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HEADQUARTERS LAWTON'S BRIGADE,
Near Port Royal, Va., December 19, 1862.
MAJOR: On the 13th instant, about 9 a.m., Lawton's brigade, Col. E. N.
Atkinson commanding, was formed in line of battle in a wood about
three-fourths of a mile west of the railroad, nearly opposite Hamilton's
Crossing, below Fredericksburg, Va., the right resting on the left of
About 1.30 p.m. the brigade was ordered forward, and all the regiments advanced at once in line, except the Thirteenth Georgia. The failure of this regiment to move at the proper time is subject to the following explanation: While in line, this regiment rested upon the slope of a hill intervening between it and the other regiments, which prevented Colonel Smith from observing, at the time, the forward movement of the brigade, and, receiving no order to advance, our line passed out of sight before he was aware that he had been left behind. Receiving orders communicated by yourself soon afterward, he advanced to rejoin the brigade, but was too late to participate in the action. Subsequently, being ordered to join Colonel [R. F.] Hoke, commanding Trimble's brigade, he placed his regiment a trench near the edge of the field, on Colonel [Hoke's left, where he remained until Monday morning.
In the mean time, the brigade moving forward about 250 yards, Captain Grace, commanding the Twenty-sixth Georgia, on the left, encountered the enemy, being apprised of their proximity to him by a volley poured into his ranks, which for a moment checked his advance. But quickly recovering, the regiment delivered its fire, reloaded, and, advancing, drove the enemy before them, through the woods. Having encountered the enemy so soon, they became for the time separated from the brigade, and, on reaching the ditch which skirted the edge of the woods, they observed the remaining regiments far out on the plain. Here Captain Grace was directed to halt his command, and not advance into the open field.
The remaining four regiments, consisting of the Sixtieth Georgia, Colonel Stiles; Sixty-first Georgia, Colonel Lamar; Thirty-eighth Georgia, Captain McLeod, and Thirty-first Georgia, Colonel Evans, push-lug ahead, came upon the enemy in a minute of time after they were first encountered by Captain Grace, receiving their fire without producing scarcely a perceptible check; fired in return, and, with loud cheers, dashed forward. From this time the contest consisted of but a series of temporary halts made by the enemy, only to be driven away from their positions. At the railroad the enemy made their most determined resistance, and for a few minutes poured a heavy fire into our line. Seeing that a charge was the most effectual plan to dislodge them, the order was given, and so rapidly accomplished that many of the enemy were captured, and a few, in their attempts to get away, received the application of the bayonet. As an incident of the battle, I desire to state that one of the enemy, after surrendering, leveled his gun to fire at our passing line, but a bayonet thrust from the hands of Capt. W. D. Wood, of the Thirty-first Georgia, prevented the intended barbarism.
At this part of the railroad a short neck of woods juts out into the plain,
so that on our right and left were the open fields, while before the line
lay this neck of thickly matted woods. Under its shelter the enemy fled,
pursued by these four regiments with so much precipitation that
Colonel Atkinson, in command of the brigade, participating fully in the enthusiasm of the charge, was wounded in the arm above the elbow soon after entering the field, and fell into the hands of the enemy. Colonel Lamar, wounded by having a part of one of his fingers shot off, retired from the ground, and Major [C. W.] McArthur succeeded to the command, leading the regiment into the open plain, assisted by Cal)t. Peter Brenan. Col. W. H. Stiles, commanding his regiment through the entire fight, I have the pleasure to state did his duty and did it well.
I cannot forbear to mention in terms of unqualified praise the heroism of Capt. E. P. Lawton, assistant adjutant general of the brigade, from the beginning of the advance until near the close of the fight, when lie received a dangerous wound and was unavoidably left in the open plain where he fell. Cheering on the men, leading this regiment, or restoring the line of another, encouraging officers, he was everywhere along the whole line the bravest among the brave. Just as the four regiments emerged from the neck of woods referred to, his horse was shot under him, and in falling so far disabled him that thousands less ardent or determined would have felt justified in leaving the field, but, limping on, he rejoined the line again in their advance toward the battery, but soon received the wound with which he fell.
It is gratifying to me to be able to record that officers and men generally behaved with a courage characteristic of the Southern soldier, continuing for the brigade a well-deserved reputation. The report of casualties will testify how severe the fire was through which these brave men passed in driving the enemy before them.
The Staunton Artillery, commanded by Lieut. A. W. Garber (attached to this brigade), at 4.30 o'clock was ordered to the extreme right of our lines, and was actively engaged on the plain about two hours, when the batteries of the enemy ceased firing. The officers and men behaved with coolness and gallantry. Lieutenant Garber had his horse shot under him during the engagement, but suffered no loss of his men.
I am extremely gratified to mention that by the activity of Surg. George F. Cooper, senior surgeon of the brigade, although with limited transportation, our numerous wounded received prompt attention. I have the honor to be, major, your obedient servant,
C. A. EVANS,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.
Maj. S. HALE,
Acting Asst. Adjt. Gen., Ewell's Division.
Lawton-Gordon-Evans' Brigade | Wartime Service
Last Update: Nov. 10, 1997