Page:Journal history of the Twenty-ninth Ohio veteran volunteers, 1861-1865.djvu/59

 to musketry, bayonet clashed with bayonet, and cheers rang out against cheers, as one side or the other gained the advantage in this deadly conflict. Daring warmed into rashness, and bravery into recklessness. Hurrah! we force them back, their line is broken, a battery is almost within our grasp; when in this moment of seeming certain victory, fresh columns of rebel infantry rush upon us on the double-quick, masked batteries open on us at the same moment a most furious enfilading fire, causing our brave boys to reel and stagger. An order comes for us to retire, when three-fourths of our regiment have been placed out of the fight—dead or wounded. Slowly and sadly the remaining few obey the order, keeping our faces to the foe until fresh troops arrive to take our places, when we resume our position in the reserve near Telegraph hill. Each regiment of the brigade had done nobly, but all alike had suffered a loss so great that the four regiments together could not show a respectable facing front for one regiment. As night settled over the field of carnage and of death our entire army corps withdrew to the position it held early in the day, but our artillery kept up a desultory firing, with but short intervals during the night.

The casualties of this battle were: Killed, 11; wounded, 26; missing, 12. Total, 49.

Private George Williams, company F, came off the field with his third gun—two having been shot from his hands.

During August 10th and 11th skirmishing continued. In the afternoon of the last-named day the 29th regiment was inspected. Adjutant Storer reported eighty-three men only present for duty.

The Union army remained on the field three days, retiring, on August 12th, to Culpeper Court House,