Jim, A nicer Christmas present would be hard to find. Eugene's account is wonderfully detailed and adds much to our understanding of the battle. His mention of the Yankees coming over the hill on July 1 is undoubtedly the Union 11th Corps pushing onto Barlow's knoll. Gen. Barlow was criticized for overextending his lines, leading to the defeat of his Corps, but now we can understand that it was Major Blackford's skirmishers who helped lure him into that fatal position. We learn that the Major commanded 150 men, and later read about the connection with Hay's Louisiana skirmishers in town on his left during the morning of July 3. It will be interesting to determine which battery of Napoleons his men harassed that morning, and also fix his own unit's position in the southern outskirts of town by studying his account. His description of the skirmishing action on July 4 is unique and extensive, and helps fill considerable gaps in our knowledge of that day's work by the Confederate side. All in all, a marvelous surprise. Hats off to Jim for putting this online! Tom