Barksdale was pressing up the gorge that lay between little Round Top and the ridge, was making successful battle and in all likelihood would have succeeded had it not been for General Warren.  General Meade’s Chief Engineer being on the ground and seeing the danger, grasped the situation at once, called up all the available force and lined the stone walls that led along the gorge with infantry.  Brigade after brigade of Federal infantry was now rushed to this citadel, while the crown of little Round Top was literally covered with artillery.  Ayer’s Regulars were found to be a stubborn set by Kershaw’s troops.  The Federal volunteers on our right and left gave way to Southern valor, but the regulars stood firm, protected as they were by the great boulders along their lines.  Barksdale had passed beyond us as the enemy’s line bent backward at this point, and was receiving the whole shock of battle in his front, while a terrific fire was coming from down the gorge and from behind hedges on the hillside.  But the Mississippians held on like grim death till Wofford, with his Georgians, who was moving in majestic style across the open field in the rear, came to his support.

General Wofford was a splendid officer, and equally as hard a fighter.  He advanced his brigade through the deadly hail of bullets and took position on Bardsdale’s right and Kershaw’s left, and soon the roar of his guns were mingling with those of their comrades.  The whole division was now in action.  The enemy began to give way and scamper up the hillside.  But Meade, by this time, had the bulk of his army around and in rear of the Round Top, and fresh troops were continually being rushed in to take the places of or reinforce those already in action.  Hood’s whole force was now also engaged, as well as a part of A.P.  Hill’s on our left.  The smoke became so dense, the noise of small arms and the tumult raised by the “Rebel Yell,” so great that the voices of officers attempting to give commands were hushed in the pandemonium.  Along to the right of the 3d, especially up the little ravine, the fire was concentrated on those who held this position and was terrific beyond description, forcing a part of the line back to the stone house.  This fearful shock of battle was kept up along the whole line without intermission till night threw her sable curtains over the scene of carnage and bloodshed and put an end to the strife.  Wofford and Barksdale had none to reinforce them at the gorge, and had to fight it out single-handed and alone, while the Regulars, with their backs to the base of little Round Top, protected by natural formations, were too strong to be dislodged by Kershaw.  As soon as the firing ceased the troops were withdrawn to near our position of the forenoon.

The work of gathering up the wounded lasted till late at night.  Our loss in regimental and line officers was very great.  Scarcely a regiment but what had lost one of its staff, nor a company some of its officers.  Dr. Salmond, the Brigade Surgeon, came early upon the field and directed in person the movements of his assistants in their work of gathering up the wounded.  “The dead were left to take care of the dead” until next day.