badly suited for this maneuver, the topography of which you are well acquainted with, hence it is not necessary for me to describe it minutely. It was a thick wood, covered with brush and undergrowth. These regiments were then ordered to move forward in line of battle. They had gone but a short distance when one of the most deadly and destructive fires that can possibly be imagined was poured in their whole line by the enemy, who occupied a strong and well chosen position on an eminence in an open field about 300 yards to the front. Here had a battery of eight guns, strongly supported by infantry. This command still pressing steadily forward, all the time having the contents of this battery, consisting of grape, canister, and shell, together with the small- arms of the strong supporting force, it came to a high fence at the edge arms of the strong supporting force, it came to a high fence at the edge of the wood, at which time it seemed impossible for humanity to go farther, such was the havoc and destruction that had taken place in their ranks. A temporary halt was the inevitable result. Here, at this critical juncture. General Maney passed along the line from the right of the Georgia regiment to the left of the Ninth Tennessee, ordering and encouraging us to still press forward, as it was our last and only chance of safety and success. His presence and manner having imparted fresh vigor and courage among the troops the fence was crossed, the ascent gained, the battery taken, and the infantry, with terrible slaughter, driven from the field. It was here at the fence and between the fence and the point where this battery was in position that this regiment sustained its greatest loss. Here was the hottest part of the engagement. It was near the fence on entering the field that Captain Thomas B. Rains, Company C, and First Lieutenant Ed. Seabrook were killed, while acting nobly at the head of their respective companies. No truer and braver men fell that day. The color-bearer, John Andrews, was here too badly wounded to proceed farther and had to be carried to the rear. They were then seized by John Ayeres, one of the color guard, who carried them gallantly for a short distance and was killed. A. M. Pegues then carried them to the summit where the first battery was placed, where he was badly wounded, being shot in three places. They were then seized by Ed. Quin, private, Company H, who bore them in advance of the regiment across the field into the wood, where he was killed. At a lane about 200 yards in rear of the battery Lieutenant N. A. Butler, Company C, was killed while nobly discharging his duty.

The brigade still continued to press forward across the woods into an adjoining field of corn, when part of Stewart's command came up. We, together with a portion of the Fourth Tennessee, were driven from the summit of this hill in the corn field, but were again rallied in a ravine near a stone fence and ordered back by General Maney to dislodge, if possible, certain sharpshooters and to fire upon a battery that was engaged with one of ours a short distance to the front. The order was again obeyed and the summit was again reached, but owing to a strong and destructive cross-fire it was deemed useless to endeavor to hold it. The rest of the day was consumed in gathering together the scattering ones that remained, and a line of battle was formed in this ravine near the edge of the corn field. What followed is not necessary for me to make special mention of.

In this fight there were so many instances of individual prowess and bravery that I find it no easy task to make proper discrimination in the matter. As far as I could judge they all did their duty well and deserve the highest praise; but, as ordered by the general, I beg leave to make special mention of Thomas Esters, private, Company A; Orderly Sergt. B. F. Collinsworth, Company I; John Lanier, private, Company E;