[332]
of veterans, and as they only had a few rounds of ammunition, they fell back on the right bank of the stream.
About this time, the rebels were reinforced by a regiment, (said by a captured prisoner to have been Georgians,) who came up with a fresh piece of artillery and Minie muskets.
Capt. Cotton again opened with his pieces, giving them as good as they sent.
He only had six or eight rounds of ammunition, however, which he disposed of in his happiest style, and then retired behind the hill.
Prior to this, a courier had been despatched to the General for assistance, who at once ordered out the Twenty-first.
The boys responded promptly, but after crossing the river and marching a mile, they met the party returning.
They were not pursued by the rebels.
All the dead and a few of the wounded were left oil the field, as they could not be gathered under the enemy's fire.
Among the latter was Col. Norton, who is said to have behaved with great bravery.
He sustained a severe, though not dangerous flesh wound, and is now in the rebel camp, where, we learn, he is doing well.
About thirty of our wounded were brought in by their comrades.
The wounds are generally slight.
Lieut. Pomeroy and private Mercer, both of the Twenty-first, and private Haven of the Cleveland Artillery, are the only ones, I think, who cannot recover.
An official list of the killed, wounded, and missing has been rendered, which places our loss at 57, as follows: killed, 9; wounded, 38; missing, 9.
The loss of the enemy must have been fully equal to our own.
The greatest misfortune of the day, however, was the loss of Col. Woodruff, Col. De Villiers, Lieut.-Col. Neff, and Captains Austin and Hurd.
The Second Kentucky regiment, especially, is disconsolate at the loss of their gallant leader, whom they loved as a father.
They would storm Gibraltar now to be with him. These officers, as I advised you by telegraph, passed our pickets to get a view of the fight, and have, doubtless, all been captured.
They have been out twenty-four hours. The army will probably remain at this point some days.
Weather very warm.
Friday morning, July 19.
We have just learned that Cols. Woodruff, De Villiers, and the other missing officers, are all in the rebel camp, where they are comfortably cared for.