Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 7.djvu/412

horse to lead his men in the attack, but was unable to keep his saddle, and was sent back to his ambulance by General Rodes. Mortified by his condition and fearing that his usefulness was ended, he sent forward his resignation, but it was disapproved by General Rodes, who renewed his recommendation of promotion, asking that Colonel Battle be assigned to the command of Rodes' brigade. He was able to take part in the Gettysburg campaign, and was distinguished in the fighting of July ist. General Rodes reported: "The whole brigade, with the exception of the Third Alabama, was repulsed quickly and with loss." General Ramseur wrote: "Colonel Battle, with the Third Alabama, rendered brilliant and valuable service. Attaching his regiment to my command, on his own responsibility, he came in at the right place at the right time and in the right way." General Ewell also mentioned the movement in complimentary terms. Colonel Battle was promoted brigadier-general on the field and assigned to command of Rodes' brigade. On the third day at Gettysburg he attacked the enemy at 4:30 in the morning by order of General Ewell, who stated that General Longstreet would go in on the right at the same time. Battle's brigade was one of the first to encounter Grant in the Wilderness. General Early, in one of his first publications, stated that the brigades of Battle and Jones were driven back, and Mr. Davis repeated this in his history, but the fact is that Battle's brigade was drawn back to conform to the nature of the ground, and one regiment retired farther than was intended. General Ewell more correctly stated: "Battle's left and Stewart's right rested on the pike. Slight works were thrown up and several partial attacks of the enemy repulsed. In a counter attack by Stewart's and Battle's brigades, two 24-pounder howitzers were captured." In the fight of May 12th, at Spottsylvania, the "bloody angle," Rodes' division, including Battle's brigade, was thrown across Hancock's front, and there took part in the