Santa Fe gazette. [volume], August 31, 1861, Image 1

About Santa Fe gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1859-1864

Image provided by: University of New Mexico

                
J
, : . i), .iikV:.-';) ti.'-r.i-.. .t; ....... .;,.,,,i i ! "! ' "' - ''
VOLUME III.
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, AUGUST 31 , 1861.
NUMBER 17.: : (NEW SERIES.
SANTA FE WEEKLY GAZETTE-
"tadependont to all tblngi, Neutral in nulling. "
JAMES L COTUNS, 1TI1IJFIICK,
JOnS T. KUsSELL KIUTOrl.
SANTA FK, SATURDAY, Af(iUST31 1581.
stake the fortune! of the Republic agaiust tho reb
els in general battla oio stood.. A Btrong evi
dence of patriotic solf-rolianco but nut an abund,
ant proof of iiulsmentr The army did not howuv
wr ui!iiuit uih utHt'ni.iiiuuou oi weir uenerui, mix
with tin1 wholesome vanity of valor, each soldier
felt tlu happiness of expectation, and iiopt tho
sounder for the projects of the morrow. ,
SUBSUHIPTIOIft
Payable In advance witboul exception.
For (toe fear, ...I2M
KorilxBiontht. ., , , IM
For lhre mmitits, 1 00
BUglecoiilei It)
man consisted of the 8th, 14th, wait 27th New- gao.. Thesilenee that followed waa profound;
lork, under Con. Porter, acouiDamed by coinpa: Out it was broken by no answer from thu enemy;
Dies oi united states mtuntry, turn cavalry, ana so. auer a pause oi aeTcrai imuiuty, our iron
marinos. Hansom's United (States, and Griffin's
West Point Halterios. Then amo JUrnside's
ltricude of the Rhode island Uog'miimU, the New
York 71st, and tho '2d New lliinipójiirtí, accom
panied by li-ynomYs and Webb's líatteri-is, and
monster spoke afrain, this time leveling itself at a
battery higher ou the hill, atid dropping its oompli"
meiit directly incido the works, to the des true t Ion,
us we wiru ultorwardi informed, of half doaen
men. The enemy, nevertheless, did notnuem to
Editorial CorriwnaTOM of Wlltce' Spirt of Hip Tlnn
Th Unttln nt Bnll Rnn Or phi r Nnrratlv
iiirinutiu rue nume u letB ujr an .ye-
WllUCalle 0 !"' -" "' ' ' !
, T. ;; tbinjrtonFrí!lay, Juiy 2C, 18CI.
The minor action of the 18th, though ending in
ft serious renuiag, served out w stimulate me ar
dor of our troops and as I walked, on the following
morning, among tlio 8wurnuiig.i)atlalions that res-
ted in the vultey this Side of Cmiterville, heard
' lint nnn winh Rvtirifliid ntiil stint, wish urna thtit.
we should again and at once move forward, mid
. wine out tho disjrmco of that temporary check bu-
fortjUio ultiug rebels could take fresh heart by
their success. It was soon plain, however, that
lieu. McDowell, warned by the unexpected ovi
deuce of strength which hud been developed from
the treacherous covert at Hull nun, liad determin
ed to remain for a time near Centerville, while he
made the minute reconnoissance which was neces
sarr before a iréntrol attack. The team. thnrR-
foro, were turned from the flying butteries and
wagons, and the lino army hooves which were our
boat camp-followers, were driver, in ami slaughter
ed by the wholesale, under tho order for the pro-
mriiiirm of thren dava' ratiniiH. Mrim.vMiiD'd
war relaxed liis wrinkled front," and now instead
of prancing steed and regiments drawn up in line,
nothing couio tin cn ntrongii tito entire val')
hut lounging swarms surrounuing Bteuin kettles,
whose odor aud whose fulness brought buck the
picture of the wedding of t atuadlo. Jt was in the
midst of this vast picnic and these savory steams
tlut the Secretary of War paid a visit to the
scene, and imparted, by the moro fact of his pres
ence, an additional assurance that wo would not
move that day. When he lull us in the afternoon
there were some who believed we were on tlm
brink of action, but the miiority were of the opio
ion that th') general advance would not be made
f tul da v urea t .uoudnv morning. 1 Ins wn tlie pre-
vailing notion iu the California camp (whose head
quartern l liad Hall adopted, in view ot tlie unpen-
ding duperture of the 7Ut.) and I must confess, it
wiu partly mine. I had, however, at the sumo
timo, an ideu that we might porlinp wait till lien,
l'altursuu could descend Iroiu I Imperii l'"trrj and
co-operate upon our right.
