No. 257.

Report of Brig. Gen. Nathan G. Evans, C. S. Army, commanding brigade and division, of operations September 14-17.

HEADQUARTERS EVANS' BRIGADE,

Near Winchester, Va., October 13, 1862.

MAJOR: In pursuance to the written instructions of the major-general commanding, I beg leave to report the action of my command in the recent engagements in Virginia and Maryland:

On August [September] 14 my division was ordered to support the command of Brigadier-General Rodes, on the left of the road near South Mountain. On marching my brigade up the mountain on our extreme left, I was informed that the two brigades under the immediate command of Brigadier General Hood had been detached, by order of the majorgeneral commanding, to support our right, and I was further ordered to hold my position on the left; that re-enforcements would be sent. On my arrival at the summit of the mountain, the skirmishers of the enemy were met, supported by several of his batteries that commanded my position. I directed Colonel Stevens, commanding brigade, to push over the summit and engage the enemy, then firing on General Rodes' troops, retiring. Colonel Stevens soon became engaged with a much superior force, two columns of the enemy advancing rapidly upon his small command. This force, however, was bravely met, and the position held until the troops on my right had retired, leaving my brigade nearly surrounded by the enemy. I then directed my troops to retire, firing, to the east side of the mountain, which was done in good order.

During the night I received an order to march in the direction of Sharpsburg, and my division ordered to act as rear guard, which duty was performed until our arrival at the Antietam River on the evening of September 15.

On the morning of the 16th, General Hood, with his two brigades, was detached and sent to the support of Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill, leaving me but two brigades-Colonel Anderson's and Evans' brigades. During the day my command was held as support to Colonel Walton's artillery; also with orders to defend the bridge over the Antietam; and my skirmishers were engaged throughout the day with the sharpshooters of the enemy.

On the morning of the 17th, the enemy attacked our right [left] in force, and about noon Colonel Anderson's brigade was detached to support General Hood, then supporting Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill on the right [left].

About 2 p. m. I was ordered to rally the troops then flocking to the town from our right [left] and bring them into action. After consider

able exertion, with the assistance of my entire staff, I succeeded in collecting about 250 men and officers, whom I formed into two commands, and placed them, respectively, under the command of Colonels Colquitt and Iverson, of Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill's division.

At 3 o'clock, observing the enemy approaching my position (directly on the left of the road), also attempting to cross the bridge on my right, I ordered an advance, Colonels [A. H.] Colquitt and [Alfred] Iverson on the left with Boyce's battery, and Colonel Stevens on the right, supported by two batteries of Col. S. D. Lee's battalion (who came timely

Portions here omitted are printed in Series I, Vol. XI, Part II, p. 962. and Series I, Vol. XII, Part II, pp. 627-629.

at my request to my assistance and rendered material aid in driving the enemy back across the river), with Colonel Stevens' command as skir mishers on the right, while I attacked the enemy with Colquitt's and Iverson's command on the left. This little command gallantly drove the enemy from his cover in the corn-field and caused him to retreat in confusion, leaving a number of their dead and two stand of colors, the latter having been shot down by a well-directed fire of Captain Boyce's bat tery. I also requested Colonel Walton, of the artillery, to open fire on the enemy's battery that had crossed the bridge, which, being promptly done, had the desired effect of driving it back. My brigade then resumed its original position and bivouacked for the night, sleeping on their arms.

For individual instances of gallantry and distinction, I beg leave to refer to the reports of the immediate commanders. To my general and personal staff I am much indebted for their bravery and fiuelity in carrying my orders. Capt. T. D. Eason, ordnance officer; Capt. A. L. Evans, assistant adjutant-general, [and] First Lieut. Samuel J. Corrie, aide-decamp, were often under heavy fire and executed their several duties with intrepidity. My faithful courier, Mr. Farquhar Trezevant, was shot down near me by a shell, inflicting a wound from which he has since died. His loss was severe to me, both personally and in his official capacity. I am also pained to announce the fall of Capt. Samuel [Lieut. R. P.] Jordan, assistant adjutant-general of Colonel Colquitt's brigade, who was shot down while gallantly transmitting my orders.

Inclosed herewith, please find the reports of regimental and battery commanders.

The total loss of Evans' origade in the above-mentioned engagements is 1,024 aggregate, from an aggregate of 1,830 on July 30. It is proper to state that the aggregate for duty was afterward increased to 2,200 by the addition of the Twenty-third Regiment South Carolina Volunteers.

