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The 13th spend the morning at Somerville Ford to investigate a report that the Federals were crossing there, but there were no enemy in sight. The Regiment then marched back to the main army and the sound of battle. They advanced along the Orange Turnpike and joined the main battle line to the left of the road, where they busied themselves with making a waist high breastwork. Then the Federals charged. The butternuts rose, fired, and broke the attack. This was repeated several times until sunset.
The Official Records O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXVI/1 [S# 67] MAY 4-JUNE 12, 1864--Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River, Va. HEADQUARTERS GORDON'S DIVISION, MAJOR: I beg to submit the following report of the operations of my brigade from May 5 to 14, 1864: On the morning of May 5 I was ordered by Major-General Early to move along the old stone pike from Locust Grove in the direction of the Wilderness Tavern. When within 3 or 4 miles of the latter point I discovered the Confederate troops, who had preceded me, and had engaged the enemy in my front, rapidly retreating, and was informed by Major-General Early and Lieutenant-General Ewell that the enemy was driving back our line in confusion, and received orders to form my brigade at once on the right of the pike, for the purpose of checking the enemy's advance and saving the artillery, which at that time was moving back along the pike under the enemy's fire. I moved my brigade by the right flank and formed at right angles to the road with as much expedition as the nature of the ground and the fire from the enemy's artillery and advancing infantry would admit. Some of my men were killed and wounded before the first regiment was placed in position. As soon as the formation was completed I ordered the brigade forward. The advance was made with such spirit that the enemy was broken and scattered along the front of my brigade, but still held his ground or continued his advance on my right and left. For the protection and relief of my flanks I left a thin line (Thirty-first and Thirty-eighth Georgia Regiments) to protect my front, and changed front to the right with three regiments (Thirteenth, Sixtieth, and Sixty-first Georgia), and moved directly upon the flank of the line on my right, capturing several hundred prisoners, among them one entire regiment, with its officers and colors. At the same time I caused the regiment on the left (Twenty-sixth Georgia) to make a similar movement to the left, which was also successful. By this time portions of Battle's brigade rallied, and with other troops of Rodes' division came forward and assisted in driving the enemy back and establishing the line, which was afterward held. On the night of the 5th I was ordered by Major-General Early to move by the flank and take position on the extreme left of the Confederate line. Early on the morning of the 6th I reconnoitered the enemy's position and ascertained that his right flank, resting in a dense woodland, was left unprotected, and that his whole force on this part of his line was apparently occupied in repeated assaults upon the front of Johnson's division. Scouting parties were sent 2 or more miles to the rear of the enemy's right, and reported that no supports could be found, and that the only precautionary measure taken by the enemy was the posting of vedettes. At a distance of 400 yards from this flank of the enemy lay an open field, affording a most advantageous position for forming a line out of view and at right angles to the general direction of his battle line. These facts were reported and permission asked to move with my own brigade, properly supported, upon this exposed flank. Late in the afternoon of May 6 I received orders from Major-General Early to form my brigade in this open field, and with one brigade as a support (Johnston's North Carolina) to make the attack. As soon as these brigades could be gotten into position I deployed skirmishers in front and began the movement. A line of skirmishers covering this flank of the enemy readily gave way, and surprised by this sudden and vigorous attack the troops on his right deserted their trenches and fled. Repeated efforts were made by brigade commanders to change front and check our advance. These commands were rapidly broken and scattered. The advance of my brigade was steady and uninterrupted until the approach of darkness in the dense woodland created confusion in my two right regiments. This, however, was soon remedied, and my personal observation satisfied me that one hour more of daylight now would have insured the capture of a considerable portion of the Sixth Army Corps. Of the entire force which my brigade encountered not an organized regiment was left. The rout was complete. Large numbers left their arms at the works or threw them away, with knapsacks, haversacks, &c., in their flight. The enemy's killed, according to the count kept by the officer commanding pioneer corps, amounted to nearly 400, among them one brigade commander. Several hundred prisoners were captured, among these two brigade commanders--Generals Seymour and Shaler. Besides these, many hundreds were passed to the rear and made their escape in the darkness. I must be permitted in this connection to express the opinion that had the movement been made at an earlier hour and properly supported, each brigade being brought into action as its front was cleared, it would have resulted in a decided disaster to the whole right wing of General Grant's army, if not in its entire disorganization. The loss in my brigade amounted to about 50……… ………..I regret that a report of the casualties in these engagements has not been furnished me by the brigade commanders. Two of these brigades are not now under my command. I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. B. GORDON, Major-General. Maj. CAMPBELL BROWN.
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