth Virginia Regiment, of my brigade, was moved to the right on a road leading to Greenwich across a ridge that was to the right of our position. Brown's battery, from the artillery battalion, was posted on a hill in rear of the position of my brigade, and several pieces from two other batteries were posted farther to the right on a ridge over which the road from Gainesville runs, supported by two regiments from Lawton's brigade, the whole being so posted as to command the open ground in front of the right of our position. A regiment from Lawton's brigade (the Sixtieth Georgia), with one piece of artillery, was advanced on the left of the railroad, so as to support Colonel Forno's two regiments that were in front, and Johnson's battery, of my brigade, was posted on the ridge between the position of Hays' brigade and my own, and the rest of the batteries were posted on the left of the station. In the afternoon indications were seen of the approach of heavy columns of the enemy from the direction of Warrenton Junction, and all the baggage wagons were ordered to move toward Manassas Junction. In a short time the enemy was seen approaching on the right of the railroad and in front of Hays' brigade, the Sixth and Eighth Louisiana Regiments falling back and taking position in a woods 300 or 400 yards in front of the brigade. The enemy's force consisted of heavy columns of infantry, with artillery. As soon as the enemy came in range our artillery from its several positions opened on him, as did the Sixth and Eighth Louisiana and Sixtieth Georgia Regiments. By this combined fire two columns of the enemy of not less than a brigade each were driven back, and the Fifth Louisiana Regiment was sent forward to re-enforce the Sixth and Eighth. Fresh columns of the enemy were, however, seen advancing, and it became apparent that his force was much larger than ours, and the nature of the ground was such that by a movement to our right, which he was evidently making, he could obtain a position which commanded the rear of our line and the crossings of Broad Run. General Ewell then informed me that he had received orders from General Jackson to retire toward Manassas Junction if the enemy came in large force, and he gave the orders for the withdrawal of our force across Broad Run. At this time the Louisiana regiments were actually engaged and a large body of the enemy was moving up and the experiment had to be tried whether our troops could be withdrawn in good order. General Ewell directed me to cover the retiring of the troops with my brigade. Lawton's brigade was first withdrawn across the ford at the railroad bridge and then Hays' brigade followed, the regiments engaged in front having fallen back in good order. My own brigade was withdrawn from the pine woods in which it was and formed in successive lines of battle, so as to cover the ford at the bridge. All of the artillery was successfully crossed over, a part having crossed at Milford, several hundred yards above the bridge, at which also the Forty-ninth Virginia Regiment crossed. In the mean time the enemy advanced in line of battle on both sides of the railroad, preceded by skirmishers and keeping up a constant artillery fire. Lawton's brigade was formed in line of battle on the north bank of Broad Run and some batteries were placed in position, and Hays' brigade was ordered to proceed to Manassas. After all the other brigades and the artillery had crossed my own brigade was crossed over by regiments successively, the Thirteenth Virginia, under Colonel Walker, being retained until the last, and skirmishers sent out from it to keep the enemy's skirmishers in check. I then crossed over the Thirteenth Regiment and moved back about three quarters of a mile from the run, and formed my brigade in line of battle on a high hill on the road toward Manassas and in full view of the enemy, who had halted on the ridges near Bristoe Station. In a short time afterward General Ewell, with Lawton's brigade, moved back through my line, which ran across the road, and directed me to remain in my position until orders should be sent back to me, directing me at the same time to move one or two regiments by flank with colors elevated, so as to present the appearance of the arrival of re-enforcements. This was done, and the enemy did not advance farther. Shortly after dusk, under orders from General Ewell, I moved to Manassas Junction. Our loss was comparatively slight in this affair, and the men behaved admirably, withdrawing from under fire and moving back in excellent order. General Trimble having been detached from the division the night previous, his movements were under the immediate direction of General Jackson, and I am unable to furnish any account of them. THE THREE-DAYS' FIGHTING NEAR MANASSAS. As soon as the troops of the division were supplied with provisions at Manassas, of which they stood in great need, they were moved in the direction of Centreville toward Bull Run, and the several brigades bivouacked separately between Manassas and Bull Run. At dawn next morning my brigade, by direction of General Ewell, moved to the bridge at Blackburn's