•33 6

KERSHAW’S BRIGADE AT GETTYSBURG.

doubt, this movement, observed by some one from the left, that led to theterrible mistake which cost so dearly.

The moment the line was rectified the 7th and 3d regiments advanced intothe wood and occupied the stony hill, the left of the 3d Regiment swingingaround and attacking the batteries to the left of that position, which, for thereasons already stated, had resumed their fire. Very soon a heavy columnmoved in two lines of battle across the wheat-field to attack my position insuch manner as to take the 7th Regiment in flank on the right. The rightwing of this regiment was then thrown back to meet this attack, under thecommand of Lieutenant-Colonel Bland. I then hurried in person to GeneralSemmes, then 150 yards in my right rear, to bring him up to meet theattack on my right, and also to bring forward my right regiment, the 15th,commanded by Colonel W. D. de Saussure, which, separated from the bri-gade by the artillery at the time of the advance, was cut off by Semmes’sbrigade. In the act of leading his regiment, this gallant and accomplishedcommander of the 15th had just fallen when I reached it. He fell some pacesin front of the line, with sword drawn, leading the advance.

General Semmes promptly responded to my call, and put his brigade inmotion toward the right, preparatory to moving to the front. While histroops were moving he fell, mortally wounded. Returning to the 7tli Regi-ment, I reached it just as the advancing column of Federals had arrived at apoint some two hundred yards off, whence they poured into us a volley fromtheir whole line, and advanced to the charge. They were handsomely receivedand entertained by this veteran regiment, which long kept them at bay inits front. One regiment of Semmes’s brigade came at a double-quick as faras the ravine in our rear, and checked the advance of the Federals in theirfront. There was still an interval of a hundred yards, or thereabout, betweenthis regiment and the right of the 7th, and into this the enemy was forcinghis way, causing my right to swing back more and more ; still fighting, at adistance not exceeding thirty paces, until the two wings of the regimentwere nearly doubled on each other.

About this time, the fire of the battery on my left having ceased, I sent forthe 2d South Carolina regiment to come to the right. Before I could hearanything of them the enemy had swung around and lapped my whole line atclose quarters, and the fighting was general and desperate all along the line,and so continued for some time. These men were brave veterans who hadfought from Bull Run to Gettysburg , and knew the strength of their position,and so held it as long as it was tenable. The 7th Regiment finally gave way,and I directed Colonel Aiken to re-form it at the stone wall about Rose’s. Ipassed to the 3d Regiment, then hotly engaged on the crest of the hill, andgradually swung back its right as the enemy made progress around thatflank. Semmes’s advanced regiment had given way. One of his regimentshad mingled with the 3d, and amid rocks and trees, within a few feet of eachother, these brave men, Confederate's and Federals, maintained a desperate

& The Union force engaged in this movement consisted of Do Trobriand’s brigade (Birney’sdivision) of the Third Corps.— Editors.