Colonel Crutchfield was killed, and
Adjutant Wilson shot through the leg, which had to be amputated.
I received a slight wound in the shoulder, which, however, did not incapacitate me. After the enemy had retreated across the creek, we gathered up our handful of
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men and fell back to our original position.
While
Captain Barlow, of Company A, was endeavoring to reform his men on my company, which was the color company, he was shot through the head and instantly killed.
I regret that I cannot give a full list of those who fell.
We had hardly regained our former position, when
Sheridan's cavalry came down on us from the rear.
A young cavalry officer, riding in among us, begged us to surrender, telling us that we were entirely surrounded, and that further resistance was useless.
It was so gallant an act no one attempted to molest him.
In the mean while the infantry, which had been driven across the creek, had reformed and were advancing in force.
Our men then threw down their arms, and we were prisoners of war. I remember that in the hot blood of youth, I broke my sword over a sapling, rather than surrender it. When the infantry which we had so recently repulsed, came up to us again, it was with smiling faces.
They commenced opening their haversacks, offering to share their ‘hard tack’ with us, which in our famished condition we most eagerly and gratefully accepted.
They, moreover, complimented us on the gallant fight we had made.
In this connection, I will add that we were always treated with every consideration by the veterans at the front.
It was only when we fell into the hands of the provost guard that any harshness was shown.
About dusk that evening we were taken back across
Sailor's Creek, and camped that night in an old field.
The next morning (7th), we started on our long march to
Petersburg and
City Point,
en route to northern prisons.
