with those of the enemy. It was soon apparent to me that
the enemy extended along a wide front, has advance being only a
thin cover. But as my orders were to develop the enemy, I brought
my whole command into action, drove in his advance line and with
the artillery shelled the woods behind this line. We suffered some
loss, but pressed forward until the enemy fell back to the woods
on the left of Kearnstown. My artillery opened with canister, and
for a few moments our front seemed to be cleared. But my flankers
now reported the enemy turning my right with at least a brigade of
infantry. I therefore withdrew slowly and in good order, embracing
every possible opportunity to halt and open fire. Reinforcements
were reported on the way. I directed that they should, on their
arrival, be posted on the high ground to the right of the pike in
front of the bridge at Union (or Barton's) Mills to cover our
retreat, which must be made with the artillery and infantry over
this bridge.

Colonel Moss, not believing he could cross the tail-race with its
embankments and the stream below the Mills, commenced moving his
cavalry towards the bridge. I turned him back with imperative
orders to cover the left flank as long as necessary or possible,
then find a crossing below the Mills. Unfortunately, when the
artillery reached the bridge in readiness to cross, it was found
occupied by the 123d Ohio, Colonel T. W. Wilson commanding, marching
by the flank to my relief under the guidance of Captain W. L. Shaw,
a staff officer of General Elliott. This regiment was directed,
as soon as it cleared the bridge, to deploy to the right, advance
upon the high ground, and engage the enemy then pressing forward
in great numbers. Before Colonel Wilson could get his regiment
into battle-line it was under a destructive fire and lost heavily.
Nevertheless, though the regiment was a comparatively new one, it
soon successfully engaged the enemy, and drove back his advance.
A more gallant fight, under all the circumstances, was never made.
It enabled me to take the artillery over the bridge, and to withdraw
to a new position from which we could cover the bridge with our
artillery and easily repulse the enemy. Colonels Wilson and Moss
were each withdrawn in good order, the former above and the latter
below the bridge. Gordon's brigade of Early's division, in an
attempt to cross the bridge, was driven back with considerable loss,
and night came to en