Tho nightfwure quietly away, with the oxcoplion i
of u slight alarm at the distant cottage, where 1
slept, and which more than a mile from our lines,
1 hnd chosen for the convenience of nuking up
my letters. At two hours post midnight, tlirue or
four volleys of musketry lioni a grove near by
startled me awake, uud as I rose upon my arm, J
- could hear the sijuad of Uernmns who were pick
eted beneath the poarch cautiously cock their nma
ketR in expectation of an attack. Hut the firing
soon ceased, and dnybreak roveuled the fact that
1 rceei mu irom uewiy-a mv m regiments w ucu (eu in u WlWrfii WiW RmrkfJIU? wi,i, : tMÍ Qt
, rOóITlON or TUB ukukls.
On their part tho rebels lay on that brilliant
moonlight evening enfolded in vast strength; their
positunn being that ot a triangle, with the point
towards us, and branching upward toward Mauua-
wan an open naso ol several miles. 1 lie point
or open ot this triangle, uhont a mile round, was
most heavily protected at Hull Rnn, where the di
rect road ny Mawwwu crossed the ucontiaii. All
its branching sides, however, batteries hVed out
ward in deep rows, their ponderas iron tusks, con
cealed by artificial musks, wherever natural grovea
did uot volunteer a screen. Amtobh field po
ition could iimdiy be imagined, iielendwl ta it
vasby7u,imilmenrto bo iucreasttd to lld.fiini
in the niurniug, it would Hcurcel; suil'er in Compar
ison of strength with Solferino or Sevastopol) and
i doubt if there is any French or Jtutaian engin
eer who would have undertaken to assail it. exapt
by regular itpproachos, and several respectful dnvs
of distant compliment with heavy shot and shell, i
lírigadier-IJeiieral Irwin .lclowell.. however, with
a few 32 ponndtirs and 10 field batteries (nearly all
of them lignt.) backed by some five or six brigadas,
whom, mentally, he gave the credit of believing to
be equal to its capture. Had our poor fellows
lint known the depth of the compliment thus lav
ished on tli eh' powrens 1 doubt if they would have
risen so joyful for the fray on the lovely Sunday
morning now m near upon us. hut rendered
tlyngs even still mora desperate, could wo but
have known their suite, the enemy were thorough
ly ticipniinted with our strength and our intentions,
and waited our rmnming with tlm greatest eager
ness. I heir anxiety, however, was deeply mixi'd
with dread that our General might change his
mind. With thein therefore, tho ove of thin bat
tle was a nnrlit of trie hnppfnlm"t and intdligeot
reliance; and well might tho rebel chieftains, as
they looked proudly over tho vast host which an
inimensn mid desperate energy bad mt together,
Hatter thomselvtw tli.it thoy now Imdllio , fortunes
of the ( J rent ltepublic, which they had so long
contemned and plundered, securely in their grasp.
In this belief. Davis and his h'trions early went
to sleep, while our battalions, half reited, roso n
little after midnight, tobe wearied by several
hours of hut march before entering upon tho more
loient latigues ot tlie attack.
in,: uiuui mi Hii kan i iiiuivillClll. Ill 111 O IIUllI'
ing was promulgated in our camp at 111 o'clock on
naiunmy nignt; nnu we now nave reason to be
lieve that the order of march and battle, then dis-
inmin'H mnong our mania .MujuMieiieruw, was in
posesión ofthe PonNemte lenders before our
trtKips Imd risen &r the conflict. Prom the hour
f midnight, our anutinels could hear the oft -re
peated dintaut railway whistle at the Junction,
signaling the arrival cither of the last regimmite
of Johnson; or of fro.-iji troops coming up from
llichmond.
As the timo of our start was fixed nt 2:30 a.m.,
the entire army was awake nn hour before, mid in
marching order at tlie indicated moment. Jt was
bright moonlight, yet through the brilliant hIiocii
some of the st winder Htnrs looked curiously down,
as if they shared with us our wonder at the spec
tacle. From tho hill of'Ctmtrcrille, backward to-
ward Fairfax, tho whole valley, so lately untrod-
two light howitzers, which the boy. of the "1st 'think the game quite mado, and though ho was
had learned to work, and borrowed from tho Xavy-1 near enough, as it subsequently proved, io reach
Yard. This brigade alto hud a batterv of rilled us from two or three positions on our right and
Ü'i-poumlors, under(Capt. Heymour, oflFort Hum- left, persisted in a sullen silence. Our first shot
ter. Heintzleman's Division consisted, in its fir. had buen tired at half-pant six, and it was now af-
hrigado, of the 5th Ma-aoliusetts, 1st Minnesota, ,ter seven; still the fue deigned no respmue, and it
and ;th i'ennavlvania. Two batteries accompani- was plain hi; would not lie fcitisliod miles wo
ed tins brigade, i he next brigade was under Wil sought him deeper in his taítnesses. The big gun.
