Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 37.djvu/209

 so that objects were with difficulty distinguished. Our skirmishers' line waited until the enemy were very near, and, pouring in a beautiful fire, retreated to the main line. The enemy pressed on, our men reserving their fire until the word of command, when they delivered it at close quarters and with admirable effect. The enemy was checked and broken, and a couple of volleys more drove him from the field in flight.

Our troops deserve very high praise for making so gallant a debut under circumstances so perplexing and a call so sudden. They repulsed and drove back a greater number of the enemy's picked veterans. Our loss is stated in the following:

Officers—Killed: Captain A. Ellery, Co. D. Wounded: Lieutenant R. A. Matthews, Co. D, slightly; Acting Lieutenant R. A. Tompkins, face and arm slightly.

Privates—D. T. Carter, Co. A, slightly; F. M. Cary, Co. D, slightly in face; J. W. Burson and — Mclndoe, Co. D, both slightly; S. M. Levin, Co. F, slightly in leg; R. B. Green, Co. F, in hand; Miles Cary, Co. K, sabre cut on shoulder; Gray Dos-well, Co. K, shot through the thigh (flesh wound). Missing: Private T. Y. Catlett, Co. I.

The fierceness of the charge which the Departmental Battalion met in line of battle is evidenced by the sabre cuts received. Several of the enemy rode through our lines, and were shot down or captured.

Of the loss of the enemy we cannot speak with positive precision. They collected eighteen of their wounded at Mr. Green's house, in the rear of the fighting. Seven of these they afterwards carried away with them. Four of their dead were picked up on the battle-ground yesterday morning, as also several wounded. Of the latter, three died in a few hours, and another is evidently mortally wounded. Some indication of the casualties is given in the ten dead horses that lay near here.

The loss of the enemy in the two skirmishes may be set down at ten killed, one mortally wounded and seventeen disabled by their wounds, of whom ten are prisoners. Besides these a number of prisoners were taken, fifteen horses killed, and several captured. A pretty fair start, for Henley's Battalion fought