Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/47

 Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel John G. Pressley. 41

The enemy were in the woods on the opposite side, and made despe- rate efforts to cross the marsh on the causeway, but were driven back by the well-directed fire of our troops. The enemy's forces were so much superior to ours that but for this marsh they would probably have reached the railroad. There was much evidence of the terrific fire that had been kept up on both sides. There was a house on our side through which from three to five hundred balls passed, going through the planks as if they were paper. There was scarcely a spot on the trunks of the live-oak trees, from the ground as high as a man's head, as large as the hand in which there was not one or more balls. On the line occupied by the enemy some of the trees were lite rally barked. I noticed one oak, about twelve or fifteen inches in diam- eter, which was very nearly shot down. The enemy's wounded had been carried off, but from seventy-five to one hundred of their dead remained to bear witness of the effect of the Confederate fire. There were nine dead and four wounded horses under the oaks on our side. The Confederates were commanded by Brigadier-General Walker, known afterwards as " Live-Oak Walker." There was no pursuit of the enemy on their retreat, owing to the destruction of the bridge. No artillery or cavalry could be crossed in time to have been effective. Captain Joseph Blythe Allston was wounded in the early part of the fight, and he and two of his men assisting him reached the marsh after the bridge had been destroyed. They concealed themselves in the tall grass and the balls of both sides passed over them. Upon the retreat of the enemy they left their perilous situation. I could not ascertain exactly the number of our killed, wounded, and missing, but they did not exceed one hundred. If the wounded of the enemy bore the usual proportion to the killed, their loss must have been from three to four hundred. Their superior force and the topography of the country were such that there was no reasonable excuse for leav- ing the dead unburied.

Before reaching Old Pocataligo the enemy sent a column towards Cosawhatchie. This force got possession of the railroad, but was soon driven off. I could not learn the particulars of the fight at that place. We met with some loss there. I saw two prisoners that had been captured at that place.

The enemy came provided with implements to tear up the railroad, and bundles of "fat lightwood " to burn the bridges. They threw all of these away in their flight, having found out that they would have no use for them.

After dining on " hard tack " and bacon cooked on spades, sharp