Camp Beauregard, February 22, 1864
SIR: I have the honor to report that in the action of the 20th instant 77 enlisted men, with all the officers of the company, were engaged. The total number of casualties were as follows: Killed, Gun Corp. Craven Atkinson and Private M.B. Smith, 2; wounded Privates B. Bishop, in hand, slight; A.C. McCants, struck by fragment of shell (since returned to duty), and J.B. Lynn, struck by spent ball (since returned to duty), 3; Privates J.D. Sauls and William Bishop were injured by gun carriage.
I desire to commend specially for their coolness during the entire engagement Sergt. R.F. Phillips, Corpls. J.R. Lewis and A.W. Mason, Privates James Lee, A.D. Cone, Thomas Neary, Dennis O'Conner, A.M. May. J.J. Smith, and Brickle. Lieutenants Dyke and Gamble, chiefs of sections, and Lieut. J.N. Whitner, chief of the line caissons, rendered all the assistance in their power in handling the guns. First Sergt. F.B. Papy was also active in the discharge of his duty.
Two battery horses were killed and 7 wounded. These accidents among the horses threw several teams into confusion, during which two limbers were badly injured. The trail of the 12-pounder howitzer was crushed during the action by the recoil of the gun, but firing was continued from the piece until the broken end of the trail was so deeply imbedded in the earth as to render the gun no longer serviceable, when it was carried off the field.
Number of enlisted men now present for duty, 93.
Very respectfully,
Robt. H. Gamble
Captain, Comdg. Battery F, Leon Light Artillery
Col. R.B. Thomas,
Chief of Artillery.
Copied from The Official Records of the War of Rebellion.
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