Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 13.djvu/200

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Official Reports of the Battle of Gettysburg. 199

line, which command was executed in good order, and not until all our wounded had been removed to the rear. All of which is respectfully submitted.

WM. S. SHEPHERD, Lieutenant- Colonel Commanding Second Ga. Reg 1 1.

REPORT OF COLONEL WADDELL, TWENTIETH REGIMENT GEORGIA

VOLUNTEERS.

HEADQUARTERS TWENTIETH REGT. GA. VOLS.,

Near Culpeper Courthouse, Va.,

July ajth, 1863. Lieutenant H. H. PERRY,

A. A. A. General :

SIR, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part borne by the Twentieth Regiment of Georgia Volunteers in the bat- tle at and near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the 2d and 3d of July:

In the order of attack, Longstreet's corps was assigned to the right, and Hood's division occupied the right of the corps. Ben- ning's brigade, in the order of battle, supported, at the distance of four hundred yards, Law's, whose position was on the extreme right. In the brigade formation the Twentieth regiment occupied the left centre. Before reaching the point wherefrom to make the attack, it was necessary to move by the right flank a distance of nearly three miles. The enemy's guns commanded a considerable portion of this distance, and opened a heavy fire of shell upon us for more than a mile of the way. About five o'clock P. M., having reached the intended point, we advanced in line of battle to the assault, the regi- ment moving in excellent order and spirit. We had not advanced far before it was ascertained that there was a considerable space in- tervening between Law's and Robertson's brigades unoccupied by any Confederate troops, save very few belonging to the First Texas regiment. Near to the centre of this comparatively unoccupied ground, upon a steep, rocky, rugged hill, the enemy had posted a battery of six guns, from which a destructive and vigorous fire was poured into our ranks. To cover this ground, and to support Brig- adier-General Robertson, who was pressed severely at the time, a left oblique movement was made and continued until the Twen- tieth regiment fronted this battery, when the brigade was ordered to