cox, nnd consisted of the 1st Michigan, tho íijHh tlunelbre, wasaupersedod1 by light artillery for
Now-Vork,and the Fire Zouaves, backed'by a bnt- i closer service, and un order wnt given for the brig
tery of United States Artillery. The lu4 brigade 'inies.thussLrengtheut'd.tu move right aud left and
oinmuori trie s, 4, and :nn ol mm, and the . :!!vpiore ine luyomiiw wyods. üi 14 order, imuestj-
Vermotit. r Thft sfttenn roiwitMMminaí
ed in t!i" tiankmg column tmiy he üet down at I
rwH 13.01111 and 1 l.OPU men, while the eleven in
the centmlliho mn? bo numbered at between 8,-
IM)0 and y;iil)t). The entire attacking force, there
fore, may be summon np at rJ.(H)t) wepv all ol
whom could hardly expect to be mied. :
This whs the nrmy which pusseil out of the val
ley up over that hill at 3 o'clock on the morning
ul the Slat aud which, with tlie moon still light-
ihg thein upon their jouruey, took the right-mind
road toward the strongholds of the enemy, It wiw
a brave sight, not soon to be forgotten by those
who wunessca it. while tlie thought winch it ma
pire;! were to become thenceforth an established
portion of the mind. The reuiiueuts of therworvo.
m they stood looking on at tho passing line, envied
their marching comrades what lliuy regiirdod as n
better fortune; uud, as teoy went by. saluted them
wif tifiittght up thi'm'gsdeoFKfyes,' which now
occupieu tno cenwr. out still acting as n reserve.
l he Umber Lii'aiiclied uway ou wither side 111 a sort
Of crescent toward tho butteries of the enemy; 011
the right hand, however, it pursued the straigliteit
line. Both brigades, with skirmishers well out nt
once proceeded upon their respectivo tasks, Sell'
enck following a left oblique along the edgo of the
wood, with I Jul. McOik and the 1st Ohio in the
lead; Ool. Tompkins and the New York 2d next,
wall tlin ild Uhio, under (Jul. Murria, in tho rear.
The Brigade proceded in this way, exhibiting the
utmost caution for the distance of about a mile,
when they struck atino newly-opened road to tho
left, whose clean, broad path seemed to invite their
entrance. They turned into it and followed it I r
soma distance, when, to their surprise, it ended
abruptly nt a fenoe, with no oviduueo of any road
Iwyoud. Suddenly the enemy showixl himself hi
with various requests, ranging between the actiui-1 Jww ur(ul,yu w lu R,m '"K
:,; 1f0,4l1tft,'.ü.11i ,i., ii ' ! nags at oar truopA, opened a tremoudous tire. It
sition of some traitor's sculp, down to the posses
sion ol a palmetto button. 1 he marching line re
plied with various conceits, bnt in most cases the
requests wmo responded to with u large excess of
promise, It was, indeed; a gallant sight, how sad
ly to l Mvtnged in a few hours none oí them, for
tunately, knew. Ily 3 1-2 o'clock, the list bayo
nets oud disappeared over the hill, and the entire
was promptly answered by the whole briirudo.w
endured the storm of balls with the greatest forti
tude, mid returned flra for fire. Several fell at
this spot, aud among others, the favorite drummer
boy of tho 'Id. The poor little lellow was struck
by a canmm ball which took him juit below the
nn -pi is ami meruit) cut mm in two, his childish
column was on its way by tho mun.irable Warren- k Im W n ine wnisue 01 the
point turnpike to seek i fortune. The halts were n!li;d J, m ,,w 1 WBnt the
numerous, in order that tin Generals might iimiro : - n,B r-n rom the batteries seemed now
the coinpactiie,s of the lino, nmlpresently we Bi increase nither than to slacken, and unable to
passnl acroas a wooden bridge in quiet, no dial- ?l!!lurw 11 'VUC 1 "? M.Pawl P?'1'011, fB h!illU
lunge being made that might prevent oh from I f''1 111 (taud inlw.bwk upon the wod. General
lllft ! ..is miii
tad Bcttli'titlieinHL'lves liiml Ity. whi tt;ul beon
.merely jaxpellin utule diaries from Uieirpieccs it,
. onticipution of important work.
