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He half consents [but?] in five minutes gives again the order to fall back. Officers go to him swears and curse, men bite their lips and in many ways express their disapprobation of such a course; but all to no avvil. A few minutes and we find that we are surrounded; but the men are mad- burning with rage- we are retreating and haven't lost a half dozen men; and the boys madly rush forward scattering the rebels from their front. All feel that such a retreat will disgrace us. We fall back four miles when a hold is ordered and an advance upon the town is insisted upon by officers and men. We move forward towards the village and after a slight skirmish with the enemys rear guard we are again in possession of the town. But the depot is burned, all of our papers are destroyed and property stolen or burned. Officers valises and clothing, mens knapsacks, and everything except what we wear upon our backs is appropriated to the use of the rebels or destroyed to justify their love of revenge and destruction. It was perhaps well that we retreated, but no military [illegible] [surrender?] can be justified in evacuating a fort until he knows Gorgas did of the strength of the [enemy?]. Gorgas did not know whether the [enemy?] had one hundred or two thousand and it was cowardly and disgraceful for him to fall