Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 9.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[629] and Carpenter were placed in position in front of the first brigade, and just above the village of Groveton, and, firing over the heads of the skirmishers, poured a most destructive fire of shot and shell upon the enemy. This was responded to by a most severe fire, and a new position selected to the right of the first brigade, which enfiladed the enemy's guns, and ultimately drove them from the field. The troops moved forward with splendid gallantry, and in most perfect order.

Twice our lines were advanced, until we had reached a farm-house and orchard on the right of our line, and were within about eighty yards of a greatly superior force of the enemy. Here, one of the most terrific conflicts that can be conceived occurred. Our troops held the farm-house and one edge of the orchard, while the enemy held the orchard and enclosure next to the turnpike. To our left there was no cover, and our men stood in an open field, without shelter of any kind. The enemy, although reenforced, never once attempted to advance upon our position, but withstood, with great determination, the terrible fire which our lines poured upon them. For two hours and a half, without an instant's cessation of the most deadly discharges of musketry, round shot, and shell, both lines stood unmoved, neither advancing, and neither broken or yielding, until at last, about nine o'clock at night, the enemy slowly and sullenly fell back, and yielded the field to our victorious troops.

The loss on both sides was very heavy; but the proportion of killed and wounded of our men was, as far as I could judge upon the field, small, and the wounds generally slight. The commanding General has been, I presume, furnished with an official report of the killed and wounded.

The gallantry and heroism displayed by our troops is beyond all praise. The first brigade was more exposed than any other, and more than sustained the reputation, which, under the leadership of the Major-General commanding, on the same field, over twelve months ago, it achieved, and which has distinguished its veteran troops in many of the hardest fought battles of the war.

Colonel Baylor, Fifth Virginia, who commanded it, was worthy his heroic command. No more exalted recognition of his worth and services can be uttered, and no higher tribute can be paid him, than to declare that he was worthy the command of the Stonewall brigade in the action of the twenty-eighth ultimo.

Colonel Neff, Thirty-third Virginia, while gallantly leading his regiment into action, was killed; Colonel Grigsby, Twenty-seventh, wounded; Colonel Botts, Second Virginia, mortally wounded; Major Nadenbousch, Second Virginia, Major Terry, Fourth, wounded; and others, whose names and whose gallantry have been, doubtless, reported to the commanding General.

The second brigade, Colonel Bradley Johnston, which had been subjected to severe picket duty the night previous, and on the morning of this day, and behaved with gallantry in the skirmishes of the morning, was not brought into action.

The third brigade, commanded by Colonel A, G. Taliaferro, Twenty-third Virginia regiment, advanced splendidly under fire of the enemy, occupied the farm-house and orchard on the right of our lines, held these against every effort of the enemy to dislodge them, and ultimately drove the enemy from the orchard and the field beyond the turnpike. It is unnecessary to report that the gallantry of Colonel Taliaferro was conspicuous, and the conduct of his officers admirable. Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, Major Stover, Tenth Virginia, and Major Scott, Twenty-third Virginia, were wounded whilst ably discharging their duties. I have no official information of the other casualties.

The fourth brigade operated on the extreme left of the division. It was not in my power to be much with this brigade after the action had progressed far; but its gallantry was conspicuous, and the ability of its commander, Brigadier-General W. E. Starke, was a guarantee that it did all that the gallant Louisianians who composed it were required to perform. I was witness of their unflinching bravery and heroic conduct under a heavy fire during the early part of the engagement. I am ignorant of the casualties of the brigade.

The reports of the brigade, regimental, and battery commanders have, I suppose, been forwarded to you. After the action had been terminated, I, because of the condition of my wounds, turned over the command of the division to Brigadier-General Starke. In conclusion, I beg to recognize the gallantry of my personal staff, and the obligations I am under to them. I beg to mention Major W. A. Taliaferro, A. A. G.; Lieutenant R. K. Meade and Lieutenant P. A. Taliaferro, Aids-de-camp, and to testify my regard for the gallantry and good conduct of my orderly, private Depriest, who was severely wounded, and of privates Dowman, Bowen, and Tyree, couriers.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

sir: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of this division under my command in the reduction of Harper's Ferry.:

On the ninth of September, I was instructed by General Lee to proceed from the Monocacy Junction, near Frederick, Maryland, to the mouth of the Monocacy, and destroy the aqueduct of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. We arrived at the aqueduct about eleven o'clock, P. M., and found it occupied by the enemy's pickets, whose fire, as they fled, severely wounded Captain Duffy, of the Twenty-fourth North Carolina troops, of Brigadier-General Ransom's brigade. Working parties