line, and I am satisfied that had General Lee lived to complete his work, he would have done justice to every brigade in Mahone's division, and would not have given to Harris's brigade either the exclusive or chief honor in the defence of Fort Gregg.
My North Carolina brigade, of its own accord, petitioned that I, a Virginian, should be promoted and assigned as its brigade commander, and I would now be false to its heroic deed, as well as to the survivors, were I to withhold facts, when such attempts are made by other command to appropriate the honors to which it is justly entitled.
James H. Lane.
Battle of Reams's' Station—Report of General W. C. Wickham.
Head-quarters Wickham's Brigade, July 2, 1864.
Major J. D. Ferguson, A. A. G., Fitz Lee's Cavalry Division:
Major,—I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my command in the engagement of June 29, 1864, near Reams's Station:
Upon reaching Carter's house I was ordered to dismount one of my regiments and send it in to the support of General Lomax, who had been ordered to make a flank attack whilst General Mahone attacked in front; to keep two regiments in hand ready for mounted action, and to put one in rear of our trains to guard them.
The Second Virginia cavalry was dismounted, and supported General Lomax in his attack. This attack was followed by a rout. So soon as the enemy began to fly my two mounted regiments (the Third and Fourth Virginia) were thrown forward in the pursuit, passing the park of the enemy's wagons and caissons that they had fired. I made a detail that saved nineteen of the wagons and one caisson. Crossing Rowanty creek, where the enemy had left their ambulances and wounded, these regiments (the Third in front) soon came upon the rear guard of the enemy, and scattered it in every direction, capturing and bringing off three pieces of artillery, taking two mountain howitzers, and forcing the enemy to abandon all but one of his guns (which were afterwards taken possession of by General Mahone's men when they came up), capturing, so far as I can learn, all of the wagons and ambulances that they attempted to take with them, and capturing many prisoners, negroes and small arms; recapturing a considerable number
