Transcription:
of my forces be engaged in front. I did not
allow any of my men to look above the works until
the enemy was within sixty yards of. I did this,
hoping that when I did fire it would be so destruc-
tive as to throw his center into disorder and
confusion, and if possible break it, thereby
destroying his charge. I was right in my opinion.
When within sixty yards, he started for my works
at the "double quick," cheering most lustily, [?]
I then gave him such vollies of buck and ball
cartridges, that in two minutes his center gave
away, & fled. He closed both wings upon the center
and again advanced, but my continuous firing
soon broke his center the second time. He rallied
a third time and advanced to within fifty yards,
there lying down behind stumps, logs, banks of
earth and in ravines, and under a steady fire,
from both infantry and artilery, he succeeded
in filing eleven companies of his command up
a deep ravine in my front or exterior ditches. This
force was under command of Lieut. Col. Van Patton
160 New York regiment. The enemy's artilery, could not
fire upon me now, as it would be as destructive
on his men as mine. Van Patton's command re-
mained in this ditch, making several efforts to take
my works, but being repulsed every time with