Mtfftiuvliiltt. Bill all the fulluwiii1,' ihy, Urn fttiloát
ongineara oftien. MePjwoirs stnff had bimn ro
vcouuoitoring fur miliu trunad, and the I'ruit of llmir
labora was a report that theoufitnv'a position could
not bo turned to tho left (or southward, by mason
of the routines of the roada, that it wa4 not ad
visable to renow the attack of tho 1 9th on the bat
tery or Hull lion but that tho mad to the right,
through Contorville, was a practicable avenuo to
another crosainfr, and which was undefended, and
to which artillery could easily be drawn. This
was called the Wnrrentou ruad, and at some dis
tance down, It had tho further advantage of a path
divergiría; from it to the iiorthwurd, by which a
circuit conld be mude w tho roar ol certuin heavy
batterries, which the course of the main road itself
would enable ns to strike in front. It wus there
fore decided by (lem McDowell to send merely
one briirade to Jiull Hun to hold that butterrv ill
check, aud te make hii grand attack by the Wur
ronton road, relying upon the column Unit was to
pass off into the northward path to turn the ene
my's position and throw it into confusion while
nssaibd by as upon its face. This seemed to bo a
very proper and consistent plan. Undoubtedly
the theory of It was a good plan (as a thoory), and
it might have been practically successful, had it
but fitted the proportions of the enemy. Unfortu.
nately, however, Uen. McDowell had not taken
the full measoro of his foe, and the circuit he had
decided upon, insteadof reaching the baso of the
Rebel's principal position, merely plusged against
the side of his trhaugle, where ha was most fearl'al
y in strength, and where the most desperate valor
could but serve to feed his guns. The Confeder
ates, as he might have aKrtinod, numbered with
out Johnston and his forces at least 10.000 men;
and ho now proposed to fling against this com
pact mass, reposing in jungles behind batteries of
the heaviest guns, souie six or sevon brigades, to
. oiplore'the labarynth of that terrible position, and
seek by impetas alone, to bntt a hole through it,
:nd hold on to the lower end.
- It must be stated at this tima, that while Qcn.
Mcpowel was forming his calculations on tho ba
sis oflu'sengiueors'rouort, he was aware that Uon.
Patterson was bnt 60 miles to his right with a
f ederal army oi nearly 30,000 men, who were
thon employed io watching ta equal rebel force
nnder (Jen, Johnston, with a view of preventing
Dim from descending to Mauaseua. lie knew.
also, that while Johnston, from having a railway
track behind him, conld reache Manassas with
his column in two days, Patterson could not fol
low over Obstrncted roads and broken bridges, in
less than Ave. Under those circumstances, it would
Beam that the ootnmonest military prudence would
have suggested that Uon. McDowell shonld have
paused at least to know whether Johnston had
.abandoned the neighborhood of Winchester, wheth
er therefore, it was not absolutely necessary to the
safety of the Federal frooes, to say nothiug ol a
hope of victory, that he shnold intrench himself
at tonterville, and wait lor ratierson I arrival.
But itarmeam that Sen. McDowell considered
the prestige of the Federal cause and his own
goad luck aa equal to all the odds which treason
rteel. and, iw tho thirty Ihomnnd bayonets moved
toward in the uncertain light, with that billowy
motein peculiar to too step or troops, the stirring
musí! looked like a bristling monitor lifting himself
by a alow, wavy motion up tho laborious aseeut.
To the left, and forward through the villain in tho
direction of the Run, thu ground dosccmlud three
or four mill's toward the Occoquan, and then rose
in a gradual accent to Manassas. It was a sceno of
mingled grove and opening, and tho moonlight
slept as placidly upon the jungles of that rise, as IT
Treason, armed in 'ripio strength, were not slyly
watching from Its lair our ignorant ailvauco, ready
to belch forth upon us its deadly oud malignant
lire.
PLASOftllt ATTACK.
The plan of lionorul McDowell was, as l have
already indicated, to advance noon the enemy in
two directions, launching his main and central
column along tho Wairentou road in a direct lino.
until lie reachod tlnur batteries; while a strong
column, by a circuit to tho right, wa, to smite
them in the rear. The road to Bull Hun on ' tho
left, and the ho4ilo batteries nt its end. wero to be
merely watched throughout the day, so that the
enemy could not issue from that quarter and turn
our left, (lol. iticlwrdson. with the 1st Massa
chusetU, 2d and 3d Michigan, and Xew-York
Volunteer I'Jth. and I). 8. Artillery, was charged
with this-duty: while to support him, in case he
slioulo1 be seriously attacked, Ueneral Miles, with'
niño regiments, was posted in reserve, but far
enough back toward ContreviHc to give aid pr suc
cor also to the main column jn case it should meet
with a rovcrse. These nine regiments consisted
of ttieHth, ITtli.lTth, IfltH, 2atli,3Ut and i!2d
N. Y.. thoOaribaldl (loard. and tho 8th New-
Yprit (iarinan Itillesi It was further tnpported
by líreons ami Harrys united Mtntos naileries.
