The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 67, July 1963 - April, 1964 Page: 237
672 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Notes and Documents
ton's Brig. was held in reserve. I enquired of Lt. Col. Spaight where
the enemy was and was answered that he was directly in front.
Speight's 15th Reg. Maj. [John W.] Daniel commanding entered the
canefield first, followed by Hawpes' Reg., Maj. [Frederick J.] Malone
comdg., then Spaight's Batn., Lt. Col. [Ashley W.] Spaight comdg.,
and finally Clack's Batn., Lt. Col. [Franklin H.] Clack comdg. As
passing Col. [Henry] Gray (comdg. the two brigades) he said, "Capt.,
don't form in column until you arrive within range." I explained
that Lt. Col. Spaight was comdg. the Batn. and ran forward across
the fence and levee to overtake the Batn. (which had moved in
the meantime) and inform Col. Spaight of the order, but before I
arrived he had formed them in column. Being informed of Col.
Gray's order and finding it impracticable to march through the cane
in column, he resumed the march in two ranks by the right flank.
We proceeded then 2 or 300 yds. to a turning row, filed to the right,
to the left and to the right again for a distance of 1-1/2 miles on the
qui vive all the while for the enemy. When along the turning row
we had arrived within 3 or 4o00 yds of a large sugar house in sight
we filed to the right down the cane rows under considerable fire, and
when Clack's Batn. on the left were covered by the cane, without
halting or fronting, the command to forward and to charge, with
an occasional cry to retreat, were commingled together in dreadful
confusion, while the enemy rained among us and the cane around
us a terrible shower of whistling wounding and killing bullets. After
some hesitation in consequence of the want of order and deliberation
in our comdr., the natural bravery of the troops induced them, with
the example of the more daring and gallant, to front and ad-
vance toward the enemy whence the firing proceeded. Advancing
a short distance we arrived at a ditch where another halt was vol-
untarily made, owing to the security offered by the ditch against the
whirlwind of bullets around us. The command to Fire was given,
heard, and the entire line discharged their pieces with very little,
if any, effect from the fact that the cane was so high that the enemy
or his position could not be seen. It was heard that Maj. [Josephus S.]
Irvine's son Patton78 was killed by a minnie ball through the breast,
also that Robt. Burrell received a severe wound in the leg. Hearing
along the line the cry of Charge, Charge, by many voices, I reiterated
it, looking around for my company, but the novelty of the move-
ment by which they were brought into line every company and
corps was hopelessly mixed up and confused and there were but
few of it with us. Seeing that Texans were in line in the ditch, how-
ever, and being intensely excited, I arose out of the ditch, drew my
pistol and fired at the sugar house (where I thought I had seen the
enemy) almost unconsciously, and crying Charge, Charge, moved
78James Patton Irvine of Company C was from Newton County.237
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 67, July 1963 - April, 1964, periodical, 1964; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101197/m1/279/: accessed March 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.