flank which this line had protected exposed to the fire from my brigade. An effort was here made by the enemy to change his front and check our advance, but the effort failed, and this line too was driven back in the greatest confusion and with immense loss in killed, wounded and prisoners. Among the latter was a division commander (General Barlow), who was severely wounded. I was here ordered by Major-General Early to halt.
I had no means of ascertaining the number of the enemy's wounded by the fire of this brigade, but if these were in the usual proportion to his killed, nearly three hundred of whom were buried on the ground where my brigade fought, his loss in killed and wounded must have exceeded the number of men I carried into action.
Neither was it possible for me to take any account of the prisoners sent to the rear. But the division inspector credits this brigade with about eighteen hundred. I carried into action about twelve hundred men, one regiment having been detached as above stated. The loss of the brigade in killed and wounded was three hundred and fifty—forty of whom were killed.
The movements during the succeeding days of the battle (July 2d and 3d) I do not consider of sufficient importance to mention. In the afternoon of July 5th, on the retreat from Gettysburg, my brigade, acting as rear guard, was pressed by the enemy near Fairfield, Virginia. I was ordered by Major-General Early to hold him in check until the wagon and division trains could be moved forward. Detaching one regiment (the Twenty-sixth Georgia) I deployed it, and after a spirited skirmish succeeded in driving back the enemy's advance guard and in withdrawing this regiment through the woods, with the loss of eight or ten killed and wounded. On the 14th of July this brigade, with the division, recrossed the Potomac at Williamsport.
It would be gratifying, and in accordance with my sense of justice, to mention the acts of individual courage which came under my own observation and which have been reported to me, but as the exhibition of this virtue was the general rule, I should do injustice to many if I attempted it.
I am, Major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
