Gettsyburg Battlefield Report (cont...)
When we arrived within a few hundred yards of the crossroads
mentioned above, we discovered that the enemy held it with a large force of
infantry and artillery, which opened upon us immediately. We forwarded into
line by a right oblique, and came into battery on an eminence a short distance
to the right of the road on which we were advancing, at a distance of 700
yards from the enemy's batteries. From this position we engage the enemy at
2.30 p.m., giving and receiving a very heavy fire for several hours, until
at last, with the assistance of other troops, we succeeded in driving them
from their position. During the evening, we advanced by a left oblique to
the position left by the enemy in a large peach orchard. During the night,
I was ordered to resume the position I had occupied during the afternoon.
On Friday, July 3, at 5 a.m., I was ordered to carry my rifled guns to the
position occupied by the enemy's batteries the day previous, leaving my smooth-bores
in the same position occupied on Thursday, to check the advance in that direction.
I accordingly placed my rifles in battery beyond and to the left of the crossroads,
from which point the enemy's line of artillery was 2,000 yards distant. At
a given signal, we engaged the enemy from this position, my guns firing slowly
and with deliberation. About 3 p.m. my supply of ammunition was exhausted,
but in a short time I received another supply, and was enabled again to engage
the enemy, which we did, keeping the fire until 7.30 p.m., at which time I
received orders to withdraw my guns, as our troops had carried that line.
On Saturday, July 4, I occupied my original position of Thursday, 2nd. At
about 10 a.m. the enemy advanced with about three regiments toward our position.
At about 1,200 yards distance we opened on them with beautiful effect, causing
them to report that fact to their comrades in rear in great haste and disorder.
They made no other advance on our position during that day. That night we
withdrew from the vicinity of Gettysburg, and marched toward Hagerstown, Md.
On Wednesday, July 8, I was ordered to picket near Funkstown, on the Antietam.
On Friday, July 10, I was ordered to cross the Antietam, and go to the assistance
of General Stuart's cavalry. We engaged the enemy at about 6 a.m. near the
suburbs of Funkstown, and fought them from that position until late in the
afternoon, compelling their artillery to change position twice during the
engagement.
During these several engagements my men all acted splendidly. I deem it but
justice, however, to a brave soldier to mention an act of coolness by Private
H. E. Thain, by which many lives were probably saved. Thain was acting No.
6 at one of the guns, and, while adjusting a fuse-igniter, it accidentally
exploded, and ignited the fuse already in the shell. He seized the shell,
and ran with it several yards from the limber, at the same time drawing the
burning fuse from the shell with his fingers.
In the battle of Thursday, July 2, near Gettysburg, Captain Fraser's battery
was so disabled that he was unable to use two of his guns. I took charge of
them, and manned them with supernumeraries from my own battery, and fought
them, together with my own battery, through the subsequent engagements.
My loss in battle from the time we crossed the Potomac until we recrossed
it was: In killed, Privates (W.T.)Ramsey, (J.S.) Harward, and (G.V.) Bridgers;
in wounded, 15 men. Horses killed 13; disabled, 7; total, 20. One gun carriage
dismounted, but immediately mounted again with extra wheel. I fired 1,146
rounds of ammunition. My horses, guns, men, and equipment generally are in
fine condition.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
B. C. MANLY
Captain (Company A), First North Carolina Artillery Col. H. C. CABELL
Source: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies