General  Howe  s  division  of  the  Sixth  corps

— which  was  a  portion  of  the  Left  Grand  Division  of  the
Army — and  after  crossing  the  river,  held  the  crest  of  a
hill  near  the  spot  where  the  Richmond  Stage-road  crosses
Deep  Run.  The  skirmish  line  was  pretty  constantly  engaged
during  the  day,  and  until  nearly  dark.  The  men  behaved
well  and,  though  strongly  pressed  several  times,  gave  no
ground  to  the  enemy.  The  regiment  lost  five  men  killed  and
mortally  wounded,1  and  54  wounded,  during  the  day-
Before  daylight  next  morning  it  was  relieved  by  other  troops?
on  the  15th  it  re-crossed  the  river,  and  on  the  19th  marched
back  to  Belle  Plain  with  the  brigade.  In  the  report  of  the
brigade  commander,  Major  Walbridge,  commanding  the  regi-
ment, and  acting-Major  Tyler  were  mentioned  as  deserving
special  praise  for  gallant  conduct.  A  fortnight  later,  Decem-
ber 29th,  the  regiment  was  sent  to  Belle  Plain  Landing  and
was  employed  in  fatigue  dutv,  unloading  forage  and  building
roads,  for  three  weeks.  It  was  detached  for  picket  duty,
while  the  rest  of  the  brigade  participated  in  Burnside's  second
unsuccessful  attempt  to  cross  the  Kappahannock.  It  rejoined
the  brigade  on  the  22d  of  January,  and  remained  in  camp

1  These  were  privates  E.  E.  Balch  and  F.  E.  Smith,  of  Company  A
and  Joseph  8.  Hastings,  Alonzo  E.  Moore  and  Eben  E.  Whitney,  of  Com.
pany  I.
THE    SECOND    REGIMENT.  105

near  White  Oak  Church,  during  the  remainder  of  that  un-
eventful winter.