Ford, where it crossed and proceeded up to the stone bridge through the fields on the north side of Bull Run, followed by Trimble's brigade, again crossing there and proceeding along the Warrenton turnpike for a short distance, and then turning to the right through the fields near the old Carter house and Matthews' house, close to which the first battle of Manassas began. My brigade was marched across the road running from the stone house on the turnpike to Sudley Church, and formed in line in the woods north of that road. The other brigades were halted in the woods north of that road, Lawton's and Hays' brigades having missed their way and gone in the direction of Centreville, but having turned back on the Warrenton turnpike and come up with the others. After remaining in this position for some time the division was ordered to move under cover of the woods in the direction of Gainesville, following Jackson's division, commanded by Brigadier-General Taliaferro. My own brigade was the leading one of the division in this movement and followed Jackson's division, moving through the woods until we reached the track graded for a railroad, and thence along that to the point where it leaves the woods, not far from Groveton. We here turned to the right and were formed in line in the edge of a piece of woods, with the left resting on the railroad track an(l the right a short distance in rear of Starke's brigade, of Jackson's division. Hays' brigade was formed just behind my own, and Lawton's and Trimble's brigades were moved farther to the right by General Ewell, who accompanied them, and directed me to take command of my own and Hays' brigade. I saw no more of General Ewell subsequent to this until after night, when I saw him wounded. I am unable to give the particulars of the operation of Lawton's and Trimble's brigades, but I am informed that they were placed in line by General Ewell on the right of Starke's brigade, and when the advance was made on the enemy as he moved down the turnpike late in t, he afternoon these two brigades were ordered forward by General Ewell and participated in the at, tack on the enemy, constituting the left of our line of attack, and crossing the railroad and advancing to close quarters with the enemy. These two brigades suffered very severely, Lawton's loss being quite heavy. General Ewell himself received a very serious wound in the knee while leading one of the regiments near the close of the fight. Just before dark I received an order from General Jackson, through one of his staff officers, to advance to the front, and immediately put my brigade in motion, followed by Hays' brigade, and while advancing I received another order to send two regiments to the right to General Jackson, and detached the Forty-fourth Virginia and Forty-ninth Virginia, under Col. William Smith, for that purpose. On arriving at the railroad cut I found it so deep that I could not pass over it, and I moved by the right flank until I reached a ravine with high embankments on both sides and an interval between, through which I moved by flank, forming by file into line in front of it. This movement brought me near the left of the position to which Trimble's brigade had advanced, and during it the brigade was exposed to a galling fire of shells and canister. By the time I had succeeded in forming my line in front of the railroad the enemy was retiring, and it having become dark and impossible to tell whether I should encounter enemies or friends, I advanced no farther, and Hays' brigade was halted on the railroad. In this position the two brigades lay on their arms during the night. A short distance in front of me General Ewell was lying wounded, and I had him carried to the hospital. Lawton's and Trimble's brigades lay on their arms a short distance to my right, near the points where they were at the close of the fight. Early next morning the division, then under command of Brigadier-General Lawton, was formed in line on a ridge perpendicularly to the railroad track, with the right resting on the Warrenton turnpike and facing toward Groveton. In a short time thereafter I received an order from General Jackson to move with my own and Hays' brigade to a ridge west of the turnpike and the railroad track, so as to prevent the enemy from flanking our forces on the right, a movement from the direction of Manassas indicating that purpose having been observed. In making this movement two of my regiments, the Thirteenth and Thirty-first Virginia Regiments, were detached by General Jackson and placed in a piece of woods on the east of the turnpike to observe the movements of a body of the enemy that was moving toward our right. I formed my own and Hays' brigade in line on the ridge indicated, placing them under cover in the woods, and advanced skirmishers to the railroad track and posted a detachment on my right flank, so as to prevent any surprise from that direction. Johnson's battery was also placed in position so as to command my front. In the mean time our whole line of battle had been so modified as to place it along the railroad track, and Lawton's and Trimble's brigades were moved