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regiments of my brigades, the Eighth and Ninth Alabama--the former on the right — were formed in rear of the Tenth and Eleventh Alabama, and
Featherston in rear to support both
Pryor's and my brigade.
It is proper that I should state that this placing of troops in position to attack the enemy was made under a brisk enfilading fire of artillery from the enemy's batteries of rifled cannon, from the heights beyond the
Chickahominy.
Our troops behaved admirably under this fire, no confusion or disorder being perceptible in their ranks.
Every preparation being made for a vigorous attack, firing was now heard on our left, which was the signal for our advance, and the order was immediately given.
Our men moved forward in admirable order, preserving their alignments perfectly.
Ascending the the crest of the hill, they came in full view of the enemy, and were instantly met by a heavy and destructive fire of infantry within less than one hundred yards. Our men now make a dash at the enemy, and the conflict begins with an ardor and determination on our part that could not fail to inspire the utmost confidence in those that witnessed it. Nothing could surpass the valor and impetuosity of our men. They encountered the enemy in large force directly in their front, behind two lines of breastworks, the second overlooking the first, and from behind this, as well as the first, a close and terrible fire of musketry is poured in upon them.
The bed of the small stream at their feet and between them and the enemy is used as a rifle pit, and from this a strong line of fire is also brought to bear on us. Thus exposed to three lines of fire, they bravely confront it all, and press forward and close in upon the enemy.
Now there is a slight halt and some wavering, and a few men give way, but a second supporting line is near.
The Eighth and Ninth Alabama press on in rear of the Tenth and Eleventh Alabama, and
Featherston in rear of
Pryor.
The first impulse is more than redoubled; other brigades come in on the left of
Pryor, and in rear of where we are so hotly engaged; our men still press on with unabated fury; the enemy at length, with but a few yards between themselves and our men, are shaken, and begin to yield; our men, full of confidence, rush with irresistible force upon him, and he is driven from his rifle pit, pell-mell, over his first breastwork of logs; and here he vainly attempts to re-form and show a bold front; but, closely followed by our men, he yields, and is driven over and beyond his second parapet of logs into the standing timber, and finally into the open field.
Now, for the first time, cheers are heard from our troops, and the enemy is driven from his strong position.
Our loss has been, up to this time, severe; but now the enemy is made to suffer; no longer screened by his breastworks or standing timber, his slaughter is terrible; our men have no difficulty in chasing him before them in every and all directions.
The precision of our fire is now demonstrated clearly; the numbers of the enemy's dead in regular lines mark, in some places distinctly, where the lines of battle of their different regiments were formed.
The enemy, yielding in all directions, loses his battery of Napoleon guns, many prisoners are taken, we pursue them far across the open field to the woods of the swamps of the
Chickahominy, and the pursuit is only arrested by night.
The victory is complete, the enemy is repulsed and pursued at every point, and those that escape falling into our hands do so under the cover of the darkness of the night.
Before closing this report, I beg to say that the magnificent courage of our men, as displayed in this action, is worthy of all praise.
To properly appreciate the gallantry of those that aided in the achievement of this brilliant victory.
we have only to examine the position occupied by the enemy's infantry, and to recall the fact that the open field over which our men advanced was swept by a direct fire of artillery, shot, shell, grape, and canister, from the rear of the enemy's infantry, and from an enfilade fire from batteries of rifle cannon from beyond the Chickahominy.
The enemy's infantry, as previously stated, occupied the bed of a small stream as a rifle pit; and on the ascending ground in rear of this were two lines of log breastworks, behind which were sheltered, in comparative security, heavy masses of their infantry.
Their lines of infantry fire could thus be used against our men at the same time, and within less than a hundred yards. In driving the enemy from this strong position.
our loss was heavy ; but we should be profoundly grateful that it was not more so.
In closing this report of the operations of my brigade in the engagement of the twenty-seventh ultimo, it gives me pleasure to state, for the information of the Major-General commanding, that the general good conduct of both officers and men renders it difficult to mention specially the names of those most distinguished, without injustice to others, perhaps equally deserving of such notice.
It becomes my painful duty to report that, early in the action, the commanders of my two leading regiments, the Tenth and the Eleventh Alabama, fell while leading their regiments, closely and heroically confronting the enemy in his stronghold.
The former, Colonel J. J. Woodward, Tenth Alabama, dead, (shot through the head;) the latter, Lieutenant-Colonel S. T. Hale, Eleventh Alabama, severely (perhaps mortally) wounded; left arm and shoulder broken, and left leg broken.
These two regiments received the first volleys of the enemy's fire, and suffered more on this part of the field than the two following regiments.
The list of killed and wounded of the brigade has been forwarded before this.
Of the officers killed and severely wounded, I may mention the names of Captain W. W. Lee. Tenth Alabama, mortally wounded, (since dead;) Lieutenant W. C. Faith, Eleventh Alabama, killed: Captain Thomas Phelan, Lieutenant C. M. Maynard, Lieutenant Lane, and Lieutenant Augustus Jansen, of Eighth Alabama, killed; Captain E. Y. Hill, Ninth Alabama, was killed far in advance on the field.
Of the dangerously wounded are Captain Hamilton, Lieutenant McHugh, and
