The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-07
Copy Of Original Document.
Headquarters Fifth lnfantr,

y
Camp Jackson, July %, 1861.
Gencral,-~In compliance with your or
der, l respectfully submit tho following
report of the part taken by my command,
the Fifth Regiment of Virginia Infantry,
which forms n part of your brigade, In
the action Of yesterday, the 2lst instant.
About 4 A. NJ. l repaired as directed
BY you to .illo position occupied by Gem
eral Lopgstgse:, Where heli my COM
mand for some considerable time,.in an
ticipaton of an advance of the enemy on
that point, until 1t became manifest to
you that the demonstration made was
but Il feint. Under your orders | then
reunited with tho rest OF your brigade
and moved to postipn on the right OF
General Cookies and In rear Of Colonel
Bartoes command where remained
about ono hour. My regiment was again
reunited To tho brigade and advanced
to position In rear of General Bees
brigade. Here was ordered to ad-
vance to support of q battery then being
brought into position on my left. My
instructions were to hold tho position
until tho enemy approached over the
crest Of the hill. which would bring
them within about fifty yards, when
was TO fire upon them and charge. This
order ! executed in part, though sub
jected TO an annoying fire. of artillery
and musketry, sheltering my men AS best
! could in my position of inactivity. Very
soon. however, our forces in front be-
gan to give way and retreatcd in NUM-
bers by my tanks and through my files.
Finding II impossible under such circum-
stances to execute your order ! cons
cluded 10 advance my regiment to the
. brow Of the hill, 10 ascertain what ]
could there effect for the support of our
friends. Seeing tie enemy were not
within Ave or six hundred yards IF the
line, and that many of our troops We're
stIll in the front, | determined 10 fail
back upon my original position, TO avoid
the danger OF firing upon our friends,
which ala,
There ! halted the command in good
order, hut soon the increasing number of
our retiring friends, who paid little re-
gard 10 my lines, induced ms 10 make a
second advance ON reaching the top
81 the hill, however found the enemy
advancing from different points. and
after brief contest.,I again retired to
my first position, ana subsequently, fel!
hack through the skirt of woods in my
rear.
Hero found General Bee actively en-
gaGed in an effort 70 rally his ALTERED
j forces, in which he partially Ruceeedcd
] AT once approached him aud Offered
my cooperation. Very soon, however,
General Beaurcgard appeared on the
field under whose orders ! subsequently
acted. We advanced al ones upon III,
enemy keeping up brisk and eifectiv,
fire, which caused them To give WAY.
After regaihing the summit 0f tllc hi
] ordered u charge 10 he made upon
battery OF six pieces, commanded by Cap
tain Ricketts,. but anch was The eagernes
OF the men IN Keeping UP their iro upoi
the retiring foe. ] could rally only d por
tiop OF the command 10 tho work. a
this, junctnrc considerable number o
our troops Of different commands ha'
rallied on my left and formed per2endicu
larry TO my line--who were seeming
inactive. ] dispatched my adiuiant 10 in
form them Of my purpose ana invite ths'