Year: 1864

H.
Spears brigade OF Kaut's cavalry, which was
picketing In that direction, being attacked nv
the enemy, and this Circumstance intimatine
the probability that our operations ON the rail-
road might meet with interruption, the order to
move out was countermanded.


Subsequently the opinion that the only force
the enemy had there was cavalry appears to
have been formed, and General Gibbons was
again ordered to move down the road. which
q. m.


Starting along road running to the LEFT or
east OF the railroad, they turned to the right
AND crossed the latter about half q mile below
heams' and had not proceeded half mile
1ultner before the cavalry was checked by
meeung line OF rebel skirmishers.


Advancing skirmish line paral Iel with that
on the right OF the railroad, its left fiank rest
Ing near the same, Colonel Smyth pushed back
the enemy's skirmishers until, on ARRIVING i'm
sight OF a narrow swampy range extending
from the railroad obliquely to the right, and
with its acute angle on the side next to us, he
found their troops in line Of battle beyond IN
and projected by small breastworks.


The enemy Immediately charged upon our
skirmishers, and drove theIa back to our main
body. Colonel Smyth now reported to Gen.
cradle force OF infantry present, and awaited
further instructions.


He was ordered to push forward again and
ascertain what force there was opposed to us,
and accordingly he ad vanced, and again drove
back the enemy to the ravine, and at that point
was again brought to stand and compelled
to retire


The pickets of Miles division were driven
in and charge was then made on the en-
trenchments, which, however, was quickly
repulsed.


As soon as it became evident by the attack on
Gen. Miles position that the enemy were In
considerable force, Gen. Gibbon was ordered
to fall back from his advanced position on the
left, and connecting his left with the right OF
the list division, to form a line for the protec-
ton OF the left flank and the rear. The iunc-
ton of his right with Miles left was near the
rir1tv Thnrn rky,a A,
road, and thence his line extended in such q
curve as to bring his left nearly opposite Miles
rig the line OF the latter fronting towards the
west, while that Of Gibbons faced to the east
and southeast.


The enemy having been repulsed, our skir-
mishers followed them as they fell back, ad-
vancing nearly to the position they had for
merly held, and capturing number OF prison.
els. Shortly after the enemy again advanced
and were again driven back with heavy loss,
and their third assault, made about p. m,
was attended with q like satisfactory result


In the first three charges the enemy used no
artillery, but about five p. m, they opened q
heavy, concentrated fire from number OF bat
teries, pouring storm of shell and other mis-
siles over the entire amphitheatre included
within our lines.


After about twenty minutes Of this artillery
front of General Miles division, their assault
being directed mainly against his centre.
Along nearly the entire, and especially In front
of the Fifth Brigade, the woods are very close
Y
favorable TO the enemy in that it enabled them
to form comparatively near our works without
being discovered.


Emerging from the woods they advanced in
two lines Of battle, with force thought to have
comprised Wilcox's entire division, of Hills
Corps, and two brigades of Heth's. Our ar
with rapid fire, but without checking their
progress. On they came with bayonets fixed
and without firing shot.


They approached our lines, gained the out
a n IN al rom 0hroa ants md
hand to hand conflict ensued over the top OF
the breastworks, our men beating back the
Rebels with their bayonets, as they attempted
to climb over. But soon it was found that our
line was broken near the center, and the gap
once made rapidly grew wider, until nearly
the entire line was swept back, leaving our
enemy, from the left Of the First Division to a
point considerably to the right OF the center.


The batteries left behind were batteries b, 1st
Rhode Island, 1t. Perrine; Capt. Sleeper's bat
terry, 10th Mass, and McKnight's Battery, the
18th N. Y. Independent Their horses had ALI
been shot early in the action, and the sudden
ness with which our men fell back rendered
it impossibel to get of the guns. Capt. Sleeper,
OF the 10th Massachusetts, had been wounded
during the afternoon, and was not In conn
m and when his battery was lost. 1t is said
considerable portion OF them, stood their
ground on the left when our line gave way,
and az @ rushing to the guns Of the battery nearest
5ss%: s.ess.5,assa soa.'deraoio





General Miles and other Officers of his
division, with great GOODNESS and intrepidity,
set to work to rally the men, who were pour
ing down from the left and h1rrying to the
rear, and in short time succeeded in forming
q line with its right resting against our breast
" orks, near the right Of our former line, at the
point up to which that line had been held. at
the same time General Hancock ordered the
2d division to be faced about, and cheering and
urging the men forward, led them In person in
a charge double quick across the space be-
their an of aau
at the widest part was probably three. fourths
Of mile in breadth.


. The charge, which was made under a heavy
fire both OF musketry and artillery, was gall
lantly executed, and in conjunction with the
line rallied by Gen. Miles, instantly checked
the enemy and regained our intrenchments for
some distance further towards the left.


After the enemy had been checked in the
centre and along that portion Of the line which.
they had chiefly directed their attack, the
greater part Of the I'd division had returned to
their own intrenchments, and the combat
seemed to have nearly died out, when suddenly
the enemy, working their way round towards
our left, struck the right fiank and rear OF
Col Murphy brigade, which was driven to-
wards the left. Perhaps it will be better
understood If compare our line to horse-
shoe, and say they were driven towards the
left heel. There was again considerable con-
fusion for time, but our men again rallied
and the enemy was soon checked.


By this time it was dark, and the 1ghtin
ended. McKnight's battery was but q short
distance to the left of the portion Of the line
captured. and after dark Colonel Smyth sent
Colonel Moore, Of the 14th Pennsylvania, to
BRING off the guns. He succeeded In bringing
III three, and the other was subsequently re-
covered.


About p. m. we commenced retiring, which
re accomplished without molesta tation. Nothing
ost in abandoning our position, not q shot
,elng fired by the enemy. We sacrifice nothing
n abandoning the position at Ream's Station,
xcept, perhaps, the destruction Of a few miles
more Of the railroad, and when our detached
ituation, and the force the enemy brought
Igainst us are considered, it is by no means
urprising that we should have been for q time
The number Of men opposed to
ls is estimated at from fifteen to seventeen
housand, and comprising Heath's and Will
ox's division OF Hills corps, and Fields
livisiOn, with two other brigades Of Ander.
on's, formerly Longstreets corps.


There can be little doubt that a the engage.
nent they outnumbered MS two 70 one, for the
nen Of the two divisions we had there were so
Exhausted by fighting, hard marching, and
heir laborious work on the railroad, that their
fective strength had been materially reduced.
he enemy will very naturally pique them
elves on the capture Of our breastworks and