ankees
approached under cover of the woods to within two or three hundred
yards, where they made their lines. As soon as we could see where
they were we commenced firing into them, and kept it up until the
ammunition of the limber was expended. They made several charges,
but were repulsed by the infantry and artillery each time. Our loss
was heavy (artillery), the infantry not being as much exposed as we
were; their casualties were slight. At our howitzer Willie Brunet
was killed after firing some fifteen rounds. He was killed in the
act of giving the command to fire, the ball piercing him above the
left eye. Early had four wounded,--viz., Vaudry, painfully in the
breast; J.T. Pecot, painfully in the back; Eaton, in the wrist;
Corporal J----, ball in the side. At Carly's piece none were
killed, but McGrath and Joe Murphy were shot through the arm,--the
latter it is thought will lose his arm,--and young Ford. At
Woester's piece, R.A. Bridges was killed; Joe Bridges was shot in
the leg; McCarty, in the foot; Dunbar, in the thigh; Lieutenant
Cluverius, wounded in the side; Joe Reeves, through the leg; St.
Germain, foot. The loss in horses was heavy. Woester had all eight
horses of his piece killed, and his riding-horse. Lieutenant
Cluverius lost his horse 'Rebel,' who was shot in the head, and
died. Our detachment had three wounded; the horses saved themselves
by running away. In all, we lost twenty-three, and perhaps more.
Stanford was on our left, they lost about fifteen killed and
wounded; Oliver, sixteen. John Cooper has a welt on his shin from a
spent ball; John was driving and lost both horses. I was number six
at the limber until Willie was killed, when I acted as gunner.
McGregor ranks me, and hereafter I expect to be caisson-corporal.
General Clayton paid us the very highest compliment upon the manner
in which the guns were managed; '_too flattering_ to be
repeated,' as Captain Fenner remarked. 'Owing to the loss in
horses, men, and ammunition expended,' we were relieved and sent to
the rear to replenish. A couple of days may right us, when we will
again be in the front. Stewart did the fighting yesterday; I don't
believe any other division was engaged. A part of Polk's (if not
all) arrived about midnight. Since Polk's Corps joined us, I have
found several acquaintances, among whom are John Butler, lieutenant
of engineers; the two Spencer bo