Waitt, Ernest Linden, History of the Nineteenth regiment, Massachusetts volunteer infantry , 1861-1865

[33] meeting a regiment of the enemy who fired upon them from the woods. This was returned with good effect. The field here, as at Ball's Bluff, was surrounded on three sides by woods. On the right was a cornfield on part of which the corn had been cut and stacked, while the remainder was standing. A Virginia rail fence ran through the centre of the battle ground, from the river to the woods in front. A regiment of the enemy was posted on the edge of the woods to the right of the ground, while pickets were in advance in a road running between the cornfield and the open field between it and the woods. About 3 P. M. Captain Saunders, with the Andrew Sharpshooters, crossed to this ground and ranged themselves behind the rail fence. Shortly after this the enemy issued from the woods, three-quarters of a mile away, and many were seen to be wearing United States army hats.

The sharpshooters fired upon them, dropping a mounted officer and several men, and the enemy fled. The Tiger Fire Zouaves of the Nineteenth Massachusetts came up at this point and, deployed as skirmishers, entered the woods for some distance. They returned at 5 P. M. and reported the woods all clear. A red sash, an officer's scabbard, and six bodies were found in the woods, together with other evidences tending to show that the rebels had been busy carrying off their wounded men. This ended the skirmish for the night.

Early in the following morning, October 22, General Lander arrived, having ridden from Washington during the night, a distance of 40 miles. The enemy did not show themselves until about 5 P. M., when they issued from the woods in front of the river and near the terminus of the fence running from the river, where Captain Saunders and six of his men were seated about a campfire. Just before this, four men of the Fire Zouaves had come from the woods and reported them all clear.

The enemy in column, a full regiment or more, issued from the woods, firing as they advanced. General Lander, who was standing back of the fence, or nearly half way from the left of the line of sharpshooters to the woods, was wounded by a ball in the calf of the left leg. Reinforcements were not sent forward