Tho left being thus guarded, ueneral .Yiciiowcu
nested tho New Jersey regiments, seven m number
n miu. ol l!,,ln.,.lllr, .,ml ovan ulill filrllim
back) ao the rear should also have a proper pro
tection on the right aud guard alike against any
flank movement in that quarter. Tho rear being
thna defended, on all sides, the central column
which poared on, and which was to divide at tho
path to tho right, on the Warronton road, consist
ed of the divisions ofGonorals Tyler, Hunter, and
Ilointzenian; the first being appropriated to the
ceninu anu uireci. auacK, and tue two latter to ipo
flank movement ou the right
THK CENTRAL ATTACKING. COLUMN.
The division of Tyler consisted of throe briga
des; and thoese of Helntzelmnn and Hunter con
tained
ade
1st and 2d of Ohio, under Gen. Schenck accom
panied by a battery of light artillery; then follow
ed the brigade of Sherman, consisting of Kew
York, 69th, 79th, 13th aud 2d Wisconsin, accom
panied by Ayers's llatterv; while the brigade of
Keys,comprisingthe 1st, 2d, and 3d Connecticut,
and 2d Maine, formed a rear guard for the division.
This latter brigade was accompanied By Tomp
kins's United 8tatcs Batterv and bv the New-
York Volunteer Battery of Varian. The division
win fhrthor accompanied by a rifled 32-pounder,
which was known aa the Parrot gun.
reuching tli:i eociiest eotuiiiileineiit where
doiircd tu givou.iinore bitterbattlc. Onward wo
wont, the soldiers cursing the rough road, wonder
ing when they would hiivelreukUi.st. or vowing to
get even on the fellows who had nut tlnnu to all
this trouble. The day broke mildly as we pushed
along, nud many a soldier though from the dead
sileuco of the woods that lined the road nt inter
vals, we should have no buttle ufter all. Present
ly wo struck the path that branched off to the
right, aim Here uie column, under limners lead,
brokiioff, while the central column, with McDo
well at its head went directly ou.
. TIIÍ AIS ATTACK.
As the circuit ofthp flanking column was to bo
a wide one, and as it could not reach its 'destined
nointand como into action with effect, in less than
I wo or three hours, onr first attention must bo
given to-the main column accompaniod by the
(joinmaiiilcr-in-uiiel. it was broad day when we
parted with the flanking column, and we proceed
ed along with mi easy step, with, our skirmishers
well in advance, and watchful, ou the look out.
"o truces of tho enemy appeared, however, and
the extmonlinary quiet of the scene, cnnpled with
tho tact tliat oar enure coiuniR Had lieen allow
ed to cross the wooden bridge unmulustud, induc
ed many to believe that tho enemy, consulting pru
dence, would yield the defenses of the Ituu, nnd
give us battle only at Manassas. But this idea
was tormed in perfect ignorauco or the client ot
tlie ijomedernta delenses, lor we were already
within fnge of flomo of their batteries, and at the
close of the day they landed their shell unun the
bridge with murderous effect. In short, tlnir
whole straterrv was a decov. and t hair huslv retire-
moot from Iairfnx, nnd pretended abandonment of
camp titrniture, as well as tlio shallow obstruction
of our advance byjeveled trees, were merely por
tions ot a well digested plan, to coax our army,
uffiir the mont reckless bravery, now ordered his
brigade to omerge and charge the main bsitery by
a Hank movement, but owing to the remonstrances
of nearly nil the ollieers, tho desperate project was
aimndoned. I lie men, tnougii now out ol musket
range, were vet subjected to the constant dronof
sued, which seomcu to uavu instinctively tuund
em tneir leaiy coven; so uuer consultation, they
ware drown nil" nnd retired, in good order, to their,
position in the neighborhood of the PArrot gun;
licaringoii their waydhe thunder of battle on the
nilit.with an orciisionul Heavy report Irora Kich-
nnhon. on tho extreme left, to indicate that the
euetnv had been putting his feelers forward at
Hull Kurt, to try whether a movement to tura our
reirwere practicable iu that quarter.
