Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 8.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

Major — This brigade was formed into “line of battle” about. one o'clock P. M., July 1st, 1863, in front of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. We occupied the left of Major-General Rodes' division.

The enemy's cavalry picket appearing in force on our front and left flank, skirmishers from this command were ordered to dislodge him. After a short engagement, he was driven from his position, when we occupied his position (a hill to our left), about 3 1/2 o'clock P. M. The enemy moved his force from our front; made a strong demonstration on our left, driving our skirmishers from the hill from which we had driven him. The command was then moved by the left flank to meet any attack the enemy might attempt on our left and rear. We found the enemy strongly posted with infantry and artillery on the hill from which our skirmishers had been driven. The brigade of General Gordon, of Major-General Early's division, having made a conjunction with our left, we moved forward to attack the enemy in his position. Our effort was successful. He was driven from behind a rock fence with heavy loss [42] in killed and wounded and a large number of prisoners sent to our rear. We suffered severely from the enemy's batteries and musketry in this attack. While we were in pursuit, a strong force of the enemy appeared on my right flank and rear. We changed our front to meet this force. General Gordon continued the pursuit of the enemy toward the town. We met the force on our right, attacked and routed him, pursuing him across the plain in front of Gettysburg; but few of this force escaped us. We then moved towards the “Theological College,” to the right of Gettysburg, where the brigades of Generals Daniel, Ramseur, Iverson and Colonel O'Neal were engaged with the enemy. As we advanced towards the enemy — our position at that time being on his right flank — the enemy withdrew his forces from the College hill to the railroad. We then moved rapidly by the left flank to cut him off from the town. We did not succeed, as he retired faster than we advanced. We followed as far as the outer edge of town, when I received an order to halt the column, and to form line of battle in the street running east and west through the town. We remained in line here until about 8 o'clock P. M., July 2d, when we moved by right flank, forming line and advancing towards the enemy's position on Cemetery hill.

This column of attack was composed of Generals Ramseur, Iverson, and this brigade. We moved forward until the line arrived within one hundred yards of the enemy's line. After consulting with Generals Ramseur and Iverson, the line was ordered to fall back to a dirt road, some three hundred yards to the rear. We remained in this position until 1.30 o'clock A. M., July 4th. We were then ordered to fall back to the heights near the Theological College.

This command was actively engaged in heavy skirmishing during the 2d, 3d and 4th July.

In the action of July 1st, Lieutenant-Colonel Winn was killed and Lieutenant-Colonel Lumpkin fell severely wounded (leg since amputated) while gallantly leading their respective regiments in a charge against the enemy. To Colonel Edward Willis and Major Isaac Hardeman, of the Twelfth Georgia regiment; Colonel J. T. Mercer, Lieutenant-Colonel T. W. Hooper and Major T. C. Glover, of the Twenty-first Georgia regiment; Major W. H. Willis, of the Fourth Georgia regiment, and Major W. H. Peebles, Forty-fourth Georgia regiment, I attribute the success of this command. The [43] conduct and gallantry of each of these officers on the march and during the engagement around Gettysburg is worthy of emulation.

The company officers and men all did their duty nobly. To Captain Pryor, Twelfth Georgia; Captain Reese, Forty-fourth Georgia; Lieutenant Stephens, Fourth Georgia; Lieutenant Wilder, Twenty-first, who were in command of the sharpshooters of the brigade, too much praise cannot be awarded.

To Captain F. T. Snead, Assistant Adjutant-General; Lieutenant C. A. Hawkins, Aid-de-Camp, and C. T. Furlow, of my staff, I am under obligations for valuable services rendered.

I have the honor to report and return one flag captured by the Twelfth Georgia. We lost no colors.

The brigade went into action with 131 office and 1,238 enlisted men; total, 1,369.

List of casualties.

	Officers Killed.	Officers Wounded.	Men Killed.	Men Wounded.	Men Missing.
Fourth Georgia	2	3	7	26	7	Killed	24
Twelfth Georgia		2	4	33	10	Wounded	124
Twenty-first Georgia			1	11	5	Missing	31
Forty-fourth Georgia		6	10	43	9	Total	179
Total	2	11	22	113	31
Brigade field and staff killed and wounded; none.

Respectfully submitted.

Major — As an appendix to my official report of the battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July 1st to 4th, 1863, I respectfully submit the following: While my command was advancing against the enemy on the evening of July 1st, 1863, my line was subjected to [44] and did receive a severe fire from one of our own batteries, from which fire I lost several men killed and wounded. This was from a two-gun battery (brass pieces), stationed on the side of the hill where General Rodes' headquarters were at the opening of the engagement. Again, on July 3d, while my command was lying in line of battle, I sent a request back for our batteries, stationed on the hill near the pike leading from Gettysburg to Fairfield, to shell some houses in my front for the purpose of dislodging the enemy's sharpshooters. The battery opened fire — its fire taking effect on my men. We raised our flag, and sent them word that they were firing on us. They did not cease fire. I lost several men wounded by the fire of this battery.

I make this statement for the purpose of putting on record my protest against such indifference and negligence on the part of those in command of those two batteries. I have made every effort to find out the batteries, and have failed so far.

I am, Major, yours, &c.,