o'clock.

Order was given to advance. To communicate the order along the line
required time. General Beauregard says the advance began at half-past
five. The three companies struck a battalion under Major Hardcastle, on
Hardee's picket-line. Major Hardcastle was posted on picket with a
battalion of the Third Mississippi, a quarter of a mile in front of
Wood's brigade, Hardee's corps. Lieutenant McNulty was posted with a
small party, one hundred yards, and Lieutenant Hammock with another
small party, two hundred yards, in front of the centre of the battalion.
Cavalry videttes were still farther to the front. The Major reports:
"About dawn, the cavalry videttes fired three shots, wheeled and
galloped back. Lieutenant Hammock suffered the enemy to approach within
ninety yards. Their line seemed to be three hundred and fifty yards
long, and to number about one thousand. He fired upon them and joined
his battalion with his men. Lieutenant McNulty received the enemy with
his fire at about one hundred yards, and then joined his battalion with
his men, when the videttes rode back to my main position. At the first
alarm my men were in line and all ready. I was on a rise of ground, men
kneeling. The enemy opened a heavy fire on us at a distance of about two
hundred yards, but most of the shots passed over us. We returned the
fire immediately and kept it up. Captain Clare, aide to General Wood,
came and encouraged us. We fought the enemy an hour or more, without
giving an inch. Our loss in this engagement was: killed, four privates;
severely wounded, one sergeant, one corporal, and eight privates;
slightly wounded, the color-sergeant and nine privates. At about 6.30
A.M. I saw the brigade formed in my rear, and I fell back."

At six o'clock, Colonel Moore, of the Twenty-first Missouri, also of
Peabody's brigade, was directed by General Prentiss to move out with
five companies to support the pickets. About half a mile from camp he
met the three companies of the Twenty-fifth returning. Despatching the
wounded on to camp, and sending for the rest of his regiment, he halted
with the detachment of the Twenty-fifth till joined by his remaining
five companies. So reinforced, he continued his advance three hundred
yards, met the advance of Shaver's brigade, halted on the edge of a
field, and repulsed it. Colonel Moore being wounded, Lieutenant-Colonel
Van Horn took command, and was further reinforced; after an engagement
of half an hour,