ason of the heavy rains
which had fallen for the previous ten days and the
consequence was that the road soon became jammed by the
artillery and ordnance wagons. This gradually led to
confusion and disorder.

"In a few minutes, however, I succeeded in establishing two
colored regiments in line of battle in a wood on this side
of the little valley. These troops stood their ground well
and checked the enemy for a time. The check, however, was
only temporary and this line in turn gave way. My troops
were seized with a panic and became absolutely
uncontrollable. One and a half miles in rear by dint of
great exertion and with pistol in hand, I again succeeded in
checking up the flying column and placing it in line of
battle.

"This line checked the enemy for ten or fifteen minutes
only, when it again gave way and my whole army became
literally an uncontrollable mob. Nothing now remained to do
but allow the retreat to continue and endeavor to force it
gradually into some kind of shape. The night was exceedingly
dark, the roads almost impassable and the hope of saving my
artillery and wagons altogether futile, so I ordered the
artillery and wagons to be destroyed. The latter were burned
and the former dismantled and spiked, that is all but six
pieces which we succeeded in bringing off in safety. By 7 A.
M. next morning we reached Ripley (nineteen miles). Here we
re-organized and got into very respectable shape. The
retreat was continued, pressed rapidly by the enemy. Our
ammunition soon gave out, this the enemy soon discovered and
pressed the harder. Our only hope now lay in continuing the
retreat which we did to this place, where we arrived about 7
o'clock this morning.

"My losses in material of war was severe, being 16 guns and
some 130 wagons. The horses of the artillery and mules of
the train we brought away. As my troops became very greatly
scattered and are constantly coming in in small parties, I
am unable to estimate my loss in killed and wounded. I fear,
however, it will prove severe, probably ten or twelve
hundred. While the battle lasted it was well contested and I
think the enemy's loss in killed and wounded will not fall
short of our own.

"This, general, is a painful record, and yet it was the
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