battery, but upon arrival at the position indicated the battery was retired. I was ordered to form on the brow of the hill, on the right of the Tenth Wisconsin, which was there warmly engaged, which we did, under a heavy fire from the enemy's infantry in front of the right of my line. We occupied this position about two and a half hours, my men taking deliberate aim at every shot. They here spent the 40 rounds in their boxes and then used those in the boxes of the killed and wounded. After this they fixed bayonets and awaited orders.

About this time the right and center of the brigade on our right was seen to give way, when your ordered us to retire, which we did in good under, under a terrific fire from the enemy, who had turned our right and opened upon us with a battery on our right. We halted at your order on the hill on the edge of the woods, and while awaiting the arrival of ammunition were trampled over by a regiment of our troops in full retreat, and my men, to their credit be it spoken, remained firmly in their places. Not a man was observed to share the panic, but, with bayonets fixed, were prepared to repel whatever should come.

The retiring regiments having again formed we were ordered to pass our column to the rear, which was promptly done. We there found our ammunition wagon and supplied our wants immediately. From this position we were ordered to move down the hill to support a battery which was threatened from the left, and where we maintained our position until the close of the engagement.

I have been thus brief in the description, from the fact that during the day we were under your personal observation.

I cannot close without specially noticing the gallant conduct of Lieut. Col. D. F. Griffin, from whose judgment and self-possession I received much assistance.

The conduct of my adjutant, George Devol, was most praiseworthy.

With regard to the officers of the line, it would be invidious to specify by name when all did their whole duty as nobly. They, without exception, remained in their places and gave their whole attention to the work before them, cautioning their men to be sure of their aim and preventing them from uselessly exposing themselves.

Of the men I can only say that they were never more obedient and manageable on drill than upon this occasion, and I believe would have died on the spot rather than to have moved without orders.

The severity of the engagement may be correctly inferred from the following facts: That of the color rank and guard but 3 remain; 5 were killed, and the color-bearer severely wounded in two places. Two others had their clothes penetrated by balls, and but one remained unscathed. The colors were riddled almost to shreds, the top of the staff shot away, and the center cut in two.

Our loss on the field was: Killed, 27; officers wounded, 4; enlisted men wounded, 119. Total, 150.*

We lost in prisoners (taken after they had passed through the engagement with us) 7, 2 of them while assisting the wounded from the field; the others, while in search of water, wandering within the enemy's lines.

B. F. SCRIBNER,

Colonel Thirty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry.

Lieutenant VANDEGRIFT,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

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*But see revised statement, p. 1033.

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