There is no doubt the brigade of General Hancock was in our hands. Besides the two regiments of Early's brigade, which were not called on to do any work, and Colonel Bratton's regiment, in immediate presence of the disaster, General Hill had two brigades—Rodes' and Rains'—in easy reach, and Hancock was out of reach of support. He could easily have been taken in flank while the Fifth North Carolina was in his front. Napoleon, with the same opportunity, would have made short work of it.
For myself I make no claim to military renown on the occasion referred to. I moved without discretion, under orders of superior officers—no suggestion made by me was acted on by General Hill—and both of those officers have long since exonerated me from all responsibility, and both of them were afterwards promoted. So I take for granted that the result which happened was contemplated for some wise purpose, and that I was only an instrument with which to consummate a military necessity, about which it was not requisite I should be informed. It is very certain that if a sacrifice was needed for the cause, the lot could not have fallen more appropriately than on the brave and faithful men and officers of the Fifth North Carolina regiment who fell upon that field.
