g commenced at
Crooked Creek, which is about ten miles south of Day's Gap, and
finally the enemy pressed our rear so hard that I was compelled to
prepare for battle. I selected a strong position about a mile south of
the crossing of the creek, on a ridge called Hog Mountain. The whole
force soon became engaged (about one hour before dark). The enemy
strove first to carry our right; then charged the left; but with the
help of the two pieces of artillery captured in the morning and the
two mountain howitzers, all of which were handled with good effect by
Major Vananda, of the Third Ohio, we were able to repulse them.

Fighting continued until about 10 p. m. when the enemy were driven
from our front, leaving a large number of killed and wounded on the
field. I determined at once to resume our march, and as soon as
possible we moved out. The ammunition which we had captured with the
two guns was exhausted, and being very short of horses, I ordered the
guns spiked and the carriages destroyed. I had ordered the
Seventy-third Indiana (Colonel Hathaway) to act as rear guard, and I
remained in the rear in person, for the purpose of being at hand in
case the enemy should attempt to press us as we were moving out. We
had but fairly got under way when I received information of the
enemy's advance.

The moon shone very brightly, and the country was an open woodland,
with an occasional spot of thick undergrowth. In one of these thickets
I placed the Seventy-third Indiana, lying down, and not more than
twenty paces from the road, which was in plain view. The enemy
approached. The head of his column passed without discovering our
position. At this moment the whole regiment opened a most destructive
fire, causing a complete stampede of the enemy. I will here remark
that the country from Day's Gap to Blountsville (about forty miles) is
mostly uninhabited; consequently there is nothing in the country for
man or beast. I had hopes that by pushing ahead we could reach a place
where we could feed before the enemy would come up with us, and, by
holding him back where there was no feed, compel him to lay over a day
at least to recuperate. I had learned that they had been on a forced
march from Town Creek, Ala., a day and two nights previous to their
attacking us. We were not again disturbed until we had ma