with the remaining artillerists and infantry in the forts,
Captain Birdsall, of the 4th rifle regiment, with a detachment of
riflemen, gallantly rushed in through the gateway to their
assistance, and with some infantry, charged the enemy, but was
repulsed, and the captain severely wounded. A detachment from the
11th, 19th, and 22d infantry, under Captain Foster, of the 11th,
were introduced over the interior bastion, for the purpose of
charging the enemy. Major Hall, assistant inspector general, very
handsomely tendered his services to lead the charge. The charge
was gallantly made by Captain Foster and Major Hall, but owing to
the narrowness of the passage up to the bastion, admitting only
two or three men abreast, it failed. It was often repeated, and
as often checked; the enemy's force on the bastion was, however,
much cut to pieces and diminished by our artillery and small
arms. At this moment every operation was arrested by the
explosion of some cartridges deposited in the end of the stone
building adjoining the contested bastion. The explosion was
tremendous: it was decisive; the bastion was restored. At this
moment Captain Biddle was ordered to cause a field piece to be
posted so as to enfilade the exterior plain and salient glacis.
The captain, though not recovered from a severe contusion in the
shoulder, received from one of the enemy's shells, promptly took
his position, and served his field piece with vivacity and
effect. Captain Farming's battery likewise played upon them at
this time with great effect. The enemy were in a few moments
entirely defeated, taken or put to flight, leaving on the field
222 killed, 174 wounded, and 186 prisoners. A large portion are
so severely wounded that they cannot survive; the slightly
wounded, it is presumed, were carried off.

To Brigadier-General Ripley, much credit is due for the (p. 230)
judicious disposition of the left wing, previous to the action,
and for the steady disciplined courage manifested by him and his
immediate command, and for the promptness with which he complied
with my orders for reinforcement during the action.
Brigadier-General Porter, commanding the New York and
Pennsylvania volunteers, manifested a degree of vigilance and
judgment in his preparatory arrangements, as