Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/166

154 when it found itself alone in the woods and unsupported. The men, however, rallied and reformed in the open field and advanced a second time, when the enemy were not only driven beyond the "cut," but entirely out of the woods. Never have I witnessed greater bravery and desperation than was that day displayed by this brigade.

We were not actively engaged the next day, but held our position under a heavy artillery fire and very heavy skirmishing until late in the afternoon. We then followed up the enemy until about 10 o'clock P. M., advancing in line through a body of woods to a large hospital, in which the enemy had left many of his wounded.

Our loss in this three days' battle was thirty killed, one hundred and eighty-five wounded, and one missing.

The pursuit was continued the whole of Sunday, and on Monday afternoon, about four o'clock, we came up with the enemy at Ox hill, near Fairfax Courthouse, on the Alexandria and Winchester turnpike, where the engagement was immediately opened. This Brigade pressed eagerly forward through an open field and a piece of woods to the edge of another field, where we were for a short time exposed to the enemy's infantry fire, without being able to return it. An attempt was made to flank us on the right, and the Eighteenth regiment was immediately detached from the centre of the brigade and ordered to the right to prevent the movement, which it did, sustaining a deadly fire unsupported. The enemy's direct advance was through a field of corn, in which he sustained great loss, notwithstanding most of our guns fired badly on account of the heavy rain which fell during the engagement. On learning that our ammunition was nearly out, General Branch made known the fact, and was ordered "to hold his position at the point of the bayonet." We remained where we were until dark, when the whole command fell back to the field in rear of the woods. The Twenty-eighth, cold, wet and hungry, was then ordered back to the field of battle to do picket duty for the night, without fires.

This engagement is regarded by the brigade as one of our severest. The enemy's infantry used a great many explosive balls.

Our loss was fourteen killed, ninety-two wounded, and two missing.