e pits were ablaze, and
a destructive volley was poured into the two regiments. Another moment
and the Union boys were leaping into the rifle pits, sweeping everything
before them. All this while not a shot had been fired by Upton's men,
but, charging with the bayonet, they carried all before them.

The confederates took to their heels, and attempted to flee to the other
side of the river, but their pontoon bridge was in possession of our
troops, and hundreds of panic-stricken rebels leaped into the rapid
stream and attempted to swim across. Some succeeded, but many were
drowned in the attempt. Sixteen hundred prisoners, eight pieces of
artillery, four battle-flags, and more than two thousand stand of small
arms, were the trophies of this splendid victory.

The credit of this brilliant success belongs mainly to the First
division; yet the Second and Third divisions, while less actively
engaged, performed their part with alacrity and bravery, and the many
dead and wounded from these two divisions attested the severity of the
fight along their portions of the line. The loss to the corps, in killed
and wounded, was about three hundred, among whom were many choice
spirits. The commander of the Fifth Wisconsin, Captain Walker, was
killed. Captain Ordway succeeded to the command. He leaped upon the
parapet, and fell dead inside the rebel fort.

All this time the Third corps was actively engaged at Kelly's Ford,
three miles to our left. It had found the rebels strongly posted on the
opposite side of the river, well protected by forts and rifle pits. The
artillery of the corps was taken to the river side and brought to bear
upon the rebel works. At length a storming party was selected and massed
on the banks. At the word, the brave fellows plunged into the stream,
and rushing across, charged the strong works of the rebels with great
fury. The occupants were obliged to flee, but five hundred of them were
left as prisoners.

Owing to the depth and force of the stream between the works the Sixth
corps had taken, and those still occupied by the rebels on the other
side, it was impossible to push our victory further that night. The
confederates, finding our troops in possession of their pontoon bridge,
had set it on fire at the end still held by them; thus all pursuit was
for the time cut off. But on the following morning the rebels had
retreated, leaving us to rebuild the bridge and cross at our leisure.

Without further delay