Year: 1868

The point against which the enemy was direct
ing his main attack, was near bridge on the line
of railroad, about mile from the right Of the hne
to the defence of which, on account of the weak
ness of the Confederate force but single regiment
had been assigned -


Courier after courier met the regiment on its
way, all bringing tidings of loss and disaster Hur
rying along the line of railroad, the regiment, to
which Victor belonged, scarcely pausing long e
nough to recover their BREATH hastened to bear te
their comrades the succor they so sorely needed.
Keeping the line of railroad on their right, they
were alternately protected from the fire Of the enc
nv by an enbankment that crossed some small val
ley or exposed to it as their way led over emlnen
ces through which the road was cut Tothe night
of the road was range Of hills, crowned BY the
enemy's batteries and swarming with bis infantry,
from which shot and shell were sent hoWhne
through their ranks, on every rising piece Of
ground, where no enbankment afforded welcome
protection. Showers of leaden bullets whistled
and many q good soldier here sank down to rise nc
more. - ....


The enemy had already aanked the left OF the
Confederate line and when Colonel Giles reached
the spot, he found the regiment be was sent TO as
sst, completely enveoped, and attacked at once, in
front and flank and rear. .. -


We will attempt to describe the spot as accurate
" as we may, but we fear we can give but feeble
picture of the locality and scene, so indellbly da'
guerreotyped on the memories Of the brave sol,
diers, who came suddenly upon it In the midst Of
q desperate struggle. .-... ..r


The region around was hilly and broken; here
the road passed on short enbankment, over some
depression of ground; and thereits way lay through
some cut in the hills, varying In depth and in
length, according to the nature Of the eminence
where its track was traced. The last cut on the
left was the deepest and longest of all For some
ffty or sixty yards, it formed an admirable trench
for the protection of infantry, being from three te
five feet deep, and then, for considerable dis.
tance, possibly seventy or eighty yards, it attained
depth of from seven to ten feet; then it ran oui
across level ground and short trestle work which
carried the road over an oozy and boggy stream
Such was the character Of the position on the e1
treme left of the Confederate line


The stream, which intersected the road at right
angle, was skirted and covered by a thick growth
of brush-wood and trees, which afforded fine nat
ural cover for the concealment Of troops.


The men in the deep cut had clambered to the
top of its eastern face, and opened fire of mus
kerry upon the enemy's infantry, who lay, in con
siderable numbers, upon the wooded eminences il
their front Between them and the enemy lay ar
inconsiderable and open valley Of no great depth
dotted here and there by clump Of trees over
which the enemy could not advance to an attack ii
front, without being exposed to most destructive
fire. But the hill sides, along the stream, was
covered with dense growth of timber, under Gov
er of which the enemy could advance quite neal
unperceived, and fanking their position. open 8
most deadly en6Iadipg fire upon them from the
neighborhood Of the trestle. The enemy soon q
vailed themselves of their advantages, and estab


shed themselves on the farther side Of the trestle
and swept the railroad cut with storm of bullets
that CALLED its defenders severely and carried them
off by scores Nearly at the same time, regiment
of the enemy having crossed the stream below thu
treste, passed across the railroad and again Cross
ing the stream above the hestle, enveloped then