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[410] it impossible to rally more than a hundred men. This small guard cleared the road in a few moments, and continued steadily to advance, driving the rebels from three different stand-points. After passing a little over four miles from Richmond, we discovered the enemy in heavy force concealed in a corn-field on the left side of the road. In attempting to drive them, my little band was completely cut to pieces, having seventeen killed and twenty-five wounded. Lieut.-Col. Wolfe fell at this point, while cheering forward the men. Lieut. Osborn, my aid-de-camp, was severely wounded. Lieut. Kercheval, Quartermaster Fifty-fifth Indiana volunteers, received a severe wound in the left arm, which rendered amputation necessary. The enemy killed and crippled a large number of horses here, which entirely blocked up the road. It being now about seven o'clock in the evening, and having no men to make any further resistance with, I attempted to make my escape, accompanied by Col. Lucas, Capt. Baird, and several other officers. We rode through the enemy's lines and proceeded in a westerly direction for half a mile, when we came upon a squadron of the enemy's cavalry, who commanded us to halt, and at the same time fired upon us. My horse was killed and fell upon me, injuring me severely in the breast, and a short time afterward I was arrested by the enemy's cavalry and made a prisoner.

I cannot say with certainty the extent of our loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners, not having received any report from the officers who commanded on the field, except Col. Mahan, of the Fifty-fifth Indiana. I do not think, after an examination of the field, that our loss will exceed two hundred in killed, seven hundred wounded, and two thousand prisoners. I understand the enemy took quite a number of the men of my command prisoners after they had escaped as far as Lexington.

The enemy informed me that they had only captured four of our wagons and teams, nine pieces of artillery, and a small amount of campequipage.

I deem it proper here to state that the troops which I found at Richmond when I arrived there, three days before the battle, had only been in the service from ten to twenty-five days. Some of the regiments never had had a battalion drill and knew not what a line of battle was. They were undisciplined, inexperienced, and had never been taught in the manual of arms. The artillery which I had was composed of men of different regiments — some of infantry and a few artillery-men — who had been separated from their commands at Cumberland Gap. They had been sent from Lexington without caissons or a proper supply of ammunition, being quite deficient in fuses and friction-primers. The ammunition of some of the pieces was entirely spent in the first engagement of the morning, and the ammunition of all had been quite exhausted at the close of the last battle in the evening.

Taking into consideration the rawness of our troops, there has been no battle during the war in which more bravery was displayed, by officers and men, with few exceptions, than there was in the four battles near Richmond.

I have neglected to state, in the proper place, that I was joined, in the second engagement, by a portion of the Third Kentucky infantry, who had passed from General Morgan's command, at the Cumberland Gap, with some Government horses. These men dismounted, hitched their horses, and did excellent service. I do not know the names of any of the accomplished officers who commanded this detachment, or I should gladly give them a place in this report.

I cannot close my report without referring, especially, to the gallant acts of some of the officers which came directly under my own observvation. Captain R. C. Kise, my Assistant Adjutant-General; Captain Biddle, United States Army; Lieutenant Osborne, of the Fifty-fifth Indiana; Colonel Metcalfe; Mr. William Goodloe, of Lexington, Kentucky; Mr. Bennett, of Madison county; and one or two other citizens, whose names I do not remember, who composed my staff on the day of the battles, who are entitled to great credit for the services which they rendered me, and for the prompt manner in which they discharged their duty, regardless of personal danger. I am particularly under obligations to Captain Biddle for valuable suggestions in relation to the posting and arranging of the artillery.

I am under great obligations to the gallant Lieutenant Wickliffe Cooper, Dr. Irwin, Captains Baldwin, Stacy and Kendrick, of your staff, some of whom had travelled twenty-five miles after hearing the cannonading of the morning, for valuable aid given me during the second and third engagements. Colonels Lucas, Link, Mahan, Korff, Landrum, Oden, Munday, McMillan, Majors Kempton, Orr, Morrison, Captain Baird, Lieut. Lamphere, and Sergeant Brown, of the battery, greatly distinguished themselves during the action, together with other officers whose names I have not got.

The enemy say they had about twelve thousand infantry, four thousand cavalry, and fifteen pieces of artillery, who were all veteran troops, most of them having been in the army since the commencement of the war. Their loss in killed was about two hundred and fifty, and in wounded not over five hundred. The Union troops did not exceed six thousand five hundred, and there were not engaged at any time over two thousand five hundred. It is to be regretted that we had not some drilled and disciplined soldiers to meet the enemy in the battles near Richmond; I am satisfied the result would have been different.

In conclusion, allow me to express the wish that the wound which you received in the last action near Richmond may speedily heal, and that you may soon be able to take the field again.

I herewith transmit the report of Col. Mahan, of the Fifty-fifth Indiana; and as soon as reports



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