New-York daily tribune., 1861-09-12

vousy sent to the rear by Gen. Lngs rect. This ntau
try was placed in posn 10 The left OF the ford
IN space nnoccupied by liaye, aud the artillery was
unmbered In battery 10 the right Of the road IN line
with the two guns aready in action. scattering fire
of muskery still ket up by the enemy for short
time, bat that was coon srnc'd.
II was at this stage Of the affair that remarkable
artillery duel WAS commeIeed and maintained on our
side with long trained prof -iOna opponent sune-
Jior in character as well 80 10 the number oil bls
weapons, provided with improved munitions ana
every artillery appliance, and at the sane time occn-
pyIng the commanding position. The results were
marvellous ard fitting precursors TO the artillery
achievements Of the 2ist Of july In the outset our
fire directed against the eDemys infantry whose
bayones cleaning above the reetopF alone indicated
their proseDce and force. This drew the attention Of
a battery placed "A high, commanding Iidge, and a
duel began in earnest. For time, the aim Of the
adversary was Inaccurate, but this was quickly cor
reced and shot fell and fbell bnrst thick and sst ID
the midst Of our battery, woundug, in the course OF
the combat, CAPT. Esenelman, i've privates and The
horse OF Lieut. Richardson From the petition Of our
pieces and the of the ground their aim could
only he directed at tie smoke Of the enemys atl!eryi
how skifDly and with what execution this was done,
only be realized by an eyewitness. For few
moments their guns were slenced, but were soon re-
opened.
BY direction of Gen. LoDgstreet, bis battery was
then advanced by baud out Of the range now sseer-
tanned by the enemy, and shower OF spherical case,
she'll and r0nnd shot flew the heads OF our glu-
ners but of our pieces had become hrs de COMBAT
from an ENLARGED vent. From the new position onr
guns fired ne before with other aim than the smoke
and hash Of their adyersaies' Iieces-renewed aud
urged the conflict with snch signal yigor and effect,
Oh i gradually tue fire OF the enemy sickenfd, the IN
teryals between their discharge grew longer and
longer, finally, 10 cese, and we hred last gun az
baed flying foe whose heavy niasses in the defiance
plainly TO break and scatter, in Wild eonIu-
si)n and utter ront, s,rewing the ground with cat
away guBs, hats, blnkes, and apsacks as our part
iog shell ere thrown amOrg them. la their retreat,
one Of their pieces abaudOned bat from the nature
OF the grOuld, it not sent Tor that nignt aDd,
under cover Of darkness, the enemy recovered IT,
Tie guns engaged u this SIM ular conflict on our
side were trre e-I ouuder rife pieces and fonr ordi-
nary 6-pounders, all OF Watons batiery--the Wash-
nptOn Artillery, of NewOreans. The othcers linre-
distely attached were, Capt. Esebleman, Lieuts u
w. luires, Richardson, Garrett and Wilmington.
Az The ZANE time Infantry held the bank OF tue
stream in advance of guns, and the ms~lles Few
TOO and fro above them, az cool and yeterRDhke Tor
than an hour, they steadily awaited the moment
and signal Tor tie advance.
While the conflict at its hight before Blackburn
Ford about ?. NJ, the enemy again displayed himself
in force before Bonhanis posinoD. Al this, Col ker-
shaw with four panies of bis regiment, 2d South
Carolina, and one piece Of Kempers battery, were
thrown across Mitchell Ford to th. ridge which KEN
per had occupied that NOR ing. Two sOid shot and
three spherical care thrown among them--with pre-
cilion inauguraed By that ariieTlst at Nienna-ei-
fcced their discomfture and disappearance, and our
the quarters ag8ln Withdrawn Wltnlo
our lines having discharged the duty assigned
At the close of the engagement before Blackburn
Ford, directed Gen. LougstTeet TO withdraw tie lst
and nth regiments, which lad borne the brnnt OF me
action, TO position in reserve, leaving Col. Early
to occupy The held with his brigade and Garlands
regiment.
