570 men, and six pieces of the First Ohio Artillery, 150 men, Captain Konkle in command.

On Tuesday, the 16th instant, at about 9.30 a.m., the advance of the enemy attacked, our pickets on the south side of our works and from the direction of Cave City. His advance was sternly resisted by Companies A, B and H, Fiftieth Indiana, and part of Company K, Seventy-eighth Indiana, under Major [Samuel T.] Wells, who, as well as the officers and men under him, in this little skirmish displayed great coolness and courage. They held the enemy's advancing columns at bay for over an hour and were only pressed back by overwhelming numbers. The object evidently was to avoid the field work on our left, known as Fort Craig, from which he had been so fatally repulsed on Sunday, and, under cover of the woods to approach and carry by storm the breast-works on our right; but the promptness and energy with which he was met seemed to deter him from the attempt. Before 11 a.m. the engagement had become general along our south line, the heavy pressure being upon the west or right. The men were cool and eager for the expected assault. The fire was rapid and continuous on the part of the enemy, who kept himself closely under cover of the woods. Between 2 and 3 o'clock it slackened, and by 3 o'clock it had almost ceased, and, supposing the enemy had withdrawn from the woods which fronted our entire south line, and being anxious to occupy the farther edge of it, that I might be advised of and check a renewed attack, Company A, Fiftieth Indiana, Captain Burrell, was thrown out as skirmishers, to feel through it. They upon became hotly engaged with the enemy, who attempted to turn their left flank. I immediately ordered Captain Carothers' company (G, same regiment) to his support. The order was promptly obeyed, and the company gallantly deployed, under a galling fire. This was a brilliant little affair. In it Lieutenant Burton, of Company G, fell, severely wounded, nobly doing his duty. Finding that the enemy still occupied the woods in force, our men were withdrawn, under a fire from the works. I should also mention that Company A, Sixtieth Indiana, was thrown out as skirmishers upon the left early in the engagement, and there remained for some time, doing excellent service, with the loss of 1 man wounded. By 4.30 p.m. the firing on both sides had nearly ceased, there being only an occasional shot from our guns, as opportunity offered, to prevent the planting of batteries by the enemy.

Between 5 and 6 o'clock a flag of truce from the enemy was seen approaching. I sent Colonel Wilder to receive it. It covered a note from General Bragg, commanding the enemy's forces, asserting that we were surrounded by an overwhelming force, all hopes of

re-enforcements cut off, and demanding a surrender to save the loss of human life, which must result from carrying the works by storm.* I promptly and peremptorily declined;but when Colonel Wilder returned, after the delivery of my reply, and informed me that so far as he had been able to observe the force against us was truly overwhelming, and especially in artillery, and our situation critical, and being only a senior officer of equal rank with several others in the works, some of whom had had greater experience, I, at his suggestion, deemed it my duty to call a council of war of those officers. I desired also to again time, in hopes of relieve from this place or from Bowling Green. I therefore sent a note to General Bragg, asking a further suspension of hostilities, to give me time for such consultation. He consented to such suspension until

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*See inclosure to reports of Bragg.

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