, 1862-04-17

erny lined the roads, with hospltI dagB for
thei1 protection. Atau re found more or less
wuunded and dead. at the forks Of the road
I found the head a2 Gen. Woods Division
At that point ordered the cavalry to examine
G eS s, se as e TIC 5ap& 4 s6s eass y asesd Sss e.
re1nfnreements. I ordered Gen. Wood 70 ad-
vance the head Of hfs column cautiously on
the left hand road, whilst conducted the head
Of the third brigade OF the nth division up
the right hand road. About half = mile from
the forks was 9 clear field through
Thich the road pessed, ana Immensely ne 1iy
Of fallen timber, and beyond an extensive
camp. The enemy's cavalry could be seen IN
this camp, and after reconnaissance, order
ed the two advance companies Or the ONO
nth, Col. Hldebrand, to dep1oy as skirmish-
with an interval Of 100 yards. In this order I
advanced cautiously, until the -6klEmishers
were engaged. Taking it for granted that this
disposition would cleaf the camp, held Col.
Dickey's Fourth Illinois cayalry reafy for the
charge. The enemy's cavalry came down bold
skirmishers, when the regiment Of infantry,
without cause, broke, threw away their mus
bcts and fled. The ground WIS admirably
adapted to defence Of tnfnntry against cavai-
~, the grouna being niry and covered with
As lie regiment Of infantry broke, Dickey's
cavalry began to discharge their carbines, and
fell into disorder. I instantly sent orders to
the rear for the brigade to form line of battle,
which was promptly executed: The broken
infantry and cavalry rallied on this line, and as
the enemy's cavalry came to it, our cavalry in
turn charged and drove them from the field. I
advanced the entire brigade upon the same
ground, and sent Colonel Dickey's cavalry q
mile further On the roa6
On examining the ground which had been
occupied By the 77th Ohio, We found fifteen
| dead and about twenty-five wounded Isent
| for wagons and had au the wounded carried
| back to camp, and the dead buried; also, the
| whole camp destroyed. Here, We found
much ammunition for field pieces, which was
destroyed; also, two ca1ssons and general
| ed, and about 50 Of our oWn. Not having the
means Of bringing these of, Col Dickey, By
| my orders, took surrender, signed by Medi
| cal Director Lyle, and MI the attending sur
geons, and pledge to report themselves tt
you as prisoners OF war; also pledge tha'
surrendered to Us Tomorrow, ,as soon as anhu
lances could go out el&lose the within docu
uent, and request that Ycu cause to be sent on
wagons orambulanccs for the wounded Of our
tomorrow; also, that wagons be sent Gu
to bring in the many tents belonging to US
miles. did not destroy them; however,
know the enemy cannot move them -Th
roads are very bad, and the road is. strew7
with abandoned wagons, ambulances and lin
ber-boxes. The enemy has succeeded Ia cai
r5ng of the guns, but has crippled his eattel
les b abandoning the hind 11mber-boxes Of 8
least twenty guns. lam satisfied the enemy
infantry and cavalry passed Lick creek, th1
morning, travelling ali last night, and that
left behind all his cavalry, which has protecte
his retreat, but the signs of confusion and di
:: order mark the whole road. The check SUI
! tanned by Us at the fallen timbers delayed OF
advance go that night came upon Us befol
the wounded were eprovided for and the des
buried; and our troops being fasged out
: three days hard fighting, exposure and priv
ton, ordered them back to camp, where
row are.
: hare the honor to be, your oh'd't serV't,
I Brig. Gen. II. T. SHERMAN,
). Commanding Division.