ronted the company,
I looked in front of the column and saw the Thirteenth were all out. I
thought I was not in my right place, and I countermarched my company to
the head of the column, taking, as I supposed, the ground I should have
taken when I came in, namely, that held originally by the Thirteenth, to
which I was attached. I had scarcely halted here when the order came for
two more companies to extend, the leading company to take ground to the
left. I went almost over the same ground from which I had just returned,
and got to the left of the skirmishers already extended, when I extended
my own company from the right, the company on my right being a Rifle
company. When within about 500 yards of the enemy, we commenced firing
and advancing. We crossed two fields on the other side of the cross-road
called the Garrison Road. When I had formed my men by a fence to
give them a direct fire into the enemy, I heard a bugle call which my
sergeant said was "the retire." He said that it was a mistake, that it
was "the advance" that was meant. In a few minutes "the advance" was
sounded, and I took my company over the fence behind which they were
lying and told them to get to the next one as soon as they could. When
about half way across the field "the retire" was again sounded, followed
by "the double." I looked along the line of skirmishers and saw them
firing and retiring, and a good many running in. We retired, the men
firing occasionally, until we reached the Garrison Road. I then closed
the company on the centre and crossed the Garrison Road to the next
field, then formed "fours right" and marched to where I had left the
reserve. In the field on the Ridgeway side of the Garrison Road there
was a small farm house on the hill close to the side of the Ridgeway
road, and when I came up with the company to this house I saw a company
of Rifles in close column of sections, kneeling to receive cavalry. I
expressed my surprise at this, and moved my own company up the road.
When I reached the fence alongside of the road I saw a good deal of
confusion, and I asked generally what was the matter, and what they were
going to do. Some officer told me that the order had been given to
"Form square" on the leading company of the reserve. I did this with my
company, and halted in rear of the column. The order was now passed from
the front for the column to retire, and the attempt was made to retire,
and in two minutes all was confusion.

Que