ack rapidly. Hearing of Colonel
Roddey commanding a force of the enemy on my left flank, I sent
orders forward for the command to halt; but before the messenger got
to him Colonel Roddey had got between the cavalry and infantry. The
Third Brigade was in advance, commanded by Colonel Bane, who,
ascertaining this fact, pushed forward and fell upon their rear, but
not until Colonel Roddey had taken two pieces of artillery, twenty-two
men, and one company of mounted infantry, who were guarding it, which,
through neglect, had been allowed to fall three miles in the rear of
the advance.

Colonel Cornyn, hearing firing in the rear, immediately fell back, and
with the First Alabama Cavalry charged the rebels and retook the
artillery and caissons, with the exception of one gun, which the enemy
succeeded in getting off with.

The charge of the Alabamians with muskets only, and those not loaded,
is creditable, especially as they are all new recruits and poorly
drilled. In this charge, Captain Cameron, the commanding officer of
the Alabama Cavalry, a deserving and much-lamented officer, was
killed.

Colonel Bane, on his arrival, disposed of his troops admirably.
Colonel Cornyn advanced with his cavalry as a feint, and the rebels
advanced to meet him. He fell back to the rear of the infantry, which
was posted under cover and out of sight on both flanks of the cavalry.
On the appearance of the enemy, the infantry opened a heavy and
destructive fire, which caused the rebels to fall back in confusion,
utterly routed. This day's work brought us thirteen miles in advance
of the main force.

Colonel Streight not arriving, I fell back with the advance to Great
Bear Creek, where the rest of the command was posted, to await his
coming.

Sunday afternoon, Colonel Streight commenced landing his force at
Eastport, but came poorly prepared for his contemplated movement. He
had two thousand infantry and about one thousand mules. At least four
hundred of them were unserviceable, and in unloading them, through the
carelessness of one of his officers, two hundred strayed away. He was
under the impression that he would find plenty of stock in the valley
to mount the rest and replace those broken down. During Monday and
Tuesday we scoured the country, and found all we could.

Tuesday night Colon