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two hundred and ninety of the enemy were left dead.
I think a moderate estimate would place the killed and wounded of the enemy on their left wing at one thousand seven hundred and forty.
Prisoners said that the famous Eighth New-York regiment and Bucktails, whose gallantry deserved a better fate, were entirely cut to pieces; their flag was left on the field, and secured by the Twenty-first Georgia.
Of the heroic conduct of the officers and men of Courtnay's battery, commanded by Captain Courtnay, with Lieutenant Latimer as First Lieutenant, in holding their position under the incessant fire of four batteries at one time, I cannot speak in terms which would do them full justice.
The fact that they stood bravely up to their work for over five hours, exhausted all their shot and shell and continued their fire with canister to the end of the battle, speaks more in their favor, than the most labored panegyric.
The admirable position selected for the battery alone saved it from total destruction, if a special providence did not guard it from harm.
The Twenty-first North-Carolina, left to support this battery, was exposed to the effect of the terrific fire, but, under cover of the hill, happily escaped with few casualties.
When the battery was threatened with an infantry force, this regiment was called and readily took its position to repel the enemy's attack, and stood modestly ready to do its duty, as gallantly as heretofore.
To Colonel Mercer, for his judicious movements during the day, and to Colonel Canty, for his skilful retreat from picket and prompt flank manoeuvre, I think special praise is due, as well as to my staff, Captain Hall and Lieutenants McKim and Lee, for the promptness and coolness displayed in conveying orders.
I would also call the attention of the Major-General to the services performed on this occasion and previously, by Captain Brown, of company A, Sixteenth Mississippi, who, with portions of his company, has within the last few weeks, killed twelve of the enemy, captured sixty-four with their arms, and some twenty-five horses with their equipments; and to the conspicious gallantry of private Long, of company B, Twenty-first Georgia, who while acting as skirmisher on the eighth instant, brought in ten prisoners, five (5) with their arms, captured at one time, and shot an officer of General Fremont's staff, obtaining from him the enemy's order of march herewith inclosed, from which it appears they had on the field seven brigades of infantry, besides cavalry and artillery.
It is but an act of simple justice to the brave men of my command to say that this battle was fought by their infantry and artillery, in fact, alone.
Colonel Walker's Thirteenth and Twenty-fifth Virginia regiments aided in the last repulse, Genral Taylor's brigade, not having been engaged or seen by the enemy.
The infantry, under Brigadier-General Stewart, on the left of the line, encountered at no time of the day more than the enemy's skirmishers, as they made no demonstration on our left.
The battery of General Stewart was in the early part of the fight, but was withdrawn after a severe loss of horses, leaving Captain Courtnay's battery to contend singly with four batteries of the enemy.
Herewith I hand a list of the killed and wounded.
List of killed and wounded: Twenty-five killed, twenty-five wounded and four missing, not including Colonel Walker's loss, which was small.
The names of the officers killed and wounded are not here given.
Very respectfully,
J. R. Trimble, Brigadier-General
Report of General R. Taylor.
Major: I have the honor to submit the following report of the Eighth brigade, as connected with the actions of the eighth and ninth instant.
On the morning of the eighth, I received orders to march the brigade to Port Republic to assist in repelling the attack commenced on the bridge at that point by Shields's forces.
When within a mile and a half of the bridge, the column was halted by order of Major-General Jackson, to await further orders.
These were shortly received, in effect, to return to the front and act as a reserve to the troops then engaged against Fremont.
Here the brigade became separated; two regiments — the Seventh and Eighth Louisiana--being ordered by Major-General Ewell to the support of a battery in the centre or on the left of our line, while I marched the remaining two regiments and Wheat's battalion to the right, to support General Trimble's brigade, then much pressed.
The display of force caused the enemy to retire still further from the position, to which he had been driven by the vigorous charge of Trimble's cannoneers.
The brigade, though not actually in action, on this day, was much exposed to the enemy's shell, and suffered a loss of one private killed, one officer, (Captain Green, Seventh Louisiana,) and seven privates and non-commissioned officers wounded.
On the ninth, I marched from camp, near Donkard's Church, according to orders, at daylight, and proceeded across Port Republic bridge to the field, where General Winder's troops had already engaged the enemy.
Here I received orders from the Major-General commanding to leave one regiment near the position then occupied by himself, and, with the main body, to make a detour to the right, for the purpose of checking a formidable battery planted in that locality.
The nature of the ground over which we passed necessarily rendered our progress slow.
On reaching the position indicated the charge was made, and the battery, consisting of six guns, fell into our hands, after an obstinate rsistance on the part of its supporters, our troops being at the same time subjected to a most destructive