In conclusion, I would call the attention of the major-general commanding to the gallant conduct of the officers of this brigade. In each engagement some field officer was either wounded or killed.

I had neglected to mention above the loss of the gallant Lieut. Col. T. C. Watkins, of the Twenty-third Twenty-second] Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, and Lieut. Col. R. S. Means, of the Seventeenth Regiment, both of whom were shot down while cheering on their regiments. Lieutenant-Colonel Watkins was killed instantly, and Lieutenant-Colonel Means severely wounded in both legs and was left in the hands of the enemy.

Respectfully submitted.

Maj. G. MOXLEY SORREL,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Right Wing.

N. G. EVANS,
Brigadier-General.

P. S.-The report of the Eighteenth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers will be forwarded to-morrow.

HEADQUARTERS EVANS' BRIGADE,

November 5, 1862.

MAJOR: I beg leave to make the following corrections in my report of the actions of Evans' brigade in the recent engagements with the enemy in Virginia and Maryland. In the account of the battle of Sharps

burg I state that "the enemy attacked our right." For "right" read "left." Also, that "Colonel Anderson's brigade was ordered to support General Hood, then supporting Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill on the right." This should be our left. Again, "to rally the troops then flocking to the town from our right," again read for our "right" our "left."

I would respectfully request that this paper be forwarded as a supplement to my report.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

N. G. EVANS,

Brigadier-General, Commanding Brigade.

Maj. G. MOXLEY SORREL,

Asst. Adjt. Gen., Right Wing, Army of Northern Va.

No. 258.

Report of Col. P. F. Stevens, Holcombe (South Carolina) Legion, commanding Evans' brigade, of the battles of Boonsborough and Sharpsburg.

HDQRS. HOLCOMBE LEGION, SOUTH CAROLINA VOLS.,

Near Winchester, Va., October 13, 1862.

CAPTAIN: In obedience to an order from General Evans, I have the honor to submit the following report of the actions participated in by the troops under my command, first as colonel of my own regiment, and, secondly, as commanding officer of Evans' brigade:*

BATTLE OF FROG PASS (BOONSBOROUGH).

On Sunday, September 14, after marching from Hagerstown to the mountain pass (called, I believe, Frog Pass), I was told by General Longstreet to report with my brigade to General D. H. Hill, who would assign me my position. Turning to the left and east at the pass, I was led up the mountain by Major Fairfax to General Hill. This latter officer directed me to a hill some mile distant and still to the left, where I was to report to and support General Rodes. Having accomplished about half the distance, I received an order from General Evans to halt. You brought me this order. Almost at the same moment a messenger from General Rodes urged me forward. Sending back to General Evans for instructions and forward to General Rodes to tell him why I had halted, I found that the enemy were in the valley below on my right and were already threatening my position. Throwing out the legion as skir mishers to check the advance, I disposed the brigade according to my best judgment along the brow of the mountain side, my left very nearly joining Rodes' right. Before I could receive further instructions from General Evans, I was attacked. My skirmishers were soon driven back and the line opened fire. Being near the Seventeenth South Carolina, and seeing it doing well, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel [F. W.j McMaster, I gave him general instructions and moved to the left. Here I found the Twenty-third and Twenty-second driven back, but rallied under Captains Durham and [M.] Hilton, respectively. Very soon the Eighteenth retired also, and from that time the fight was a retreating one until the enemy occupied the mountain and we were driven from it. General Rodes was at the same time forced back on my left. Captains Durham and Hilton and Adjutant DuBose were conspicuous in

* Portion her3 omitted is printed in Series I, Vol. XII, Part II, pp. 629–632.

their efforts to stay the retreat, but I am constrained to say that after once falling back I cannot commend the behavior of the men. Some two or three bravely faced the foe, but a general lack of discipline and disregard for officers prevailed all around me. The Seventeenth and most of the legion were on the right and not with me. The brigade having reassembled on the turnpike, I threw out the legion on picket, deployed along the skirt of woods on the mountain we had just left, and reported to General D. R. Jones.

About 11 or 12 o'clock I received an order from General R. E. Lee to send a small detachment back to the ground where I had fought, and ascertain whether the enemy still occupied it or had retired. This duty I intrusted to Lieutenant DuBose, then on picket. Advancing to the battle ground, or nearly to it, the lieutenant left his men and moved on alone. In a few moments a shot was fired and a cry was heard. Falling back some 100 yards, his men waited in vain for his return to them, and two or three of the enemy having been seen, they returned to report the loss of their beloved leader. Whether that single shot proved fatal or whether he is a prisoner I know not, but in him I have lost my right arm, and the service as noble, as pure-minded, as fearless an officer as ever battled for his country.

