Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

As soon as the fog, which covered us until about nine o'clock A. M., had disappeared, the enemy opened fire on me from his enormous field batteries and heavy guns on the opposite bank of the river, his shots falling around, some striking the works, but none doing any injury. This he repeated at intervals, each succeeding day, but with no better result for him, or none worse for me. According to orders, I withheld my fire until late in the evening, when the enemy came down to cross; but the increasing darkness preventing me from seeing the effects of my shots, I ceased firing.

Friday morning a company of sharpshooters advanced on my left; but a few well-directed shots from Mollere's section drove them back into the town. The enemy was now seen coming down in force from the opposite hills, in order to cross. The distance was rather too great for much accuracy; yet a shell from my ten-pound Parrott proved effective, bursting in the midst of an advancing column, causing it to stagger, making some run, and sending the mounted officers to arrest the flight of the fugitives. That this shot effected more than a mere panic was attested a short time after by the arrival on that spot of four ambulances, which returned with their load of killed and wounded.

Saturday morning, a column of the enemy being seen crossing the street of which the plank road is a prolongation, a few shots from the first piece forced it to take another line of march, behind the brow of the hills. But when his heavy columns debouched from the town, and were marching across the valley, in line of battle, to attack our lines, the second and third pieces were the only guns that could be brought to bear on them; and so effectually did they do this that the enemy brought forward immediately, in front of the edge of the town, eight pieces, which opened on me so furiously that they succeeded in diverting my fire, but not before I had fired more than two hundred rounds. Their shots were so well directed that I could only occasionally give a round to the infantry, whenever the opportunity occurred. What harm I did them, their smoke, as well as mine, prevented me from seeing; yet I saw one shell burst fairly among one of his detachments. A regiment now came forward to support them, which was driven back by Lieutenant Mollere's section. It was then that Captain Latrobe, of General Longstreet's staff, came and suggested the propriety of dislodging two or three regiments standing behind a steep hill, which not only protected, but also concealed them from our men, on whom they were evidently preparing to make a charge. But my ten-pound Parrott could not be brought to bear on them without taking it out of the bastion; and to do this were to meet almost certain death from the guns in front, which had by this time obtained a perfeet range. However, the suggestion was no sooner made than Lieutenant Landry ordered it out, and, together with Captain Latrobe, helped the men to pull and put it in position. It was scarcely out, and not yet in position, when cannoneer Linopier fell dead, pierced to the heart by a piece of shell. The fate of their comrade seemed to inspire my men with renewed determination, and, undaunted by the shots of the guns and bullets of the sharpshooters, which were flying thick and fast around them, they behaved with the calm courage which deserves the highest praise. The piece was loaded and fired with such precision that not one shot was lost, but every one telling with frightful effect. It was loaded for the fourth time, and was ready to fire, when it was disabled by a shell, which broke a wheel, and at the same time wounded three men, (Corporal Thomas Morelli, whose skill as gunner cannot be too highly prized; and cannoneer Dernot Leblanc, whose foot has since been amputated, and P. Perez, severely wounded in three different places.) But the object was accomplished; some fled, some were killed, and the remainder dared not leave their cover. At night the broken wheel was replaced and the piece relieved. Of the first piece, cannoneers Adolphe Grilhe and F. Babin were wounded, the former severely and the latter slightly. Three horses were killed and two wounded.

Nothing worth mentioning was done on Sunday. At night I was relieved by Captain Jordan, after having been in position since Sunday night, the first instant. My third section, of six-pounder guns, was not engaged, but on Sunday night, the fourteenth instant, it was ordered in front, where it is at present, occupying works on the left.

Before closing this report, I can but render praise to Lieutenants Landry and Mollere, for their gallant conduct, and to my cannoneers and drivers. Casualties: one killed and five wounded; three horses killed and two wounded.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

One thousand five hundred small arms; two hundred thousand rounds of small arm ammunition; four hundred sets of accoutrements; three hundred knapsacks; one hundred and forty-five cartridge boxes, extra; six hundred and ninety-five rounds twelve-pounder shell and spherical case; one hundred and twenty twelve-pounder shot; two hundred and forty rounds of Parrott shells, different calibres; two hundred three-inch shell, of various kinds.

A considerable proportion of the shells, which were collected in the streets and houses, are somewhat damaged, but capable of being again rendered serviceable. The arms and accoutrements are,