Ox Hill--September 1, 1862.
The pursuit was continued the whole of Sunday, and on Monday afternoon, about four o'clock, we came up with the enemy at
Ox hill, near Fairfax Courthouse, on the
Alexandria and Winchester turnpike, where the engagement was immediately opened.
This brigade pressed eagerly forward through an open field and a piece of woods to the edge of another field, where we were for a short time exposed to the enemy's infantry fire, without being able to return it. An attempt was made to flank us on the right, and the Eighteenth regiment was immediately detached from the centre of the brigade and ordered to the right to prevent the. movement, which it did, sustaining a deadly fire unsupported.
The enemy's direct advance was through a field of corn, in which he sustained great loss, notwithstanding most of our guns fired badly on account of the heavy rain which fell during the engagement.
On learning that our ammunition was nearly out,
General Branch made known the fact, and was ordered βto hold his position at the point of the bayonet.β
We remained where we were until dark, when the whole command fell back to the field in rear of the woods.
The Twenty-eighth, cold, wet and hungry, was then ordered back to the field of battle to do picket duty for the night, without fires.
This engagement is regarded by the brigade as one of our severest.
The enemy's infantry used a great many explosive balls.
Our loss was fourteen killed, ninety-two wounded, and two missing.
