James D. Porter, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 7.1, Tennessee
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[210] informing him that ‘the enemy is pressing around our right; Smith has fallen back to near Halfway house; the enemy is near Dr. Howlett's. You must fall back, press to the right, and get in rear of Smith's corps. He will try to hold his ground until you get in his rear, and clear the road to the intrenchments so that we may get back behind the defenses. Push vigorously.’ General Butler's heroic soul was ‘in a flame of zeal severe.’ At 10 a. m. he again dispatched Gilmore to ‘get there at once; the troops at General Ames' old position are forced back. We will lose the turnpike unless you hurry.’ Brigadier-General Weitzel reported officially that ‘the four regiments of Heckman's brigade were crushed by the (Confederate) attack. This was no surprise on account of the fog, as the whole division was in line of battle and prepared for the shock, having several times received warning.’ Heckman's brigade held the position assailed by Johnson's Tennessee brigade. General Weitzel reported that Heckman's brigade was crushed by a very large and overwhelming force. Johnson assailed him with 871 muskets. Col. G. A. Stedman, Jr., Eleventh Connecticut, was on Heckman's right. In his report he stated that ‘finding myself unsupported and in danger of annihilation or capture, I faced the regiment about and marched to the rear, constantly obliquing to the right to avoid the enemy, who were following the regiment with yells.’ General Weitzel reported that ‘toward evening the army started for home.’ He could have added—badly beaten by an inferior force (in numbers and equipments) of ragged, barefooted Confederates. The French emperor's theory that poverty and deprivation make good soldiers was illustrated at Drewry's Bluff.

‘The army of the James’ left in the hands of General Beauregard 11,400 prisoners, 5 pieces of artillery, 5 stand of colors, 3,936 stand of small-arms, and 60,000 to 70,000 rounds of ammunition. Among the Tennesseeans who fell were Lieut.-Col. John L. McEwen, Forty-fourth;