t. This duty was assigned to Colonel Miller, while, to
favour its execution, the 1st regiment, under the command of
Colonel Nicholas, was directed to manoeuvre and amuse the
infantry. To my great mortification, this regiment, after a
discharge or two, gave way and retreated some distance, before it
could be rallied, though it is believed the officers of the
regiment exerted themselves to shorten this distance. In the mean
time, Colonel Miller, without regard to this occurrence, advanced
steadily and gallantly to his object, and carried the height and
the cannon. General Ripley brought up the 23d regiment, (which
had also faltered,) to his support, and the enemy disappeared
from before them. The 1st regiment was now brought into line on
the left of the 21st, and the detachment of the 17th and 19th,
General Porter occupying with his command the extreme left. About
this time, Colonel Miller carried the enemy's cannon. The 25th
regiment, under Major Jessup was engaged in a more obstinate
conflict with all that remained to dispute with us the field of
battle. The major, as has been already stated, had been ordered
by General Scott, at the commencement of the action, to take
ground to his right. He had succeeded in turning the enemy's
flank; had captured (by a detachment under Captain Ketchum), (p. 210)
General Riall and sundry other officers, and showed himself again
to his own army, in a blaze of fire, which defeated or destroyed
a very superior force of the enemy. He was ordered to form on the
right of the 2d regiment. The enemy rallying his forces, and as
is believed, having received reinforcements, now attempted to
drive us from our position and regain his artillery. Our line was
unshaken and the enemy repulsed. Two other attempts having the
same object, had the same issue. General Scott was again engaged
in repelling the former of these, and the last I saw of him in
the field of battle, he was near the head of his column, and
giving to its march a direction that would place him on the
enemy's right. It was with great pleasure I saw the good order
and intrepidity of General Porter's volunteers from the moment of
their arrival; but during the last charge of the enemy those
qualities were conspicuous. Stimulated by the examples set them
by their