On a day so shameful that no self-respecting American can read of it without blushing they had enacted the one redeeming episode.

Commodore Barney described this action in a manner blunt and unadorned: The engagement continued, the enemy advancing and our own army retreating before them, apparently in much disorder.

At length the enemy made his appearance on the main road, in force, in front of my battery, and on seeing us made a halt.

I reserved our fire.

In a few minutes the enemy again advanced, when I ordered an eighteen-pounder to be fired, which completely cleared the road; shortly after, a second and a third attempt was made by the enemy to come forward but all were destroyed.