October 7
At sunrise we move down the
Darbytown road with
Field and
Hoke.
The former encounters
Kautz's cavalry in the exterior trenches.
With
Anderson's and
Bratton's brigades and
Gary and Law on the
Charles City road, the cavalry is drawn off, leaving us nine pieces of artillery, ten caissons and prisoners.
Field's division is then thrown to the left, on the outside of the exterior line, and
Hoke on the inside of it. After crossing a thick abatis and an almost impenetrable swamp, the enemy is found in position near the
New Market road.
Field at once attacks him, and
Major Johnson has a spirited artillery combat.
Field's attack fails.
Hoke cannot get at the enemy out of his trenches and does not move.
In the afternoon the troops are posted behind
Cornelius creek General Gregg killed;
Bratton wounded.