At sunrise we took up the line of march for Jamestown, at which place the enemy lay encamped.
The first battalion of our line (the Pennsylvanians) was detached with a small party of riflemen, which brought on a scattering fire in front and on the flanks of our battalion (the first), that continued for two or three hours, between our Riflemen and their Yeagers; our battalion (the first) was then ordered to close column and advance, when we had information the 2nd and 3rd battalions with one of Infantry were in sight of us; we then formed again, displayed to the right and left, the 3rd battalion on our right and the 2nd on our left; being then formed, brought on a general engagement, our advance regular at a charge till we got within eighty yards of their whole army, they being regularly formed, standing one yard distance from each other, their Light Infantry being in front of our battalion. We advanced under a very heavy fire of grape-shot, at which distance we opened our musquetry. Then I received a wound with a canister shot in my left breast, but did not retreat until the whole of us retreated, which was very rapidly. Upon our retreat I felt very faintish, but the thoughts of falling into the enemy's hands made me push on as hard as I possibly could for about five miles, when I got a horse and rode to Bird's Ordinary, being 12 miles, where I arrived in the morning, 3 o'clock, my wound being very painful. List of the wounded officers of our line:
|
Capt. Cropley |
Artillery |
|
Capt. Jirnney |
6 Reg’t Penna. |
|
Capt. Doyle |
6 Reg’t Penna. |
|
Capt. Vanlear |
5 Reg’t Penna. |
|
Capt. Stake |
1 Reg’t Penna. |
|
Capt. McClelland |
1 Reg’t Penna. |
|
Capt. Montgomery |
4 Reg’t Penna. |
|
Lieut Herbert |
wounded and taken and immediately paroled |
|
Lt. White |
1st. |
|
Lt. Pierey |
2nd. |
The number of our killed and wounded and taken being 97 Rank and File.
SOURCE: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Publisher, Journal of Lieut. William Feltman, of the First Pennsylvania Regiment, 1781-82, p. 6