As part of the history of this engagement desire
to place on record that the 18th OF July not one
yard Of entrencbment riiie-h she TERED TIC
men al Blackburn's F0rd-who, officers and men,
m sat daV fort
time under hre and who, taking and mantaluipY
every poeiio ordered cannot be too much eommeEd-
ed for their soldleIly behavior.
Our artillery Sere manned and oiheered by those
vho but Yesterday were called from tie civil ayoca-
tions OF busy city. Tuey were ma eEed with the
picked artillery OF tue Federal regular army y-Company
L. 81 Artillery, under Capt. Ayres, with an armament
as their own chief of artillery admits, OF two 10
poubder Parrot rifle guns two ~ pounGer howizers,
aud two 6-pouDder pieces, aided ny two SJ'Pounder
Parrot rife guns Of Company @, 5tb Artillery, under
Lieut.. Benjamin. Thus matched, they drove their
veteran adyersaries from tie ,d, giving confidence
In and promise OF the coming es ency OF tnat brilliant
Having thus related The main or general res1lt, and
events of Ihe action OF Bolt Ruo IN conclusion 4 Is
proper siguaze some OF hoee who contributed most
20 the satisfactory results OF LAT Day.
Thanks are due TO Brig.-Gens. Bonham and Ewell,
and 20 Col Cooke and the officers under them for he
ability shown con IN Ting and executing the retro
grade movements Bull Run, directed IN my orders
OF the 9Th Of July--moyeG.eLis on which hung the
fortunes OF this army.
HfiJ Gen LonRst eet who commanded immediate
ly toe trops engaged ai Ba kburns ford on the l,th
rqualed my confident expectations. and l may ntiy
cav, that by bis presence IN lie nghI pIe, at the
n ht moment AInODR his men, BY the eXhlbl Ion OF
Characteristic coolness and by bis words Of encourage
ment 10 the men Il bis command, he infused eoni-
dence and spirit that contributed largely to the success
oi our arms on that day. ,
Col. Early brought bis brigade in'o position, ald
Il. - "a f.4frp nd at IL
proper moment he displayed capacity for command and
personal gsllantry.
Col Moore commanding the Let Virginia Volunteers,
was severely wounded az tue head OF his regmen tue
command of witch subsequently oeyolved upon Major
Skinner Leut..Col. Fry having been obliged TO leave
the field in consequence Of q snD--trObe.
An accomplished, promi,ng officer Major Car er IL.
Harrison, llth Regiment Virginia Volunteer, was lost
10 tue service while leading companies Of biz reg
ment against the enemy he fell, twice shot, mortally
wounded.
Dlig..Gen. Longstreet, while finding on all sides
aacIity ardor, aud intelligence, meutions hls special
obligations to Coils. Moore, Garland, and Core, com
uanding teyeraly regiments OF bis brigade, aud to
their field Ofi,ers, Lieut,-COls Fry, Funsten, and
Monford, and Majors Brent and Skinner, OF whom he
says: They displayed more eoolness aud energy
than s usual among veterans OF the old service" ;"
Gen. Lonystreet also mentions the conduct OF Capt.
Marye of the l7h Virginia Volunteers, as especially
gallant on one occasion, in advance OF The Ford.
The regiments of EaIy's Brigade were commanded
BY COl. Harry rays, anu Lou''-N"ls' "hh ihis anu
Hairston who handled their commands in action with
satisfactory coontss and skill, supported by their held
officers Lieut.. Col DeCheiseu and Major Penn OF the
7lh Louisiana, and Major Patton Of the 1th Virginia
Volunteers.
The skill the conduct and the soldiely qualities of
the Washington Artillery engaged were all that could
be deeIed The officers and men attached 10 the seven
ieces already specified won for their battalion dis
nction which ieel assured will be tan iShed,
aud which will ever TO urge them ana their corps
10 high endeatOr Lieutenant Squlres woTtliily oonl-
mauded the eees in action. Ibe COMMANDER oil tue
battalion was necessarily absent from the immediate
field under orders ia thu sp Of his duties, bat the
I;,s 90 ~ d-,i line zeal in.tru tim and eauacitV