Henry D. McDaniel 11th Georgia Infantry, Army of Northern Virginia
University of Georgia
Report of Major H. D. McDaniel, Eleventh Georgia Infantry.
July 8, 1863.
Captain: I have the honor to report the part borne by the Eleventh Georgia Regiment in the engagement near Gettysburg, Pa., on the 2d instant.
The regiment went into action under command of Colonel F. H. Little. He having been severely wounded during the action, the command devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel William Luffman. Near the close of the battle, Lieutenant-Colonel Luffman took command of the brigade, when the command of the regiment devolved upon myself.
The scene of action was reached by a march of several miles, under a terrific fire of the enemy's batteries. Advancing to the crest of the hill where the Emmitsburg pike enters the woods in front of the enemy's position, along a ravine near the base of the mountain, the regiment bore unflichinly, with the remainder of the brigade, the severe enfilading fire of the enemy's batteries upon Cemetery Hill until ordered to advance.
The Eleventh Georgia is the right center regiment of the brigade, and went into action in its place. The advance was made in good order, and, upon reaching the belt of woods in front, a vigorous fire was opened upon the enemy, followed up by a vigorous charge, with dislodged them from the woods, the ravine, and from a stone fence running diagonally with the line of battle. This formidable position was occupied by the Eleventh Georgia; and a galling fire opened upon the enemy's front and flank, causing his line to recoil in confusion. At this juncture, Brigadier-General Anderson same in person to the regiment (a considerable distance in advance of the remainder of the brigade and in strong position, with was at the time held and might have been held against the enemy in front), and ordered Colonel Little to withdraw the regiment to the crest of the hill, on account of a movement of the enemy in force upon the left flank of the brigade. The regiment retired in good order, though with loss, to the point indicated.
After a short interval, a second advance was made to the stone fence, but, after a furious conflict, the failure of support on the right forced the brigade back a distance of 100 yards. The third advance was made in connection with the entire line on that part of the field, and resulted, after a conflict in the ravine of half an hour, in the rout of the enemy from the field. This rout was vigorously pressed to the very foot of the mountain, up the sides of which the enemy fled in the greatest confusion. The loss of the enemy was here very great, his dead lying upon the field by the hundred. Nothing but the exhausted condition of the men prevented them from carrying the heights. As it was, with no support of fresh troops, and with the knowledge that the enemy was pouring re-enforcements from their right into the ledges of the mountain, it was found impracticable to follow him farther.
In this charge, large numbers of prisoners taken by men of this command were sent to the rear, but no guards were kept over them specially, and impossible now to ascertain the number. The regiment retired with the line to the ravine, and went into bivouac for the night, the pickets of the brigade holding the field. The rout of the enemy was manifested in the fact that no attempt was made to follow our retreat, and scarcely any effort to annoy us in retiring.
The regiment lost many valuable officers and men. Among the killed are Captain M. T. Nunnally, Company H; Captain John W. Stokes, Company B, and First Lieutenant W. Holmes Baskin, Company K, who fell gallantly at their posts. A complete list of the casualties is herewith transmitted. From this it appears that the number of killed was 23, of wounded 171, and of missing 5; total, 204 [199?].
I take pleasure in; testifying that the behavior of officers and men was satisfactory and worthy the proud name heretofore won by the troops of this army.
Major: I have the honor to report the part borne by the detachment of Anderson's brigade under my command in the affair of the 3rd instant, between portions of Hood's division and the enemy's cavalry.
The Eleventh Georgia and Fifty-ninth Georgia (Captain [M. G.] Bass), under the command of Lieutenant Colonel William Luffman, were ordered to repel an attempt of the enemy's cavalry to reach the rear of the army by turning the right flank of Hood's division. Lieutenant-Colonel Luffman was forced by illness to relinquish the command before the detachment reached the scene of action. Assuming command, I placed the Eleventh Georgia under command of Captain William H. Mitchell. The detachment, guided by Brigadier-General Law (commanding Hood's division) in person, reached the flank just as the enemys' dismounted cavalry had succeeded in turning the same, driving our cavalry force before them.
Under the direction of Brigadier-General Law, I ordered a charge with the entire force, with was promptly made. The enemy was repulsed with loss, and driven in confusion several hundred yards to a point far beyond our flank, before endangered. A number of prisoners fell into our hands; how many, I have not now means to ascertain, as they were immediately sent to the rear. Being ordered by Captain [L. R.] Terrell, of Brigadier-General Law's staff, to stop the pursuit, and recall my command to a fence on the extension of the line of the division, I did so, and sent a small force of skirmishers to the front.
Meantime the Eight Georgia, Captain [D.] Scott, and the skirmishers of the brigade, Capt. S. D. Cockrell, had joined the detachment, the Eighth Georgia taking position on the right of the Fifty ninth Georgia. The enemy, finding our pursuit staved, made a demonstration against the skirmishers in front. Captain Cockrell was ordered to advance width his skirmishers. This advance was handsomely made, under a sharp fire, and the enemy quickly put to flight. No further attempt was made to penetrate to our rear in that direction. Our loss was very slight.
Captain [C. C.] Hardwick and Lieutenant [E. C.?] Arnold, of Brigadier-General [George T.] Anderson's staff, were with me, and rendered valuable assistance.
The officers and men of the command displayed their usual gallantry and enthusiasm.