so as to conform to this new disposition. My own and Hays' brigades thus constituted the extreme right, being thrown back a little in rear of the direction of the main line. The Thirteenth Virginia Regiment (under Colonel Walker) and the Thirty-first (under Colonel [John S.] Hoffman) by skirmishing kept the body of the enemy's infantry which has been mentioned in check until the head of General Longstreet's corps made its appearance on the Warrenton turnpike from the direction of Gainesville. When this corps had advanced sufficiently far to render it unnecessary for me to remain longer in my position or for the Thirteenth and Thirty-first Regiments to remain where they were, I recalled them and moved to the left, for the purpose of rejoining the rest of the division. I found General Lawton with his brigade in the woods not far from the position at which I had been the evening before, but formed in line so as to be parallel to the railroad, Trimble's brigade being posted on the railroad cut on the right of our line as thus contracted. I was ordered by General Lawton to form my brigade in line in rear of his brigade and Colonel Forno was directed to form on my right. Shortly after this the enemy began his attempts to drive our troops from the line of the railroad, and about 3.30 p.m. Colonel Forno was ordered to advance to the front by General Jackson to the support of one of General A. P. Hill's brigades, and he advanced to the railroad and drove the enemy from it and took position on it with his brigade. After this affair Colonel Forno was wounded by one of the enemy's sharpshooters so seriously as to require his removal from the field. Subsequent to this advance by Colonel Forno a messenger came to me from General A. P. Hill, stating that the enemy were pressing one of his brigades on the railroad whose ammunition was nearly exhausted, and requesting me to advance to its support. I immediately did so, and as I passed General Lawton's brigade I found him preparing to send forward the Thirteenth Georgia Regiment, of his brigade. I continued to advance to the front, accompanied by the Eighth Louisiana Regiment, under Major [T. D.] Lewis, which had not been with its own brigade, having been sent off to replenish its ammunition the day before and having returned just in time to join my brigade. On reaching the railroad I found the enemy had possession of it and a piece of woods in front, there being at this point a deep cut, which furnished a strong defense. General Gregg's and Colonel Thomas' brigades, of A. P. Hill's division, having nearly exhausted their ammunition, had fallen back a short distance, but were still presenting front to the enemy. My brigade and the Eighth Louisiana Regiment advanced upon the enemy through a field and drove him from the woods and out of the railroad cut, crossing the latter and following in pursuit several hundred yards beyond. In this charge, which was made with great gallantry, heavy loss was inflicted on the enemy, with comparatively slight loss to my own brigade, though among others two valuable officers, Colonel [George H.] Smith and Major [J. C.] Higginbotham, of the Twenty-fifth Virginia Regiment, were severely wounded. The Thirteenth Georgia Regiment also advanced to the railroad and crossed it to my right. The messenger from General Hill had stated that it was not desirable that I should go beyond the railroad, and as soon as I could arrest the advance of my brigade I moved it back to the railroad and occupied it. This was the last attempt made by the enemy on the afternoon of Friday, the 29th, to get possession of the line of the railroad. On the afternoon of this day General Trimble was wounded by a shot from one of the enemy's sharpshooters, though I believe his brigade was not engaged during the day. General Trimble's wound was a very serious one, and the command of the brigade devolved on Captain Brown, of the Twelfth Georgia Regiment, as the ranking officer present. During the night of the 29th my brigade and the Eighth Louisiana and Thirteenth Georgia Regiments lay on their arms on the part of the line they were at. Early next morning the enemy's sharpshooters commenced firing on my left flank along the railroad, killing a very valuable young officer in the Thirteenth Virginia Regiment, Lieutenant [T. J.] Willeroy, and I became then aware for the first time that my flank was exposed, as I had been informed that one or more of General Hill's brigades were to the left of me; but for some purpose whatever force was there had been drawn, and I thus found myself in this position. I soon discovered that the enemy's skirmishers were crossing the railroad to my left and advancing through a corn field, and I immediately sent word to General Hill of the state of things, and after some delay some brigades were sent to occupy positions to my left. During the course of the morning the skirmishers from my brigade, which were under command of Captain [R. D.] Lilley, of the Twenty-fifth Virginia Regiment, repulsed a column of the enemy which commenced to advance, and a short time afterward an arrangement was made so as to place General Hill's