At this time the most of my right— the Seventeenth Louisiana, the Confederate Guards, and the Florida Battalion— had crossed the branch and made a charge up a hill into the edge of the enemy's camp, but his battery was playing upon them with such vigor that they fell back in order a short distance to a point where they were sheltered by the brow of the hill. The perceptibly diminishing fire from the enemy's battery was soon, by Captain Hodgson's superior practice, entirely silenced. Our infantry, which in the mean time had crossed the boggy ravine, pressed up the hill on the other side, driving the enemy from his camp, and reaching the battery in time to pour several shots into the ranks of the fleeing cannoneers and their supports, both right and left.

It was 8 o'clock at night before we had reached a bivouac, near General Bragg's headquarters, and in the darkness of the night the Twentieth Louisiana and portions of the Seventeenth Louisiana and Confederate Guards got separated from that portion of the command with which I was and encamped on other ground. By the assistance of my staff the whereabouts of the whole command was ascertained before we slept.

About the time of the attack at Snyder's Mill another was made along the Chickasaw Bayou with great violence and in heavy force. This was gallantly and successfully met by the Seventeenth Louisiana Regiment . . . .

Their attack in front was repulsed with still greater disasters. By a handsome move merit on the enemy's flank the Twenty-sixth and part of the Seventeenth Louisiana threw the enemy into inextricable confusion, and were so fortunate as to capture 4 stands of regimental colors, 21 commissioned officers, 311 non-commissioned officers and privates, and 500 stand of arms.

Our fire was so severe that the enemy lay down to avoid it. Seeing their confusion the Twenty-sixth Louisiana and a part of the Seventeenth Louisiana were marched on the battle-field, and under their cover 21 commissioned officers and 311 non-commissioned officers and privates were taken prisoners, and 4 stand of colors and 500 stand of arms captured.

On the morning of the 2?th, about 10 o'clock, the pickets brought information that the enemy were advancing on our positions in two directions. A portion of the Seventeenth Louisiana, with a howitzer of Wofford's battery, were advanced to Mrs. Lake's gin-house to hold in check the force in that direction. Soon afterward the two companies of the Forty-sixth Mississippi, stationed as pickets in rear of Mrs. Lake's residence, were driven in and the enemy appeared in the edge of the field in considerable force, consisting of infantry, cavalry; and artillery. One of Captain Wofford's howitzers, under command of Lieut. [W. A.] Lockhart, immediately opened on them. The enemy replied with spirit from their battery when a brisk artillery duel occurred, under cover of which the howitzer and part of the Seventeenth Louisiana at the gin-house were withdrawn and our forces concentrated to resist the attack now threatened both in our front and on our right flank.

The regiments were at once assigned positions to check the advance of the enemy. The Seventeenth Louisiana was directed to occupy a wood on the left of the main road, which was much broken by ravines, and formed a salient angle with our general line.

The Fourth Mississippi was placed on the left of the center, its right forming part of the defense of the triangular wood, separated from the Seventeenth Louisiana by a deep ravine, the left extending along a skirt of woods which bounded on the side next to us an open field, forming a re-entering angle, the whole front of the regiment covered by skirmishers. The Forty-sixth Mississippi was posted on a hill 600 or 800 yards in rear of the front, on the left of the main road, as a reserve, and to support a battery placed there. The Seventeenth Louisiana and Fourth Mississippi were soon actively engaged with the enemy's skirmishers; the former the most warmly, as it occupied the key to our position. Two pieces of artillery placed upon the ridge where the Forty-sixth Mississippi was stationed, although nearly out of ammunition, opened upon the enemy's advance in front of the Fourth Mississippi, and checked their progress. The number of pieces at this point was afterward increased to six, but their fire, though accurate and effective, was necessarily slow and at long intervals, from scarcity of ammunition. The fire was kept up with but little intermission along our front until between 3 and 4 p.m., when, no progress having been made by the enemy, General Bowen directed me to make an effort to advance and try their strength. . . .

The Seventeenth Louisiana was directed to debouch from the wood in the same manner, but their position was so much cut up by ravines and other irregularities of ground that no line of battle could be formed, and companies were compelled to act independently.

With our present means, I do not see that anything more can be done to support General Moore than has already been effected. The Seventeenth Louisiana Regiment is now occupying the trenches recently thrown up on either side "Cox House" battery, and two regiments from General Bowen's division are in reserve, to support either Baldwin's Ferry or Jackson roads.

On Saturday, the 16th instant, on receiving information from General Vaughn that the enemy were supposed to be advancing, I forwarded the Fourth Mississippi to him, and on the evening of the same day marched with the Seventeenth Louisiana and Forty-sixth Mississippi to Bovina, leaving the Thirty-first Louisiana at Mount Alban. That night rumors came of a disaster to our troops across Big Black Bridge, at Baker's Creek.