Thomas ,as corps officer of the day, was advanced that afternoon in connection with the skirmishers of Generals Waithall and Bate, and with small loss drove the Yankees from their position about Coles house. All the buildings there were bnrnt to prevent their further nse by the Yankee sharpshooters. About 3 p. m. the reserve brigades under Palmer and Baker were sent in all haste to meet aim advance of the Yankees upon a road com- ing into the only road of retirement some two miles in rear of our posi- tion. The Yankees got within a short distance of this main road, scat- tering Butlers cavalry, when they were vigorously attacked by Cum- mings brigade, 213 efiectives, under Colonel Henderson, and 80 men of Eighth Texas Cavalry, and driven back three-fourths of a mile. The Yankee line consisted of two divisions of the Seventeenth Corps, and they no doubt were the advance party of a formidable force endeav- oring to cut our line of communication. Brigadier-Generals Palmer and Baker were the first to conme to the support of Colonel Henderson. The former was not engaged at all ; the latter reports that he had some skirmishing, and lost 2 men killed and 12 wounded. The intervals between the men in this corps were widened at 4 p. In., so as to cover the ground occupied by Generals Bate and Walthall, who had been also sent to meet this flank movement. We retired that night at 2 oclock and crossed Hannahs Creek. Our men fought with great enthusiasm in this engagement. The only thing censurable in their conduct which I could perceive was an excited firing, at times resulting in the causeless waste of ammunition. The Yankees fought worse than I have ever known them to do on any previous field of battle. It may be that even a Yankees conscience has been disturbed by the scenes of burning, rapine, pillage, and mur- der so recently passed through. Casualties. Killed. - wounded. Missing. - Command. - a . a . a a 0 0 ~ H Stevensons division 9 22 19 176 3 40 269 Claytons division 4 18 11 149 7 55 244 Hills division 2 5 9 76 10 102 Total 15 45 39 401 10 105 615 The corps claims the capture of 1 Napoleon gun and 339 prisoners. I think that the number of prisoners has been overestimated. My thanks are due to the division commanders, Major-Generals Stevenson and Clayton and Colonel Coltart. I was also struck with the soldierly bearing of Brigadier-Generals Pettus and Palmer, Colonel Toulmin, Lieutenant-Colonel Carter and Colonel Kyle, commanding brigades. The other brigade commanders did not come specially nuder my observation. The corps staff and my own staff behaved most gal- lantly. Major IRatchford, assistant adjutant-general; Major Elliott, assistant inspector-general, severely wounded; Major Metuminger, assistant adjutant-general; Captain Taliaferro, aide-dc-camp; Captain Coleman, engineer, slightly contused by minie-ball; Captain Gibbes; Lieutenant licid, aide-dc-camp, wounded in the knee; Lieutenant Far-