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was a large open field, and on the left of this opening was Pegram's house, and as
the battle was fought principally upon Pegram's farm it should properly be called
the battle of Pegram's farm, as Peebles' farm was some hundreds of yards distant,
but in this case, as in many other battles of the war, usage and not facts is
conformed to. Beyond the open field mentioned was a long stretch of swampy
woods, and at the farther side and extreme edge of the woods was a deep ravine,
but beyond this the ground arose to a considerable elevation, and here was the
line of works constructed by the enemy, and which was the objective point of
General Heth's attack.

The Confederates advanced as follows : First, a thin line of sharpshooters;

next, a brigade of Virginians; then the Second Maryland and Thirteenth Alabama,
First. Seventh and Fourteenth Tennessee, in the order named; following came
Davis' Mississippi Brigade, and upon the extreme right McGowan's South
Carolina Brigade.

The South Carolinians were the first to encounter the enemy as they dashed
across the open space in magnificent order, and lost heavily, but carried the point
of works in their front.

The Second Maryland plunged into the woods and crossed the swampy
ground. Emerging from the woods into the open they were greeted with a heavy
fire from the enemy's skirmishers, but, supported by the Thirteenth Alabama,
they brushed aside the skirmishers and attacked his line of battle posted deep in
the woods, and soon had possession of the enemy's outer trenches, but unfortu-
nately the left held back from some unaccountable reason, and these troops in
advance were placed in a difficult and dangerous position, and were subjected to
as terrible a fire of musketry and artillery as any they had ever experienced. But
tenaciously did the Marylanders and Alabamians hold on to the position gained,
with the enemy but a few feet above their heads. Many were killed and wounded
by the artillery and musketry fire, among the latter Captain Ferd. Duvall, who was
in command of the Second Maryland, when the command devolved upon Captain
John W. Torsch. This desperate state of affairs existed from 5 o'clock in the
evening until midnight, during all of which time the contending forces were but
a few feet apart. At length, after seven hours in the enemy's trenches, Captain
Torsch withdrew his command and sought the works which they had left in the
morning.

In a measure General Heth's attack was not a success, although he inflicted
heavy loss upon the enemy in killed and wounded, and brought off four hundred
prisoners. But Heth determined to make one more effort to regain the lost
position, and an attempt was to be made to gain Warren's right and rear, and thus
compel him to retire.

After an hour's rest, the Second Maryland was marched across the country