Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 5.djvu/116

104 being in his front, and the ground higher and better adapted for defense than the position at Dr. Hutson’s.

Capt. John H. Screven, just as the enemy appeared, opened fire, and after the last man of the rear guard had crossed, took a party of men and effectually tore up the long bridge on the causeway, and the fight began in earnest. Brannan brought up all his troops and artillery and poured in a galling fire, to which Walker’s men replied from trees and houses and every bush on the edge of the marsh. Two of Elliott’s guns and all of Morris but one were disabled by the loss of the gunners, killed or wounded, and after the battle had been in progress some two hours, Walker had only three guns left. One of these he withdrew from the position commanding the causeway and put it in position under Sergeant Fuller, about 300 yards to his right, where it opened on the Federal left. Nelson’s battalion (Seventh), 200 strong, under Capt. W. H. Sligh, came up at this juncture on Walker s right, and swelled his gallant little band to about 800 men. Half of Sligh’s command, under Capt. J. H. Brooks, took position beyond Fuller s place, and opened fire from the woods fringing the Pocotaligo 700 or 800 yards beyond the hamlet of Pocotaligo. This fire created the impression of a strong reinforcement on Walker’s right, and threatened the Federal left, which was in full view &quot;in air.&quot;

General Brannan had sufficient force to hold Walker at Old Pocotaligo, and move at least 2,500 men around his right flank, crossing the Pocotaligo a mile or so above, where it becomes very narrow. But he cautiously held on to his position and kept up his fire on Walker’s force, relieving his regiments as they became slack of ammunition. He could not get to Walker without forcing the causeway and relaying the bridge, and this he could not do as the fire of the artillery and every musket would be turned on the least advance. The creek was deep and the banks boggy and made an impassable ditch in Walk-