affair it was; again
and again our brave fellows moved on the works, but were as often driven
back with severe loss. About 'o'clock Gen. Silent came riding along
with an orderly by his side, his staff having been sent in different
directions with orders. He came up to where Col. Anderson was sitting
on his horse, watching the engagement in the centre. Gen. Silent, after
passing the compliments of the day, said to the Colonel:

"'Your engagement at Snake Creek (that being the name of the creek where
the Colonel met the enemy the day before) was a rather brilliant affair
as I learn it.'

"'Yes,'said the Colonel; 'it was my first attempt at commanding in a
battle, but we had the best of it.'

"'Yes,' said the General; 'and now I want to see if you can do as well
here. I wish you to assault the enemy's works in this low ground on the
right, in order to draw some of his forces away from the centre; our
forces are having a hard time of it there.'

"Col. Anderson gave the order at once to prepare for action--knapsacks
and blankets were thrown off, and the assaulting column formed. The
General rode away after saying:

"'It is not imperative that you enter their works; but make the assault
as effectual as you can without too great a sacrifice of men.'

"The Colonel looked at the ground over which they must pass and viewed
the works with his glass, but said not one word save to give the command
'Forward!' On, on they went, and as they moved under a torrent of leaden
hail, men fell dead and wounded at every step; but they went right up
to the mouths of the cannon. There they stood and poured volley
after volley into the enemy, until at last he began to give way, when
re-enforcements came from the centre, as was desired. The Colonel's
force could stand no longer. Sullenly they fell back to a strip of woods
when night closed in, and the battle ceased for the day.

"Our lines were much nearer the enemy than in the morning.

"The centre held their ground at last, and all was still, Part of the
night was employed in hunting the dead and wounded. Many were wounded
and frozen to death, being left on the ground during the night. The
suffering in front of Dolinsburg was something almost indescribable--it
snowed, sleeted, hailed and froze during the whole of the night. The
troops did not sleep, nor did they attempt it; they had to form into
squads and walk around trees all night. No fires could be lighted--they
were so close to the