|
Captain George Hillyer of the 9th Georgia Infantry: “The whole line now again pressed forward, and, though entirely without support, dispersed and scattered a fresh line of the enemy who came against us, and pursued them 400 or 500 yards farther to the base of the mountain upon which the enemy’s heavy batteries were posted, which we found to be the strongest natural position I ever saw. Our little band, now thinned and exhausted by three and a half hours’ constant fighting, made a gallant effort attempt to storm the batteries, but the enemy being again heavily re-enforced, we were met by a storm of shot and shell against which, in our worn-out condition, we could not advance.” -- Hillyer’s battle report, in War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, series I, volume 27, part 2, pages 399-400
Brigadier General Samuel W. Crawford, commanding the Third Division: “Fragments of regiments came back in disopder, and without their arms, and for a moment all seemed lost. The enemy’s skirmishers had reached the foot of the rocky ridge; his columns were following rapidly. . . . Not a moment was to be lost. Uncovering our front, I ordered an immediate advance. The command advanced gallantly with loud cheers. Two well-directed volleys were delivered upon the advancing masses of the enemy, when the whole column charged at a run down the slope, driving the enemy back. . . .” -- Crawford’s battle report, in War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, series I, volume 27, part 1, page 653
Colonel Kenner Garrard, commanding the 146th New York Infantry: “The One hundred and forty-sixth [New York] and One hundred and fifty-fifth [Pennsylvania] were posted on the right, extending from the battery on the summit, along the crest of the ridge, to the gorge on the right. As soon as the regiments had their positions, men from each regiment were advanced down the slope to the front, in among the rocks, and, together with those in line on the crest, actively engaged the enemy during the rest of that day. At night this ridge, naturally strong, was strengthened by building a stone wall about half way down the slope, wherever the rocks afforded no protection to the men.” -- Garrard’s battle report, in War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, series I, volume 27, part 1, page 652
|
