as J. SENCENDIVER to Reports, February 17, 1862

Pughtown, February 17, 1862.

SIR:

I have the honor to submit the following report of the engagement into which we were surprised on the morning of the 14th instant:

Our advanced pickets came in about daylight and reported the enemy advancing upon us in large force. I gave orders to have the baggage packed immediately and the men prepared to meet the enemy and repulse him if possible. The Thirty-first Regiment, Colonel Baldwin, being quartered nearer the point from where the enemy was advancing than the balance of the command, rushed hurriedly to meet him. The Fifty-first, Major Wotring, and a portion of the Highty-ninth, commanded by Major Davidson, hastened to his aid, but before they reached him the enemy’s cavalry dashed through his ranks and inclosed him between them and their infantry and captured himself and nearly all his command. Majors Wotring and Davidson then took position on [a] hillside near the road and commenced a brisk fire on the cavalry, who advanced about 400 strong in full speed in pursuit of our wagons. While they were engaged with cavalry the infantry flanked them on the right and captured a number of their men and officers. As the cavalry neared our teams they were met by the Sixty-seventh Regiment and Company A, of the Highty-ninth Regiment, who took a position on the hill-side near the road and poured a heavy volley into them and checked them for a short time, but they again dashed forward, overtook our wagons, captured several of them, and turned them back towards Bloomery. At this juncture the Sixty-seventh and Company A, Highty-ninth Regiment, advanced rapidly on either side of the road and commenced a brisk fire on them, and finally drove them back and recaptured the wagons. This was effected without the loss of aman. The enemy lost several men and horses killed at this point.

We then continued on after our wagons. The enemy followed us from this point about 2 miles, but at respectful distance. He picked up 1 or 2 stragglers and then retired.

We reached this place at sundown, and, as before reported, I sent – yesterday morning a party with a flag of truce to bring off our dead and wounded. After a diligent search they did not find any killed and but

two wounded, neither of them mortally.

They learned that the enemy was from 7,000 to 10,000 strong, commanded by General Lander. He returned the same evening towards Paw Paw, but threatened to return in two days. His loss was 11 killed and several wounded.

Our loss, I regret to say, is over 50 officers and privates missing.

Annexed is a list of officers captured: Col. R. F. Baldwin, Thirty-first Regiment; Capts. William Baird, acting assistant adjutant-general, and G. M. Stewart, Eighty-ninth Regiment; Capts. Thomas McIntyre, Willjam Lodge, and Byron Lovett, Thirty-first Regiment; Capt. James Willis, Fifty-first Regiment; Lieut. Charles H. Brown, Thirty-first Regiment; First Lieut. William Wilson, Eighty-ninth Regiment; Lieuts. William A. Holland, Thomas Steele, R. L. Gray, A. L. White, H. R. Hottel, Isaac Rewner, and Joseph Seibert, Fifty-first Regiment.

All the officers and men engaged behaved themselves with commendable bravery, and I think they deserve great credit for having saved our stores and baggage.

Very respectfully reported.

as J. SENCENDIVER,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade. :
Major-General JACKSON.
NOVEMBER 9, 1861.—Expedition to Mathias Point, Virginia.

No. 1.—Brig. Gen. Joseph Hooker, U. 8. Army.
No. 2.—Brig. Gen. Daniel E. Sickles, U. S. Army.
– No. 3.—Col. Charles K. Graham, Seventy-fourth New York Infantry.