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coming I quite expected to see the picket line tumbling in on top of us, and was not surprised, as we rode along near the Aiken house, to hear a number of dropping shots to our left.
Just after we got to the plank road, we could hear the cannon opening, which continued a short time and then ceased.
During the said short time was enacted one of those disgraceful surprises which we have in such perfection.
The enemy, making a front attack, at the same moment threw a strong column down a road leading past the Linear house and outside our right flank.
They smashed through the picket line, passed down the road, faced to their right, and rushed, yelling and firing, into the open fields, in rear of our right wing.
Met here by a fire of artillery and reserve troops, they themselves fell into confusion, and rushing back through our lines, like a great tide, carried out to sea at least 2000 of our men, including most of our gallant little regular brigade with its commander, General Hayes.
To be sure we drove them off and held the railroad, but we ought to have taken all that flanking column.1
August 20, 1864
A brigade of cavalry passed last night, coming from Deep Bottom, and reported this morning to General Warren, to cover his flank and rear, and help destroy the railroad.
A Lieutenant McKibbin, who once went out with me on a flag of truce, was badly hit in the shoulder yesterday.
He is a curious young man and belongs to a very fighting family.
Being the son of a hotel-keeper, he joined the army as a sutler; but, at the battle of Gaines's Mill, as soon as the musketry began, he deliberately anointed his tent with butter, set the whole shop on fire, 