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article of clothing and equipment strewed

the ground in profusion.

     Not one gun in four of ours would ex-

plode, so that all that we could do was to

stay and be slaughtered with as much forti-

tude as possible, until night closed the scene.

The 38th was badly cut up, being very badly

managed, but we lost but 4 killed, 23 wounded,

and 4 missing, owing to our leaders having

the judgment to place their men where such

as had serviceable pieces could do [...stion,?]

and have some protection from the overwhelming

fire of 60,000 rebels, entrenched as they were.

We finally made out, under Providence, to

silence the rifle-pits which were visible, but

of course could do nothing with the redoubts

or Fort Magruder.  Our artillery, having no

ammunition, were lying useless on the road,

and small arms were opposed unaided to gi-

gantic earth-works and heavy artillery.

     The “chivalry” of the rebels in fleeing from

a place of such strength, when attacked by

less than half their number, the assailants

laboring under every disadvantage, is rather

questionable.  The backing out may have

been “military strategy” of the first water,

but we don’t see it.  I suppose they will

tell their people that the place was of

no importance, &c., as usual but if they spend 6 or 8

months in fortifying such unimportant points,

they must intend to have “somebody hurt”

at the first place that is of importance,

“in a strategic point of view.”

     I threw my Austrian rifle away in

disgust, not being able to fire it.  I suc-

ceeded in finding a U. S. Harper’s Ferry

rifled musket, which is a splendid

weapon.  Numbers of our boys secured those

pieces, & Austrians are at a heavy dis-

count.  They have been weighed in the balances, &