Transcription:
great slaughter, until he found it impossible
either to take my works, or retreat from them,
and he was thus situated, when the shame of
the white flag was raised, for his relief in front
of Col. Steedmans line. Under this flag, which
I was bound to respect because ordered by Col.
Steadman, with the greatest impudence he marched
out of the ditch, back to the woods. They, without
the benefit of said flag, would have either all been
killed or made prisoners. They however annoyed
me considerably while in my ditch, by casting
over the works large pieces of wood, dirt, sticks,
trash etc. upon the heads the heads and in the faces of
my men. My loss of that day was seventeen
killed, forty seven wounded, and twelve missing,
nearly all of the latter I fear were killed in the
fight in the woods.¹ The loss of the enemy on that
day in my front, as I was afterwards informed,
was about four hundred and twenty, ninety of
whom were killed, and among the latter was one
Lieut. Col. and two Majors. With the exception of
three of my Lieutenants, I must say that all of my
officers acted most gallantly.² I should be pleased
to mention some [few], as acting better than the others,
but when all did so well few distinctions can be
made, if any existed. The three exceptions shall be
¹ The twelve missing men were all captured, not killed.
² Johnson is probably referring to the four lieutenants who posed as privates after the surrender in order not to be sent to prison camps.