Soon after one o'clock, our pickets began to come into sight, returning before the enemy

through the woods and slashing.

The skirmish line of the enemy pursued them, and we could see both parties jumping over

logs and making their way through the bushes, and here at intervals the sharp reports of

their rifles.

A little later a dense mass of men, about two rods wide, headed by half a dozen horsemen,

marched toward us on the Williamsburg Road.

They moved in quick time, carrying their arms on their shoulders, having flags and banners,

and drummers to beat the step.

Our three batteries opened simultaneously with all their power.

Our regiment poured its volleys into the slashing, and into the column as fast as we

could load and fire.

The 104th Pennsylvania aimed at the column, and at the skirmishers approaching its right

front and flank.

The regiment rushed forward with spirit, jumped a rail fence in its front with a

shout and yell, but it was meant so resolutely and was such a galling fire by the foe

that it fell back into sorter, and did not appear on the field as an organization again

during the day.

The 104th Pennsylvania falling back cleared the field, opposite the advance in column, and

gave the 98th New York a better opportunity to fire upon it as it moved deliberately

on.

The charging mass staggered, stopped, and resumed its march again.

...