er was given to forward, and as soon as we
crossed a small stream, it was increased to full speed.

Some columns passed through the principal streets, while others passed to
the right and left of the town, and on reaching the first line of works
beyond the town we captured a great many of the enemy who had taken
position there.

At four hundred yards distant from their works, the enemy had planted a
battery, and as soon as the confused mass we were driving could be got
away, they opened up on us, but to no purpose, for we were now behind our
outer line of works.

The works were also thrown up by our men on the retreat from Columbia, but
were not so formidable as the first near the town.

In this position we fought the enemy more than one hour without receiving
aid from any quarter whatever.

So rapid were the movements of the 7th and so far were they in advance of
our own brigade that our battery moved to the point first held by Captain
Rankin's battalion and mistaking us for the enemy commenced shelling us.

The shells fell in close proximity to the battallion which had been sent
out to watch and guard against any movements of the enemy to flank our
position.

The firing was kept up until Captain Rankin's battalion had to be removed,
and had scarcely been placed in position on the left of the pike, when a
battery belonging to Gen. Hatch's division opened on us from a fort on the
opposite side of the river.

At this, Col. Garrard ordered the regiment to form in close column of
squadrons in a low piece of ground to get out of their range, but the
first being on very high ground, our position was a very hazardous one.

We were quickly deployed into line, took up our former position behind our
works and again engaged the enemy.

A fire was kept up by our battery until a courier could be sent to stop
it.

Thus did the 7th stand for more than an hour, firm and unshaken, with the
enemy's battery playing on their front at four hundred yards distant, and
two of our own playing on their rear.

By this time, Gen. Hatch's Division moved up and flanked the Johnnies on
our left and they lit out again, losing their artillery and many
prisoners.

Here Col. Harrison commanding our brigade, congratulated Colonel Garrard
on the success of the 7th, and remarked, "you have done enough for one
day, I will throw the 5th Iowa in advance and you can fall in the
reserve."

We moved out two miles and went into camp on a road to