248

                                                                                                Head Quarters 17^th Ga Vols

Culpepper Court House July 27^th

1863.

 

H. H. Perry

            Lt & A.A.A.Genl

                                                Arriving with my command near the battle field of Wednesday the first of July at 12 O clock PM The men after a fatiqueing march through the mountain pass by way of Coshtown were permitted to rest upon their arms until three O.clock P.M. at which  time the march was resumed. After one other temporary halt my Regiment in its place in Benning’s Brigade was pushed forward to our right to assume position in lines assigned it. Notwithstanding the excessive heat of the day the circuitous routes to reach said position Officers and men bore up cheerfully under the annoyances, this being the preliminary to the fight of the 2^nd of July and the second of the series of engagements near Gettysburg in which my Regiment actively participated. I may be excused for a detailed statement of the events occurring in our front The second and seventeenth Regts formed the right wing of Bennings Brigade and after being formed in line facing the enemy, under a murderous fire of artillery ably served and vollies of musketry dashed forward gallantly and with impetuosity until a four gun battery of the enemy from which we had received no little annoyance was passed by the left of my Regiment and many of the officers and men both of said battery and its support composed in part of a detachment of the 4^th Main Infantry were captured and sent in the rear by the men of my command. It is not intended in this statement to set up any exclusive claim to the capture of this battery which having had its support stripped from it in the manner indicated, remained at the command of the Brigade until removed under cover of night. The position of my Regt in relation to the battery proved its instrumentality in the valuable capture. The impetuosity of the charge of second regt and my/

 

                                                                                                                                    247

own and the nature of the ground threw us beyond the first crest from which we had driven the enemy into a deep gorge separating the seized crest from the strongest one upon which the enemy now displayed a heavy force and but partially sheltered by scattering rocks, under a plunging fire from above us. My command bravely held its position and seven times broke columns of the enemy while forming for a vigorous onset to dislodge us. It affords me the utmost pleasure in testifying to the general good conduct & gallantry of the officers & men of the command. never did men behave with more heroism. It is difficult to individualize. It is my opinion that not a man of the Regiment could have been driven from this position which was quietly held during the night.

 

It should be remarked that the position taken and held by the second & seventeenth until the morning succeeding the fight was so considerably in advance of our lines that under Hd Quarters orders these commands were retired from it for the purpose of completing our lines.

                                                                                                            I have had the honor previously of submitting a list of casualties

 

                                                                                    Very Respectfully

                                                                                                Yours &c

                                                                                                W. C Hodges

                                                                                    Col comdg 17^th Ga Vol

SOURCES