9

3

4.

FIFTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.

. A. P. White, Captain, Co. C.

Matthew W. Fatherly, 1st Lt., Co. C

John B. Lyon, 2d Lieut., Co.. C. no
Captain in 68th Regiment. :

Robert D. Graham, Captain, Co. D.

5.
6.

7.
8.

David S. Ray, 1st Lieut., Co. D.
Robert T. Faucette, 1st Lieut., Co. D.

- B.F. Grigg, Captain, Co. F.

Valentine J. Palmer, 1st Lieut., Co. F.

Firty-SixtH REGIMENT. 325

fiank, Company I occupying the extreme point a mile to the
south, our pickets are driven in at daylight. Lieutenant Gra-
ham soon thereafter calls the attention of the Colonel to an
order plainly heard on the left, “Throw out your skirmish-
ers,” and is sent out with six men to reconnoiter. Finds the
enemy advancing a strong line of skirmishers, with a line of
battle behind them, opens the battle by getting the first fire,
and returns to report their position. The left wing, ready
and waiting for them as they rush forward to the assault, re-
ceives them with a steady fire, and they take shelter in a
sereen of dense woods separated from us by an open space of
100 yards in width.

The fire here is maintained briskly for some time, and
then their next regiment advances against the right wing of
our seven companies, where the reception is equally effective,
again silencing their fire. These demonstrations after a
considerable interval are renewed with the same result, and
the third time all is silent.

At this point Colonel Faison expressed to the writer a de-
termination to charge them, and sent him around their right
flank with twenty men to locate them. It was soon evident
why they had not up to this time, about 10:30 a. m., used
against our front their third regiment of infantry supporting
the first two, nor the three pieces of artillery held under
cover near the Dover road and supported by the four com-
panies of cavalry, of which we heard the evening before, con-
stituting the brigade here assembled. Another force, whose
strength we must learn by feeling it, is now rapidly closing
in on the Dover road directly in rear of our right flank.
They have not pierced any point in the line committed to the
Fifty-sixth ; but however there, they have gained the rear of
the redoubt, and can soon rake the road through the swamp
with our own gun. The Colonel is amazed that there is no
attack upon them by the always reliable regiment that had
been posted at the next crossing as our reserve. _They soon
develop a considerable force, taking the redoubt in the rear,
and a hasty retreat along the railroad before they can gain
it, now offers the only escape from capture by the two brig-
ades between which the battalion is being wedged in. Colonel