ng flanked. At eleven o'clock, our whole battery went
to the rear, which was threatened by the enemy. We went in action on the
roadside, firing for half an hour. The rebels evidently drove our
infantry. The battery changed position, having the open field in the front
and the woods in the rear and no road left to retreat but one, which was
already endangered by the enemy. General Barlow, commanded our troops at
this point. It was decided now to withdraw the right and centre sections,
leaving the left section to cover the retreat, without any support at all,
to oppose the enemy, who was massing three formidable lines of infantry
against us. Captain Arnold and Lieutenant Blake remained with the left
section, giving orders to load and lay down until the enemy should be very
near. This was done accordingly. At command of Captain Arnold, the pieces
were fired with good effect, and two of the rebel guns soon silenced. The
left section fired point blank during this action. Four lines of rebel
infantry advanced on the left, throwing back our line of infantry across
the only remaining road. Captain Arnold ordered our two guns to be brought
to the rear by hand, limbering up from the rear, and try to make through
the woods. The sixth piece escaped; but not the fifth, the wheels getting
stuck between trees. The enemy being very close upon us, opened such a
terrific musketry fire on the piece as to make the horses unmanageable.
Besides that, the cannoniers being all new men, left. Nobody remained but
Captain Arnold, Lieutenant Blake, Sergeant Calder, myself and the
drivers. We found it impossible to remove the gun, and had to abandon it
therefore, and crossed the Po Creek, the best way we could. The batteries
on the other side of the creek, opened furiously on the victorious enemy.
The remainder of our line of infantry fell back across the creek; but over
one thousand men were taken prisoners. Two men of our left section were
wounded--Reynolds and Willy of the fifth piece. The latter had to be left
on the field. Arriving at the battery, our comrades rejoiced to see us
come back safe. We were engaged all the afternoon, setting fire to several
shanties which served as rendezvous for sharpshooters. In the evening, we
blew up a caisson of a rebel battery, which rode up at full speed, trying
to get in action, causing them to withdraw immediately. We were in
position all night.

_Wednesday, May 11._--Battle near Spottsylvania. Our battery fo