At the battle of Sharpsburg sickness, fatigue, and the casualties of battle had reduced the brigade to a mere skeleton. Placed in position just where the main road from Boonsborough enters the town on the north, it acted as a support for different batteries on either side of the road until Wednesday afternoon, when, the engagement having become general, by order of General Evans, it was deployed as skirmishers to meet those of the enemy. I was with the Twenty-third, Twenty-second, and Eighteenth South Carolina Regiments on the left of the road, and, seeing my men falling rapidly, while the enemy was still advancing, I was apprehensive of being flanked, and ordered them to fall back to a stone wall in our rear. Perceiving that my retreat had left unsupported a section of Boyce's artillery, which I had not before seen, I again resumed my position, and, bringing up Boyce's battery, opened fire with musketry and artillery upon a line of the enemy advancing on the right of the road. The line was broken and driven back Colonel Walker, of Jenkins' brigade, having sent for artillery, I ordered Captain Boyce to his support. It was now late in the evening, and, my men having nearly exhausted their ammunition, I left general instructions and sought the ordnance officer. Before I could get more ammunition my men had fallen back, in accordance with instructions, and, finding them scattering in town, I marched to the rear and bivouacked for the night. The next morning, by order of General Evans, we assumed our posi tion in front of the town, acting as a support to Captain Page's artillery until 10 o'clock at night, when we withdrew, according to instructions, and crossed the Potomac. Two days after, General Evans took command of the brigade and I of my regiment.

During the engagement at Sharpsburg my men behaved well, obeyed orders, and never gave back except at my command.

To this report you will please append my report on the case of Major Stewart, Twenty-second South Carolina Volunteers.*

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P. F. STEVENS,

Colonel Holcombe Legion, South Carolina Volunteers.

Capt. A. L. EVANS,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

* Not found.

No. 259.

Reports of Capt. R. Boyce, commanding Macbeth (South Carolina) Light Artillery, of the battle of Sharpsburg.

GENERAL: In obedience to your order, I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by my battery in the action on September 17, at Sharpsburg, Md.:

Early on the morning of the 17th I was ordered by Colonel Walton, chief of artillery, to proceed with my battery beyond the road north of the town of Sharpsburg, to occupy a position to meet the enemy. On reaching the vicinity of the position I supposed I should occupy, I found no person to point it out to me. Colonel Stevens, of your brigade, placed me on the slope of the second hill from the road; but, finding my battery could be of no service in this position, I was posted farther down, in front of another battery. Here, discovering that I was still where I could not see the enemy, I moved my battery through a corn-field immediately in front, and, on reaching the farther side of this field, I found the whole line of battle, for at least a mile, extended before me. I placed my guns in battery in easy range of a portion of the line, but had to wait for an opportunity to fire, as our own troops, engaging the enemy, intervened. Shortly after taking this position, General Lee sent me an order to open fire on a battery which had formed on my left almost beyond the range of my pieces. I fired on the battery, and, having it enfiladed, soon forced it to slacken its fire and change its position. I then turned my guns upon a column of the enemy moving through a corn-field, just to the left of the enemy's battery. The range, however, was too great to do much execution. I received an order at this time to cease firing in that direction. After a protracted struggle immediately in front of me, our infantry abandoned the field to overwhelming numbers. My battery was at this time thrown forward, by your order, into an open field 200 or 300 yards in advance of its original position. The enemy then advanced through a corn-field to the field in which my battery had taken its position, showing a front of several hundred yards in extent, plainly on the right and center, but partly concealed by the corn on the left. The whole line of the enemy here was within canister range, and I opened upon him a destructive fire, cutting down two of his flags at the second or third discharge of the guns. The right and center soon gave way and retired. The battery was then turned upon the left, which held its position more obstinately. This portion of the line took shelter in a ravine at the base of the hill from which I was firing, and it was only with one or two guns that they could be reached. Having no sup port of infantry, and no other battery assisting me in resisting this large body of the enemy, and being exposed the whole time to a galling fire from the enemy's sharpshooters, after firing 70 rounds of canister and some solid shot I was forced to retire from this hazardous position. I retired, in order, to the corn-field from which I had advanced, changing my direction soon after entering, so as to avoid the fire of a battery just formed on the hill in rear of the enemy's lines. After resting and refreshing my men, and sending some disabled pieces to the rear and repacking my ammunition chests, I found I would only be able to man. age two pieces on the field the remainder of the day.