cavalry, commanded by Colonel J. C. Burks; the Fourteenth Texas Regiment, dismounted cavalry, commanded by Colonel M. D. Ector; the Fifteenth [Thirty-second?] Texas Regiment, dismounted cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Weaver, and McCray's Arkansas regiment of sharpshooters, commanded by Major J. W. Clark, were twice engaged with the enemy on the 30th ultimo before Richmond, Ky., after a forced march of 13 miles.

At about 9 a.m. I was ordered to march my brigade, left in front, to a skirt of woods about 1 mile to the left of the turnpike road leading to Richmond, for the purpose of flanking the enemy, who was already briskly engaged with Brigadier-General Cleburne's division. At the place designated the brigade was moved in line of battle directly ont he right wing of the enemy's line, which was immediately turned, and they fled in confusion, leaving on the field a large number of killed, wounded, and prisoners. The enemy retreated about 2 miles and again formed line of battle, covered by a skirt of woods and a field of very heavy corn. I was ordered to attack him with my brigade, numbering at that time not exceeding 1,500 effective men. The line of battle was immediately formed and marched directly in front of the enemy's lines, who numbered not less than 6,000 infantry, supported by a full battery of six pieces and one regiment of cavalry. When within about 400 yards of the enemy he opened his battery upon us, which was rapidly followed with volleys of musketry; but my gallant troops pressed steadily forward under a galling fire of bombs, rifle-shot, and Minie balls to a fence not exceeding 200 yards of his lines, where, finding the air literally filled with bomb-shells and Minie balls, I ordered the troops to lie down under cover of the fence to prevent the little command from being crushed out by overwhelming numbers. I remained in this position for fully twenty minutes, during all of which time to the most incessant firing of cannon and musketry I have ever heard was kept up by the enemy, without being replied to except by one section of Captain Humphreys' Arkansas battery, commanded by Lieutenant ---, who did very efficient service. The two pieces of artillery were posted on my extreme right. The enemy, misconstruing my silence and thinking he could crush me before re-enforcements could arrive, ordered a charge, and on came his solid columns. I immediately ordered my command to lie still and not fire a gun until ordered to do so, and when his lines had advanced to within less than 50 yards the order fire was given and promptly responded to by the entire command. The effect was terrific. The advancing columns of the enemy faltered and staggered from one end of his lines to the other. My command was ordered to load rapidly, mount the fence, and charge, which were admirably and gallantly executed. The enemy soon commenced falling back, but obstinately contested every inch of ground, taking shelter and firing at us from behind trees, some haystacks, corn-pens, and a fence that happened to be on the line of his retreat, for about half a mile, where, being so closely pursued and pressed, they fled in all directions, leaving on the field 500 in killed, wounded, and prisoners, 1 piece of rifled cannon, 600 Minie rifles, 300,000 Enfield rifled cartridges, wagons, teams, ambulances, &c.

It is impossible for me to speak in terms of too high praise of the gallantry and intrepid valor of the officers and privates of this command. Each one, it seemed, tried to excel his comrade in deeds of daring. I will mention a few names of the officers who were under my immediate observation: Cols. M. D. Ector and J. C. Burks, Lieutenant Colonel James Weaver, and Majs. R. Redwine and J. W. Clark particularly distinguished themselves, being in the front of battle and cheering on their