troops on the left, this division in the center, and Jackson's division on the right. In making this arrangement there was room left in the front line for only three of the regiments of my brigade, and I left the Forty-fourth, Forty-ninth, and Fifty-second in position under Colonel Smith, of the Forty-ninth, and withdrew the Thirteenth, Twenty-fifth, Thirty-first, and Fifty-eighth Virginia Regiments a short distance to the rear. The position of the brigades of the division under this disposition was as follows: On the right was Trimble's brigade, under Captain Brown; on the left of Trimble's was Lawton's brigade, under Colonel Douglass, and on his left the three regiments of my brigade, under Colonel Smith, the whole occupying the line of the railroad. Hays' brigade had gone to the rear to get ammunition, and did not return. In the afternoon, when the enemy made his determined attack on the line of the railroad beginning on the right, Trimble's brigade by a crossfire aided in repulsing the column that advanced against Starke's brigade. Another column advanced in front of the three regiments of my brigade and was repulsed by their fire and that from Lawton's brigade. The attack seemed to be general along the whole line and the fire ran from right to left. As the enemy retired the three regiments of my brigade dashed across the road in pursuit, very unexpectedly to me, as I had given express orders for them not to advance until ordered to do so, and I immediately moved up the regiments that were in rear to fill up the gap that was thus left. The other regiments were, however, soon brought back by Colonel Smith. Late in the afternoon, after General Longstreet had made his advance and but a short time before night, General Lawton received an order to advance to the front, and Trimble's, his own, and my brigades were ordered forward and commenced advancing. My own brigade advanced through the woods until it reached a field in front, and I halted here a moment for General Lawton and the rest of the division to come up, as I was a little in advance, but General Jackson soon rode up and ordered me to move by the left flank, as it was reported that a body of the enemy was moving to our left. I immediately did so, sending in front skirmishers under [Lieut.] Col. James B. Terrill, of Thirteenth Virginia Regiment, and continued to move on until I came to the railroad, and then along that until I came to a field. It was then getting dark, and as soon as my skirmishers entered the field they were fired upon from a hill to my left. This was very unexpected, and I immediately sent back to General Jackson to let him know the fact, as it would have been folly for me to advance if this fire was from the enemy in the direction I was going. A message was soon received directing me to send and ascertain from whom the fire came, and stating that it was probably from some of General Hill's troops. It was impossible to distinguish uniforms or colors at a distance when this firing took place, and the only chance of ascertaining from whence it came being to send a messenger, with the certainty of his being captured if it was the enemy. A young man from the Forty-fourth Virginia Regiment, who volunteered for the purpose, was sent, and he soon returned with the information that the firing was from the skirmishers from Branch's and Gregg's brigades, who mistook us for the enemy. Fortunately, however, no damage was done. I was then ordered to advance to the front, and in a few minutes afterward I was ordered to move back by the right flank, the report of the movement of the enemy around our left flank having proved unfounded. I found that the other brigades had already bivouacked near where I had left them and my own did the same. Most of the batteries of the division were engaged at different points and times during the fighting on these days, but as they were separated from their brigades on account of the difficulty of following them in the woods, I am unable to give a sufficiently accurate count of the operations, and shall therefore not attempt it. AFFAIR AT OX HILL, NEAR CHANTILLY, AND MARCH INTO MARYLAND. In the afternoon of Sunday, the 31st, the division was ordered to move, following Jackson's division, and it did so, crossing Bull Run at a ford below Sudley, and then turning to the left and pursuing a country road until we reached the Little River turnpike, which was followed in the direction of Germantown until we were ordered to bivouac late at night. Early next morning (September 1) we were again put in motion, following Jackson's division, and moving in single column until we reached Chantilly, where the division was placed in two columns, one being on each side of the road, with the artillery in the road. In this arrangement Trimble's and Hays' were on the right and Lawton's and my own brigades on the left of the road, my own following Lawton's brigade. On reaching Ox Hill in the afternoon, where the Ox road crosses the turnpike, indications of the approach of the enemy on the turnpike from Centreville having been observed, Trimble's and Hays' brigades were moved to the right and placed