keeping
far ahead of the most advanced, hanging on to the side of the
hill, till he would turn about and wave the stars and stripes at
his advancing comrades; then steadily advancing again, under the
fire of the enemy, till he could almost have reached their
rifle-pits with his flagstaff. How he kept from being killed I do
not know, unless it can be attributed to the fact that the party
advancing up the side of the hill always has the advantage of
those who hold the crest. It was in this way that we got such
decided advantage over the enemy at South Mountain. We took, in
these two redoubts, four more guns, making, in all, five for our
regiment, two redoubts, and part of a rifle-pit as our day's
work. The Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh United States colored troops
advanced against works more to the left. The Fourth United States
colored troops took one more redoubt, and the enemy abandoned the
other. In these two we got two more guns, which made, in all,
seven. The Sixth regiment did not get up in time, unfortunately,
to have much of the sport, as it had been previously formed in
the second line. We left forty-three men wounded and eleven
killed in the ravine, over which our men charged the last time.
Our loss in the whole day's operations was one hundred-and
forty-three, including six officers, one of whom was killed. Sir,
there is no underrating the good conduct of these fellows during
these charges; with but a few exceptions, they all went in as old
soldiers, but with more enthusiasm. I am delighted that our first
action resulted in a decided victory.

"The commendations we have received from the Army of the Potomac,
including its general officers, are truly gratifying. Hancock's
corps arrived just in time to relieve us (we being out of
ammunition), before the rebels were reinforced and attempted to
retake these strong works and commanding positions, without which
they could not hold Petersburg one hour, if it were a part of
Grant's plan to advance against it on the right here.

"General Smith speaks in the highest terms of the day's work, as
you have doubtless seen, and he assured me, in person, that our
division should have the guns we took as trophies of honor. He is
also making his word good in saying that he could hereafter trust
col