The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-30
A REPORT FOUND AMONG PAPERS
OF DIR. II. w. MARTIN.

ON Saturday, the Slst OF May. inc
teers was assigned as its position the
lett OF Brigadier- General Armisteads
hrignde and wnie ivii,r IRON o 1nd
with the right in front, was, upon
reaching the latter road. ordered ~
Major General Longstrect 10 remain
with him as a reserve until further
orders. Early the next morning ] DIS
patched Major G. NJ. Waddlli 10 re-
tead to ascertain his position and TO
report that l would join him Win my
regiment as soon as rcloaseu ny Ma}5YiIi,
lsturned. reporting he could not md
Ganeral Armistead dispat1hed ;AtaJor,
on ~ soon as relieved LpI4,n reaehimG
ScveA Pines Major -Waddill Indicated
tho direction in which Generhl ARMS.
lead hed gone, and informed me initl
his adJuiant had sent mo Instructions
10 dcpioy on the left Of the Ninth Viz.
.ginia Regiment then not in sight, ana
given point Just before this point
Mas reached tho order Was given, TO
forward into line Of battle. And
though this move was executed ~ dou1
ble-quiclI time, before 1T was executed
Wa received a heavy cross fire from
the left and right, which was irnme,,
iintcly returned. Seeing no enemy and
having received no other order thnn
men TO Ii. down. And DISCERNING
troops coming towards us with white
not TO iirc: that they We're fricndS' pu'
the fire continued along the whole line,
yet too high to DO us much INJURY;
Some one without authority on inc
rirh; wing gave the command TO re-
treat which was passed down the
whole line. by. captains and IL. men
fell back in desperate order INTO the
little field from which they had Just
emerged. Reformed and with cvery
COMPANY in proper position in nnc OF
battic. double-atirkcd il back into the
woods. and shortly after crossing me
road came IN with the Forty -nrst n
GINA Regiment marching airectlE To-
ward US. From this direction we re-
ceived n constant fire. which We re-
turned until some OF our ofncerS re-
Forty-first Virginia Regiment. Major
Waddill. who was upon III" left wing
while was upon the right coinnanded
lime yfhorsc was killed. and not
hearing the command nor knowing the
cause attempted to rally the men, when
the officers and men said, while retreat
Ing in good order. that friends aud enc
mics wore so lndiscriminately mixed up
retreat TO the open held. We retrcated
slowly TO the open ficld experimenting
more danger from friends than enc
mics we again reformed ana report
cd for duty TO Major-Gcncral Hill
was then ordered TO report 10 General
Pickett at the lower end OF the field,
and unon reachlng his brigade. posted
ON the left was, a the suggestion of
General Malone. assigned 10 his riEht
with instructions TO prevent the enemy
from banking the battery on his right:
and while moving from the riSht on
General Mahone's brigade 10 4 position
ON the right of the battery received the
fire OF the enemy. left In this position
for some time after the several pr,
.tades and battery had retired. ] fol-
flowed on. and found General Armis-
tcady's Brigade placed on the outer
post nearest the enemy. congratulate
i,yseif upon being able 10 report the
casualties small
Respectfully submitted
e. H. TOMLIN.
Colonel Commander Fifty third Regi-
rnent, Virginia Volunteers:
-PittsylVania Tribune.