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22 -ing to Va. A heavy rain now set in and we stood around in wet clothing until the next evening about five oclock when Co. I of our Regt. had orders to skirmish through a woods. When they were right at the edge of the woods the enemy opened on them very suddenly from only a few paces distant. There being an entire line of battle of rebels in the woods the company retreated as fast as possible. Then a company of sharp shooters opened on the enemy they having pursued Co. I out on to the open ground. Besides this a section of Pickets Battery opened on them and they were quickly repulsed. One of Co. I was wounded and brought to the rear another was shot and left. The more than brutal traitors bayonetted the wounded man.* Gen'l Sander was also wounded in the leg from which he partially recovered, but died in February following. It is believed the wound hastened his death. After dark our Company was ordered on picket. We approached near the woods whence Co. I had been driven, and it was so dark one could scarcely see a man three paces in the open ground. Judge them how it must be in a dense woods. There an officer rode up and asked for twelve volunteers to skirmish the woods. Without waiting for volunteers, our Capt. ordered the

• This was corporal Mitchel. The story is told in one of Gordon's poems.