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Report of Maj. Ezekiel H. Hampton, Twenty-ninth North Carolina Infantry,
Ector's
brigade.
HDQRS. TWENTY-NINTH NORTH CAROLINA REGT.,
Tuscumbia, Ala., November 1, 1864.
SIR: My regiment was formed
on the left Young's brigade on the 5th
of October, at 9 a. m., ready for the action at Allatoona. At 10 a. m.
we were
ordered forward upon the enemy. My regiment moved forward
as a unit through the timber, which was very thick. The enemy
were
meanwhile pouring a heavy fire into our ranks. My regiment had to
advance through the forest farther than the other
regiments of the
brigade, and not being able to see the brigade got separated from and in
advance of the brigade. Upon
arriving to where the timber was all felled
I saw my regiment was separated from the other regiments, and being
exposed
to a heavy fire from the enemy, and supposing the remainder
of the brigade to be in advance, I ordered my regiment forward
at a
double-quick to within forty feet of the enemy's outer works, where I
halted, ordered my men to lie down, rest,
and load. After resting from
three to five minutes, I ordered my regiment forward. The order was
promptly obeyed. They
moved into the enemy's works, where they had
hand-to-hand encounter with sword, bayonet, butt of muskets, rocks,
&c.,
killing a good many and capturing 25 or 30 prisoners and the
enemy's intrenchments; thence the regiment moved forward to
within
twenty yards of the foe's last and strong fort, where they remained
contending with the enemy until withdrawn
by order of Maj.-Gen.
French, when they fell back in good order.
I took 138 aggregate into the action and came out
minus 12 killed, 39
wounded, and 3 missing.
All honor is due my regiment, both officers and men, for their
promptness
in obedience to orders and their gallantry on the field. And
although every man did his duty, I must speak of the conduct
of Sergt.
John Rich, Lieut. Alexander, and Sergt. W. J. Parker. Sergeant
Rich was carrying the colors in front of the
regiment crying ''come
ahead, boys!'' when he was severely wounded and fell. The colors were
scarcely to the ground
before they were hoisted by Lieut. E. B.
Alexander, commanding Company C. He threw them to the breeze
saying, ''come
on, my brave boys!'' but he did not get more than fifteen
paces until he was killed. Sergeant Parker, of Company F, took
up the
colors and again threw them to the breeze, and carried them to and
planted them on the enemy's inner works. Here
he was severely
wounded in the face. He then took up the flag, captured a fine horse,
and came out with flag, horse,
and his first lieutenant, who was severely
wounded in the leg.
Very respectfully submitted by your obedient servant,
E.
H. HAMPTON,
Maj., Cmdg. Twenty-ninth North Carolina Regt.
Lieut. LINDSAY,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Source:
Official Records. CHAP. LI., [NORTH GEORGIA AND NORTH ALABAMA, Series I, Vol. 39, Part I, Reports. Serial No. 77.]
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