the Chinaman; the advent of the gray object was accompanied

to drive them in on the main body. This was successfully done in a

few minutes, but in pushing them back to Chaplin River, we discovered

the Confederates forming a line of battle on the opposite bank, with

the apparent purpose of an attack in force, so I withdrew the brigade

to our intrenchments on the crest and there awaited the assault.

While this skirmishing was going on, General Gilbert--the corps

commander--whose headquarters were located on a hill about a mile

distant to the rear, kept sending me messages by signal not to bring