390
cartridge-boxes, Thomas pushed forward in pursuit. Within a few miles, asmall body of the enemy’s cavalry attempted to make a stand, but were scat-tered by a few shells from Standart. The road which the retreating forcefollowed was strewn with evidences that the retreat had degenerated into apanic. A piece of artillery was found abandoned in a mud hole, hundreds
of muskets were strewn along the road andin the fields, and, most convincing proof ofall, the flying foe had thrown away theirhaversacks filled with rations of corn poneand bacon. Those were the days wdien sto-ries of “rebel atrocities” in the way of poison-ing wells and food were current, and thepursuers, who had gone into the fight break-fastless, were doubtful about tasting the con-tents of the first haversacks they observed.Their great number, however, soon becamea guarantee of good faith, and the hungrysoldiers seized on them with avidity. AsCrittenden in his report mentioned the lossof all the cooked rations carried to the fieldas enhancing the distress of his subsequentretreat, the abundance of the supply obtainedby the pursuing force may be inferred. Onarriving near the enemy’s intrenchmentsthe division was deployed in line of battle,advancing to the summit of the hill at Moulden’s, which commanded theenemy’s intrenchments. From this point Standart and Wetmore’s batterieskept up a cannonade till dark, while Kenny’s on the left, at Russell’s house,fired upon their ferry to keep them from crossing. The 14th Ohio and the10th Kentucky had come up during the pursuit, and were placed in advancefor the assault ordered for daybreak. General Schoepf arrived about darkwith the 17th, 31st, and 38th Ohio . [See also pp. 546, 547.]
At daybreak next morning Wetmore’s Parrott guns, which had been movedto Russell’s, began firing on the steamer which was evidently engaged incrossing troops, and it was soon abandoned and set on fire by the enemy.The assaulting columns moved forward, the 10th Kentucky and the 14thOhio in advance, and reaching the intrenchments found them abandoned.In the bottom near the ferry-crossing were found 11 pieces of artillery, withtheir caissons, battery-wagons, and forges, hitched up and ready to movebut abandoned by the artillerymen, more than 150 wagons, and over 1000horses and mules. All the troops had escaped. The steep road on the otherbank was strewn with abandoned baggage and other evidences of disorderlyflight. The boats used for crossing having been destroyed by the retreatingenemy, no immediate pursuit was possible; but during the day means wereimprovised for getting the 14th Ohio across for a reconnoissance and tosecure abandoned property.
fjjmm
BRIGADIER-GENERAL SPEED S. FRY.FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.
VstvJ
•MV