[164]
irregular fire until evening, when I ordered them to cease firing, the enemy evincing no intention of attempting to cross and their formations not being sufficiently large to warrant the further expenditure of ammunition.
The subsequent movements of my battalion are identical with those of the corps to which it is attached until we reached near Front Royal, when in obedience to orders received through you, I turned off at that point and proceeded up the Valley pike by New Market to this place, having arrived here at 3 o'clock P. M. on the 29th ultimo, by easy marches.
I regret to state that the losses which my battalion has incurred during the recent campaign are especially heavy in horses, those now remaining being for the present almost totally unserviceable.
It is my opinion, however, that with a short respite I will soon be able to report them as serviceable.
I would respectfully state that at the time of leaving Fredericksburg their condition was generally bad, in consequence of the hardships they had encountered during the past winter, together with what they had gone through with during the spring campaign.
The various losses in detail I have already sent you. The casualties in my command are as follows: Severely wounded, two enlisted men; slightly wounded, three enlisted men; missing, supposed to be in the hands of the enemy, fourteen enlisted men.
Respectfully submitted,
John J. Garnett, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Battalion Artillery. Colonel R. L. Walker, Chief Artillery Third Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.