1863 to 14 OCT |
We remained in our camp near Orange Court House until about 20
September, doing picket duty and drilling daily. On the 20th the
regiment was moved to Rapidan Station and placed in position,
together with the remainder of the brigade, to meet an expected
advance of General Meade's army. On 8 October, 1863, we left our line at Rapidan Station with a view of flanking the enemy and giving him battle at Culpepper Court House, but we were not successful in bringing on this fight. The enemy, learning of General Lee's movements, began to fall back towards Centreville, we following in hot pursuit. On the 13th the Corps of A.P. Hill had reached Warrenton, Va., and on the morning of the 14th we moved out from Warrenton along the turnpike road to New Baltimore, where we wheeled to the right in pursuit of General French, who was just ahead and retreating very rapidly, as was evidenced by the beaten tracks on both sides of the road over which his troops had passed. Reaching the hills to the westward and just above Bristoe Station in the afternoon, we saw the rear of his column in the valley just beyond Broad Run river. He had escaped us, but we were destined for a fight. |
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About the time of our reaching Bristoe Station the advance of
Warren's Corps, whom General Ewell was following up the railroad, made its appearance and Cooke's and Kirkland's Brigades were formed for immediate attack. The two brigades, under cover of artillery, gallantly advanced against overwhelming numbers posted behind the railroad embankment. Everything was moving smoothly until we had reached point blank range, when the infantry posted behind the railroad, opened a withering fire upon our lines which halted and were forced to fall back. The Fifty-second and Eleventh Regiments moved steadily forward and succeeded in driving the enemy immediately in their front, next to the railroad bridge, from their position. About the time we had gained the road in our front, a section of artillery passed rapidly over the river, and, crossing the railroad track, unlimbered, preparatory to giving us a raking enfilading shelling. Looking for our support on the right, we were dismayed to see the enemy to our right and rear, in possession of the field and part of our artillery. The command was at once given to fall back and we retreated rapidly and successfully. The Fifty-second Regiment, whose losses were comparatively few on this occasion, had three killed on the field, twenty-one wounded and forty-two missing. General Kirkland was wounded and conveyed
from the field. In view of the fact that General A.P. Hill had an entire army corps within half a mile, and the remainder of Heth's with all of Wilcox's Division, were spectators, the lack of timely reinforcements was strange, to say the least of it.* |
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| *When General Lee arrived on the scene of A.P. Hill's bloody blunder his pointed rebuke was "nothing remains to be done, General Hill, except to bury your unfortunate dead."--Ed. | |
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