The Sherman brigade, which had separated from
tin central column, and Went off to tlie right at
ths same time thut 8chenQk's brigade set out in
ths oppositiylirection, Hod proceeded lilt a llttlo
wiy upon their errand befuro they wore saluted
w th fearful showers of shot nnd shell; but recoiv
iiii it only as a provocation, they overran two or
threo earthworks with their headlong charges, the
Irshmen nnd Highlanders screaming with excile
msntall the while, and the stout Wisconsoninns
and brave Xew-York 13th silently wading by
tleir sides. But we must now leave them iu the
midst of this pleasant nnd congenial work, to fol
low the fortunen of the flanking column.
most galling to ui, from our exposed position, and
among those of tho brigade who fell before it was
Uun. Hunter, sufficiently hurt to require his n
moval from the field, llurnside lost his horse at
the sumo time; while thn charger of Gov. Bprague
had his entire head taken olf with a shell at his
gallant rider was spurring him up and down tits
held. Captains Hart and Kllia of companies A
and C of the 71st were likewise wounded in this
lire, while bravely cheering on their men. "Con
ueiius. ineiuuniui servant wno bad accompanied
(Jol. Vosburg from New-York, and who moro
lately, adhered to hu successor, sank gently down
by tlie side of Col. Martin, and died from a rills
stroke just below the chest. Many othen fell un
der that fearful hall, but the regiment sternly stood
its ground such bold spirits as Captains Coles
and Meschutt, Commissary Borrows, and Lien
tenants Oakley. Einbler. Miivuard. Donvse. and
Latiiura. aivisg oluir by Mr itanueh -tuolnesi to "
the entire line. ' bile the reriment was thna
standing under firs, it came very near beiitgthrowa
into conmsion by Me recule conduct of uriln a
West Point Battery, which, without any sort of
notice, tore through Its line in the roar at top
speed, in order to take up a position in tho front,
mid thus actually nutting it in two. This dlscour-
I '-y to say the least ol it, aprang, donbtlssa, from
the contempt which the regulars on ranidlv evin
cing for tho volunteers, and, under ordinary circum
stances, would havejnstiñod the fist in Bring on
them in rutuliotion. The fire of the enemy came
doubly hot just at this moment; tho regiment wav
ered slightly under it, and threatened for an ins
tant to fall hack, At this critical moment, sn
American ting suddenly appeared within the rs
duubt that had done us onr greatest dumnge, and
that still kept up its storm. But, seeing this sig
nal, an order was given to cease firing, as w wars
shooting our friends. A further order was then
made to advance our colors to the front, but, as it k
seemed to be certain death to stand exnosed to
the tornado which swept over the brow ol the hill
the color-bearer naturally hesitated for s moment;
wnnraupm s.verai oi t mnpuiy t sprang quickly
forward, with the exclamation, "(live us the
colors!", But I'apt, Coles, of Comuanv (J. was
the foremost in tho effort, and, seising the dig, hs
ran with It full fifty paces to the front, and held it
at arm's length high in the air, and thon planted
it mto tlie earth. Its folds were hailed in the Reb
el battery with a demoniac yell, uud in the next
instant tho bright banner was riddled with a show
er ol balls. Providentially, the gallant Captain
was untonched.
Beholding that starry challenge, the Alabama
1
desire
which had long ago expressed, in print, their
re to meet tho New-York 71at. nnwuiiinir
them, answered tho rhullongo with a shout, and,
springing forward, delivered a volley of muskelr
ry, slnmgLnoiiu! with a dose of grape and caiinis
ter. Then they charged down the hill upon then
with tremendous vigor, intending to take them
with the bayonet. But the Alabainians did not
like the war-whoop nor its prologue, so, after
volley and a short pause, they took book to cover,
leaving aixty two of their dead npos the Held. Wo
hod a chauce to count them, for we nerei after
ward lost tho brow of that hill till the general con
clusion. In turning fhin U AU.niion. one of
their woonded drew his pistol, and, steadying it
upon his arm, was levelling it upon Lieut, Oak-'
ley, when tliat gallant olhcer, catching sight of the
performance, ran quickly forward, and, with his
sword, ran the rebel through. ' The howitsera of
the 71st and Rhode Island battery all ths while
kept in play, and in ten minutos inore tho rabel
battery breaking off at tho completion of a regi
ment, as we nan unpen, out still pouring on, and on
till one regiment bad lengthen into ten. liven then
tlie stern tide did not pause; for one of its arms .
turned downward along the far side of the triangls
and. the source of the flood thns relieved, poured
forth again and coinmeneed Using tho other In
like manner. Still tho solemn picture was silono-,
ed.
