Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-10-04

fifteen minutes after three o'clock. II
approached us from this point in doubl
quick time, evidently intending to fore
our works at the point of the bayonet
At the first crack of our rifles the gal
liant Colonel, who led in front of his mel
on splendid black charger, fell dead t
the EARTH while the head of this column
recoiled in utter confusion. The Col
onel's horse, as if unconscious of tn
fall of his rider dashed up to our EN-
bankments and around them into GU
camp, and from the inscriptions on tn,
mountings Of his pistols, proved to b.
Col VIM. II. Lyters, of Cincinnati.
saw the daring officer fall from his horse
and he was certainly one of the braves
Of the brave, for he sought "the bubble
reputation" at the very lannon's mouth
The enemy's column now opened upon
US along the whole of our centre and
right, and for an hour the rattle of mus
kerry and the thunder Of our artillery
was incessant and terrible.
The enemy was driven back and sill
encod for moment, but came again to
the fight, supported with 5 or 6 pieces
of artillery, two of which were rifed
cannon. For another hour and half
the battle ragged with terrible fury, and
again the enemy's guns were silcnced
and he driven from our view.
The sun was now fast sinking beyond
the distant mountains, and we were
strongly in hopes that the enemy had met
his final repulse for the evening but a
few moments dispelled our illusion. For
the third time the enemy came back to
the conflict, with more violence and de-
termination than before. He assailed
us this time from one end of our lines
to the other, and tried his best to flank
us. For another hour and half and
until the dark curtains of night closed
in upon us, the fight ragged with intense
fury.
AT first the range both of their small
arms and artillery was very bad, shoot
ing entirely over our heads. The range
Of the cannon was especially bad for
wolfe their balls cut off the tops and spill
open the giant oaks in our encampment
their shells, with few exceptions, burs
high in the air and fully fifty yards il
our rear. But when they came to th'
last charge they had gotten the range
far better, and their balls began to plov
up our enlbankments, while their shell
broke directly over us in every direction
and with terrible fury. The enem,
seemed to be perfectly enraged at on
obstinate resistance, and was determine,
to pour out the full walls of his wratl
upon us.
The battle ceased at fifteen minute,
past seven o'clock. having continued al
most necessarily four long hours. Oul
men stood to their posts with astonishing
GOODNESS and courage. The only fault
they committed during the battle was
that of firing upon the enemy at TOO long
a range, and while too securely posted
behind the dense forest trees which skirt
ed our lines.
We did not lose a single man killed
nor more than ten or twelve wounded
The enemy's loss could not be asccrtained,
but at one single spot, where Col Lytel
fell, we counted thirty-seven dead bo-
dies. The prisoners inform us that their
loss was heavy, aud from the fact that
We silenced their guns three times, we
arc confident that this report is entirely
true.
Our officers acted with great GOODNESS
and bravery. The battle had ragged but
twenty minutes when our gallant Cen
eral was very painfully wounded in the
right arm, the ball entering near the ell
bow and passing out near the wrist, with
out breaking any bone. We retired him
short distance under the hill, and had
the wound dressed by Surgeon Gleayes,
and in ten minutes be was again moving
along our lines, encouraging his men by
his presence and voice. Alta later stage
Of the fight Mimic ball tore through the
lapel Of his coat, and another through
tho contlc Of his saddle. Indeed it is
the wonder Of all Of us how he escaped
death. lie is now suffering much pain.
do not know the names Of all our
wounded but John Stone and Thomas
w. Martin, Of Capt Hcnley's company,
Amherst, we're the most severely hurt.
None other Of this company was hurt,
and only one in Captain Snead's com
pany-Bryant.
At the close Of the fight council Of
war was held, and upon our knowledge
Of the enemys. strength, together with
the information We received from our
prisoners, it was determined to retire all
our force to the south side Of Gaulcy,
and not hazard an attack the next morn
ing.
We learn from the prisoners that the
enemy was nine regiments strong, with
six pieces Of artillery, and that they
would be reinforced by Gen. Cox in the
morning with two more regiments and
two pieces Of artillery. They also in
formed us that Gen. Rosencrans com
manded in person.
Our force was only LOO men, and,
while we had strong reason to believe
that wo could maintain our position even
against such odds, we did not think it
prudent to hazard so much.
We had dispatched Gen. v ise in the
morning for achievements, and he had
declined to send them for fear Of an at
tack upon him by Gen. Cox. We had
also sent couriers for the North Carolina
and Georgia regiments TO come up, but
it was impossible for Thorn TO reach US in
time to support us.
AT ten o'clock last night, therefore.
our forces proceeded to retire from tb 6