Roy Stone to George A. McCall, November 3, 1862

General GEORGE A. MCCALL:

GENERAL: * * * My regiment (First Rifles) was not actively engaged June 30 until after the brilliant and successful charge made by several regiments on the left, driving back the enemy’s advanced battery, routing its infantry supports, and capturing a large number of prisoners. These regiments, whose ranks were necessarily somewhat broken by the very impetuosity of their charge, but especially by the detachments required to bring in their prisoners, were ordered to reform in front of the farm-house, and I was sent to the left by you to support this formation. The enemy, however, pushed a solid column of overwhelming numbers out of the woods to the left and front, compelling our men in turn to retire. :

The advance of the enemy might have been checked by the Dutch battery belonging to General Porter, but it was deserted by its gunners at the first appearance of its enemy. Some men on the extreme left of the line were cut off from their companions by the enemy’s rapid advance and were obliged to retreat to the left. These were probably the men who reached Hooker’s line. Meantime the enemy, turning to the left (their left) were repulsed by your center (not by Kearny, as General Hooker

About sunset I was ordered to the right, and I can bear testimony that the ground held by the center of your division when the battle opened was held by your troops in the face of a large force of the enemy long after dark. _

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,