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extreme left, its (the enemy's) right resting on the river, moved down the stream, thus enclosing Hoke's brigade, and the Seventh and Fifth Louisiana regiments, in a manner that rendered escape impossible.
My men continued at their posts in the works, fighting well to the last; and it was only when the command was out in two, and the enemy in complete possession of the entire hill, that any thought was entertained of falling back.
Indeed, there was no effort made by any one in my command to recross the river until nothing else remained but to surrender.
Many then escaped by swimming or fording the river, and some few on the pontoon bridge.
The force under my command was small, being between eight and nine hundred.
That of Hoke's brigade, consisting of three regiments, was also small, as owing to the suddenness with which it left camp to proceed to the river, many of its members were absent.
The force of the enemy, I am confident, could not have been less than twenty to twenty-five thousand.
But few of my brigade were wounded or killed, owing to the enemy's advancing without firing.
I am satisfied that the loss we inflicted upon the attacking force was heavy, as our firing was collected and steady.
For particulars of the movements of Hoke's brigade, and its casualties, I respectfully refer you to the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Tate, Sixth North Carolina regiment, herewith appended, marked “A.”
My loss is as follows:
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
| Officers killed | 0 |
| Officers wounded | 2 |
| Officers missing | 58 |
| Enlisted men killed | 2 |
| Enlisted men wounded | 14 |
| Enlisted men missing | 626 |
| Aggregate | 702 |
Harry T. Hays, Brigadier-General, commanding.