While the "Islhnl refreshed tUelf.ttie Mth, '
stcn bv step, into their gigantic trap. Of all pla
ces, thereloro, ou the wuole comment, oiauussas,
and its miles of densely serried batteries, was tho
last with which the Federal Army had any busi
ness; yet there we were, "'going it blind," with the
rain confidence of fools, on perfectly good terms
with ourselves, and exalting ill advance the pro
found military leader, who was thus giving us a
cilanco to develop his keen foresight ami com
manding genius. After we had got about a milo
and a hulf beyond tho wooden bridge, the roau
began gradually to slopo toward tho Run, and to
be inoro closed in with traes: and even nt that ear-'
y hoar the coolness of those leafy aislos, was felt
as a reliof from the already hot and dusty path
After wo emerged from this pleasing shelter, tho
column proooedod along to tlio distance of, ner-
naps, a quarter oi a muo, uesconuing an ine nnuu
toward a ravinejwhlch harbored a slnggish stream
crossed by a stone bridge. From tliat point the
enemy's defenses rose, spreading and thickening
at easy intervals, aim anrmounieo oy powenui oat
terios'where tlm lino met the horizon; and I may
pansc here to say win powertnl ñauónos pncKnd
and extending bohind that line for mites afong.--
Suddenly, an exclamation ol "inero tney are:
from a memneroi uen. lyier s sum, orougnt our
column to BBtand. Kvcry Held oflicer at ones
brought his glass to bear,' and the consciousness
that we wore surely to have a fight ran in and
electric whisper along the ontire column. There
indeed, they were, tho Rebels, down in a meadow,
still a distanco off, and not boldly porceptlbls, be
cause of the dark background of the woods. It
was a body of infantry drawn np in lino ot battle
its full strength concealed from boina; extended
in the torest. it was now necessary mat
narilv
we also Bhould take battle order; so we deployed
w, uioese o neiniMiman ana lunto con- int0 Ule ldjoiing fi,W,, UB, 8ceneks brigade,
íf I'Tr! .wT?,f1V9Í'NT''vreíbrlgi consisting if th. 2d New York.nd 1st and 2d
of lyler consisted of tho 2dNow-York and ;,,. ho.ton,ia .-ana loft, and
Sherman's brigade, composed of tho New York
69th, 79th, 13th. and 2d Wisconsin, streching on
the right. The largo rifled 32-pounder was then
brought forward through the coutsr, and put into
position it the middle of the road. The enemy
evidently saw this movement, with their glasses,
for thoy suddenly fell back, whereupon the big gun,
giving out its thunder, flung shall toward the
snot of their retirement, i .., , ,v
. The fuss was short, however, and after plowing:
its roaring progress just ovar the proper spot.' it
burst horinlessly in nr. nut toe ecsoes- oi toot:
Bolemu challenge announced to a hundred , and
tguo.:
the rujiino Division.
THE RATTl.E OS Till FI.ASK.
n.'.elnft nm uh.n ll. ,1 r..nl. r
lanhaUla tin Mira, f..r Urn. hoar.. . which, with the Scotch Hepmest, the Wisconsin'
tarn t
tu bo u
ihe Confederate position, and unite itself, throngh
the brokeu columns ol the loe, with tho direct on
mrdtjde. Immediately after leaving tho central column,
(lie Rttmside .iridíelo having the leud, threw out
iti skirmishers, and proceeded along at a brisk
rate, preserving, however, common timo, in view
if the long distance to be made. 'The course for
ihe first four or five miles, was rather boldly to tho
right. It then Inclined more gently to tho north
f urd, and then, after some eight or nine miles had
aeen accomplished, curved sharp toward tho left.
The march was a most fatiguing onp, and though
shaded to considerable extent by long stretches of
close timber, mnchol it lay in the glare or the hot
sun, nnd all of it had its share or stilling dust except
where wo crossed the fields. But tho men wero
hnngry and also very nnch fatigued, most oi them
Having gob out iwo or uirue nours sleep tug iiigiu
before. Still they trudgod clierfullyalong.animat
ed by tho task bofere them, and made more elastic
by the sound of thecannonade, which had lor somo
lime been heard, and which thai wore now sensibly
approaching. In the brigade, nay,, in the whole
line, none heard this with higher spirits than the
71st. About ten o'clock the head of the column
canio into an opon country, and after proceeding
in it for a mile, Capt. Kllis of the 71st, detected a
masked battery about hair a milo to tlio leu; and
bringing our glasses to bear upon it, we could also
perceive the enemy moving to tnoir positions
through tlie woods, in considerable force. Soon
alter this, Gen. McDowell came riding up, and
orders wero giving that we should proceed at a
more rapio puee, and an hoar more . urongnt me
brigedeclose t theratthj'olthaatrife. The colu
mn now made its Jiual carve, and turning sharply
to the left faecd the sear of battle as it came Iron,
the head of the central column, which, under tho
lend of the 69th. was now Dressing its way toward
us, The dm ot great gone ana mnsseiry at una
noint waa almost deafeninir. and the very earth
trembled with the roar of the heavier artillery,
llurnside. who was forward, then sent an order to
the "1st to take its howitsera and dash through a
piece of woods and form its position on tho right
OI tne linooe isianuera. uoejoag me oru.i
alacrity, the 71st passed the New-Hampshire men
in their impetuosity and emergen into sne n,
while ths 2d N..U. formed in good order on' the
extreme right. ...,.;,.
