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that exposed point; simultaneously with our gun opened the deadly revolving rifles of our dismounted cavalry.
The enemy fell in heaps; but for every one killed two stepped forward to take his place.
Their impetuous charge could not be stopped, and when they were within four rods of the mouth of our cannon
Colonel Lee ordered the piece limbered up and moved to the rear.
All behind us now was woods, hills, and deep ravines.
For a moment covering the retreat of the gun, our riflemen held the enemy in check, and then slowly retired up the hill, halting every few rods to throw a volley on the advancing lines now immediately on their rear.
Thus did they march for a quarter of a mile — a march through a continued storm of leaden rain.
Arriving at the top of the hill, the eyes of our brave boys were gladdened by the sight of two long extended lines of kneeling riflemen flanking each side of the road.
As I have before indicated, two regiments of rebel infantry--one in line, the other in column — were advancing on double-quick, cheering like madmen.
Hatch reserved his fire until the enemy was within twenty yards, and now up rose our gallant cavalry and forth rolled the volleys like echoing thunder.
Five rapid discharges from three hundred rifles would check a stronger than this rebel force.
They halted, wavered, and fell back; but new accessions being received, the enemy advanced upon our left and right flanks.
To avoid being cut off, our boys fell back through the dense timber, contesting every inch of the ground as they retired.
Meantime new lines were formed, fresh troops were brought up from the rear, and wearied ones marched back.
But as fast as those orders could be executed, fresh troops were brought against them.
The great danger was from flanking movements, which the enemy's great numbers allowed him easily to make, and a hasty retreat was ordered.
So went the battle for two long hours.
Up and down the wooded hills till night fell, and the moon shone out bright and clear to light the work of death, continued the struggle.
Officers and men did nobly.
Colonels Dickey,
Lee, and
Mizener,
Lieut.-Colonels Prince and
McCullough,
Majors Coon,
Love, and
Rickards, and those under them, were everywhere exposed to the most galling fire, and personally directed the movements of their commands.
One of
Col. Lee's best officers was killed, and five of
Col. Hatch's were wounded.
Lieut.-Col. McCullough, of the Fourth Illinois cavalry, fell bravely at the head of his column, shot in the breast.
He is doubtless dead, or, if alive, a prisoner.
Col. Hatch's horse was killed under him, and
Colonel Lee's disabled by a Minie bullet.
At length, having continued this expensive pursuit for three miles, the enemy desisted and drew off his forces.
Our column formed again and again, but backward we passed over the road of the morning, having by the sacrifice of precious blood demonstrated the proposition that two thousand cavalry, in a country where they cannot act as such, cannot cope successfully with five thousand infantry.
We reached our camping ground at nine o'clock in the evening, and after a feed and rest for our horses, at two o'clock in the morning we were in the saddle, and headed for our present camp, where we arrived at eight o'clock this morning.
We have had a toilsome and exhausting march, and both men and horses need to recuperate.
I do not know in what direction will be our next movement.
And now comes my saddest duty — to record the list of killed, wounded and missing.
Recapitulation.
| | Killed. | Wounded. | Missing. |
| Seventh Kansas, | 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Fourth Illinois, | 1 | 13 | 3 |
| Seventh Illinois, | 3 | 11 | 20 |
| Second Iowa, | 1 | 21 | 4 |
| Third Michigan, | 2 | 1 | |
| | | | |
| Total, | 10 | 54 | 35 |
