retired, slowly, towards our line, turning and firing as they retreated. They came over the fence in our front and passed over us to our rear, where they laid down. The rebels followed them closely to the edge of the cornfield, and attempted to cross the open field in our front, but were immediately sent to the "right about" in some confusion, by the fire from the trusty rifles in the hands of the 48th boys who laid close to the ground, firing under the bottom rail in the fence, and the range being low the shots were very effective.
A short time previous, Col. Paine had taken the 49th out of their place in line, which was on our immediate right, leaving a gap in the brigade line which the 48th was directed to cover with an oblique fire, thus giving us double ground to cover. Col. Paine before leaving with the 49th came to Lieut.-Col. Stanwood and directed him to hold our ground at all hazards till his return.
The rebels tried several times to charge across the open field in our front, but were as often driven back by the steady fire from our men in the ditch.
While this was transpiring, the rebels had driven back the brigade on the opposite side of the bayou until their fire enfiladed the left of our brigade, and at the same time were rapidly flanking the whole force on our right which began to fall back, and in a short time we were left alone upon the field. A staff officer from Col. Dudley rode up and ordered the Lieutenant-Colonel to retire the regiment. His authority was not recognized, Lieut.-Col. Stanwood having received orders from our own brigade commander (Col. Paine) to hold the ground at all hazards until his return, which order he
