CAMP FIRST NEW YORK INDEPENDENT BATTERY,

…SIR: I have the honor to report that I was awakened the morning of the 19th of October, 1864, by musketry; was soon ordered to harness; waited for orders; soon sent my forge, battery wagons, and baggage wagons to the rear; sent the caissons back as soon as I thought best. About five minutes after was ordered in position about 200 yards from camp; had scarcely got in position before I was ordered back to the next rise of ground, as the infantry were falling back. Just got limbered when the infantry rallied and I unlimbered and commenced firing as rapidly as possible. I held this position until the infantry fell back, then fell back with them, having one piece disabled with a broken axle; another in such a condition as to have to be drawn by hand, pole being broken from fall of horses. My loss- at this point was 1 officer and 6 men killed, 16 wounded, and 10 horses killed. I moved to the rear about one mile, and got one section in fighting order as soon as I could and sent it back to the front. Before I reached a position was ordered back to get the battery together. Not knowing where my caissons had gone, I left the pieces in charge of Lieutenant Hiser and went to find them. After riding some time found them nearer the front than I expected. I took horses enough to move the pieces, and about the time I reached the pieces I was ordered to get the battery near the pike all together in park. I soon got the pieces ready for action and moved along the pike to within one mile of Middletown, and waited for orders about two hours. Was then ordered forward and to the right; went in position 1,400 yards from Middletown. I fired from this point until our men advanced, then was ordered forward; moved to the top of the crest from Cedar Creek; was then ordered back to the camp we had left in the morning, having expended 55 time-shell, 45 case-shot, 39 percussion-shell, 15 combination; 1 officer and 5 men killed and 17 wounded; 12 horses killed and 6 disabled.

I am, sir, your very obedient servant,

O. R. VAN ETTEN,

Lieut. E. N. WHITTIER