in line of battle on the right of Jackson's division and occupying positions in the edge of a field beyond a piece of woods through which the Ox road here runs. Lawton's brigade and my own were moved across the turnpike and placed in line in the woods in rear of Trimble's and Hays' brigades, Lawton's being placed in rear of Trimble's brigade and my own in rear of Hays' brigade. As we moved into position the enemy opened with artillery, firing into the woods where we were posted, and in a short time afterward infantry firing commenced in front. After we had been in position for some time General Starke, who was commanding Jackson's division, came to me and represented that the enemy were approaching on his left in considerable force, and that there was an interval on his left between his left flank and the turnpike, his line being in form of an arc of a circle, and he requested me to move my brigade so as to occupy this interval, in the direction of which he represented the enemy to be moving. I had some hesitation about moving my brigade, but as I had received no orders and had merely followed the movement of the brigade preceding me, which brought me in the position I have indicated, and as General Starke was very urgent, representing his condition to be critical, which it in fact was if the information he received was true, I determined to move my brigade to his left, which was but a short distance, owing to the form of the line, and gave the order accordingly to move by flank, putting myself upon the leading flank. During this movement I heard a very considerable musketry fire, but as the woods were very thick and it was raining hard at the time, I could see a very short distance, and took it for granted that the firing proceeded from the troops in front of me. On reaching the position General Starke wished me to occupy I found that three of my regiments (the Thirteenth, Twenty-fifth, and Thirty-first Virginia Regiments) had not followed the rest of the brigade, and I immediately sent my aide, Lieutenant [S. H.] Early, to see what was the cause of it. He found these regiments engaged with the enemy in their front, Hays' brigade, under Colonel [H. B.] Strong, of the Sixth Louisiana Regiment, having fallen back in confusion and passed through these regiments, followed by the enemy, just as my orders were being carried out. This affair could not be seen by me from the flank on which I was, and the regiments engaged in it were very properly detained by their commanding officers. I immediately marched back the rest of the brigade, and found that the enemy had been successfully repulsed by my three regiments. It is due to Hays' brigade to state that the confusion into which it was thrown was caused by an attempt of the officer in command, Colonel Strong, to change its position when the enemy were advancing, and that his want of sufficient skill in the command of a brigade caused him to get it confused, so that it could present no front, and it had therefore to fall back. The Eighth Louisiana Regiment, commanded by Major Lewis, fell back in better order than the rest of the brigade, and formed in line immediately in rear of my regiments. The rest of the brigade was soon rallied and brought back, and having been placed under my command by General Lawton, it was placed in line on the left of my brigade. General Jackson's division, under General Starke, having been withdrawn a short time after the above-named affair and moved to the rear, Hays' brigade and my own thus covered the same front that had been covered by Jackson's division and that brigade, with, however, a contracted line. About the time Hays' brigade fell back Captain Brown, of the Twelfth Georgia, commanding Trimble's brigade, was killed, and one or two regiments of it were thrown into some confusion, but the brigade held its position. Lawton's brigade was not engaged; and I am unable to give the particulars of the part taken by Trimble's brigade. After the enemy had retired, Trimble's brigade having been withdrawn to the line occupied by the division, the whole lay on their arms during the night in the wet woods without fires. The next day my brigade was advanced to the front and formed in line a quarter of a mile in front of its position of the day before, Hays' being posted on the left flank at right angles to it. The rest of the division remained in its former position, and Colonel Walker, of the Thirteenth Virginia Regiment, was assigned to the command of Trimble's brigade. * * * * * * * * * * I hope I may be excused for referring to the record shown by my own brigade, which has never been broken or compelled to fall back or left one of its dead to be buried by the enemy, but has invariably driven the enemy when opposed to him and slept upon the ground on which it has fought in every action, with the solitary exception of the affair at Bristoe Station, when it retired under orders, covering the withdrawal of the other troops. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. A. EARLY, Brigadier-General, Capt. A. S. PENDLETON, Assistant Adjutant-General.
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