THK nnooa isustntas, Tin stcosp Ksw-XAiirsiiim
,,,.i.l vuM IT.VSllTT.rinST-. i-l
' Ths Hhode Maní cannon were tho first In posi
tion, and oboosd with good effect, upon, the batte
ry that was peppering us, with I heavy cross lire
opon fho Ml, The howitters of the 71st were
next in piny, and, Dotween tnoir nevvy roar, vne
muskets of the brigade replied with interest to the
to tho Hanking column, which was expected I 'i80 ,".d,th,e, N?w J'011?
i able, in about that time, to turn the rear ,lf I tl'ghbattrri.s since their arrival on thefieli,,
mtiri ur,, pi ,,, .ici,iu uiuwr, i.eir OUIineiS uy-
ing as if upon review, and their faces sternly let
on tho advanco. They passed down the hill ob-
liquely to the right, on their road to support Urif
lin's battery, which was within two hundred yards
of the artillery of the foe. Though silent as they
posseu, a snout rose in a tew escenas saerwam
from the diroctiou they had taken, which every
listener couiu ware lor uieirs, anu tne spilelul One
which responded from the rebel battery was soon '
quelled by the volurao of their musketry. Most
prominent among them was Meagher, tho Irish
orator, who frequently, during the contests of that
turhulont day. waved the green banner of his regi-'
mont up and down the hottest line of fire. .
Tlie Sherman brigade had thui worked its way .
deep Into the enemy's position.no part of It doing
better service 'than ths 2d Wisconsin and the '
stanch 13th. Whenever they, or any of them, had .
inut the Too on foot they had hurled him back, aud
driven him headlong to hisoover with disgrace.
Indeed, this superior prowess ot the Northorn
rank and file was the feature of the day, and in no
portion o! the field, and under no circumstances,
could their exposed and unsupported infantry stand
for five minutos against the dash and hardihood
of OUTS. i . . , '
I must now turn back to the general progress of
the flanking column, from which the Burnside bri-
gado had been th first to curve in to ths attack, -Porter's
brigada which came immediately in its
rear upon too marea, passed lurtner on, and level
ed itstoli against the triangle of the enemy, at a
higher point. , The brigade of Wilcox, composed
oí the New Tork-th, Michigan lit, Now York
89th,and the Piro Zouaves, made the widest flank.
ing circuits of them all, and consequently struck
the enemy's broadening bank of batteries to the
extreme right. The brigades of Franklin and -Howard,
comprising respectively the Massaohu
setts hth and 1st Minnesota, and tho 3d, 4th, 6th,
Maine, and 2d Vermont, acted for a time is np
portiog forces, but soon became planted la with t
the rest, selecting, each for itself, in the general ,
confusion and want of order, its series of batteries
to sttsck, and its isolated perils to endure. 1 '
. Tortor s Brigade made its iiank attack Immsdl-'
alely to the right of the 71st, going into the bat-
no anoai ii ociuca, luan an aour later man the
Burnside Brigade,) and performing its first duty by
driving the enemy out of a piece of woods, and
pursuing him, with loss, to a heavy battery which
had pui lly raked the position of the Hat. The
14th particularly distinguished Itself in this attack,
and received its highest ecomiutns from the rebel
prisoners, wno sue wnerever those fellowi ' in red
breeches went, they strewed the earth with dead.
In one of their charges their standard-bearer waa
hot down, and their general loss ii heavy. Col.
noon, niai. joman, ana uaptain Butt, of the
could accumulate, and accordingly hodecided to Hie flanking division of Hunter and Ilointzlo- fifty thousand armed men that the battle had bo- eimilar islotations of the enemy. But the llrowoi jngineeriftehtved with especial gallantry; and ill