Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 07.djvu/550

542 sweep, I had ordered Field and Hoke to move by the left flank, along the works, leaving only strong lines of skirmishers on the fronts they were leaving, and ordered Gary to the Nine-Mile road, to hold the works at that point. This movement was made rapidly and continued till the left of Field rested just beyond the Williamsburg road. Johnson's and Haskell's battalions of artillery were moved with the infantry, and placed in suitable positions along the line. When the head of the column reached the Williamsburg road, the enemy were already advancing a strong line of skirmishers on the works at that point. They were handsomely repulsed by our advance, by a portion of General Gary's command, and the column took position along the old line of works. Hardly had Field located himself when an attack in very heavy force was attempted on his front, over the open ground on each side of the Williamsburg road. This was repulsed with ease, and small loss to ourselves, but with heavy loss to the enemy, in killed, wounded and prisoners.

Major Johnson's artillery assisted materially in this success. No other effort was made by the enemy at this point, and only a heavy artillery fire kept up for about an hour. In the meanwhile, Gary had moved a part of the way over to the Nine-Mile road, when he sent word to me that no enemy had appeared on that road, and that his scouts reported none as being about. He was then ordered to return and attack the force in front of Field, on the flank. While in the execution of these orders, he received information that the enemy were attacking the small force picketing the Nine-Mile road, and he withdrew his command to their assistance. Moving with promptness, he arrived only in time to see his small squadron driven out of the salient at that part of the line, by the heavy advance of the enemy's skirmishers, supported by a large force in line of battle, and about one hundred yards from the works. A piece of artillery had been captured. Immediately forming his line at light angles with the works, Gary charged down them, taking the enemy in flank, routing them and recapturing the piece of artillery. This was accomplished with such rapidity that our loss was but slight.

The fruits of these successes, so creditable to the officers and men engaged, and resulting in the complete defeat of a most determined effort to take Richmond on the north side, amounted to (11) eleven stands of colors, captured in the assault of Field's position, and about (600) six hundred prisoners, most of whom