Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/568

(377). Some of the wounded are prisoners. I took into this action eleven hundred and sixty-five (1,165) muskets and one hundred and twenty-nine (129) officers. The next day we remained quiet, but at dark were advanced to a line that had been selected during the day by the engineers, and entrenched. We remained here strengthening our works until the night of the 6th of October, when we were relieved by General Moore, and moved to the Darbytown road. Early on the morning of the 7th we moved down the Darbytown road and struck the enemy's outposts near Pleasants's house. The Fifth South Carolina regiment, Colonel Coward, was deployed and drove them to their works over the old line. My brigade formed on the left of and perpendicular to the road, some six or eight hundred yards from the works. In a short time, in conjunction with Anderson's brigade, formed on the right of the road, we moved forward. I succeeded in driving them out of the works in my front, and turned upon the flank and rear of those in Anderson's front and drove them from a part of it—indeed, from all of it finally, but was temporarily checked by a flank work. They had no artillery on the line, but a battery was playing on us from a position some four hundred yards in rear of their line, and in an extension of the line of this flank work. This embarrassed our attack, and being concealed by a slight ridge from view, I was unable see what was there. I therefore directed one regiment against the battery, which threw it entirely in rear of the line, and as it rose the ridge, advanced the brigade, and carried the works. With scarce a halt at the works I pressed on at the enemy and artillery, now seen running across the field, for near a mile, when I halted and adjusted my ranks; now somewhat deranged by the succession of charges; the enemy were completely routed. I succeeded in capturing one piece of artillery, the rest got away from me, but was made an easy prey for Gary's cavalry, who did overtake and capture it. I here received orders to march to the right and connect with the division which was moving up the works in a line perpendicular to them. This was done in due time, but with great difficulty through dense thickets. The whole, advancing in line, struck the enemy near the New Market road in heavy force and behind log breastworks. My brigade advanced to from fifty to one hundred yards of the works (my line was not parallel to that of the enemy, my right was nearer to them than the left), and I thought at one time that the enemy were leaving my front—I could not see, but their fire slackened. The brigade on my right, however, did not come up, and the enemy in its front poured its fire into me. The brigade on my left fell back and retired entirely from the contest. This somewhat disturbed my left. I