Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-08-14
By mCLANAHAN s. DILL.

doxn the fed to the stream, and up he road
beyond. Beyond The Warrenton road, down
which our troops had marched from Sudley's
Springs, is a bin with a farm bouse on it.
Behind this bill the eremy had, early in The
dsY, some Of his most annoying batteries
planted. Across the road from tsjs hill was
anotheT bill, or rather elevated ridge. OF table
land The hottest part o. the contes. was for
the possession Of this hill, With house on it,
The force engaged here was Heinlzelman's
dyisich, WilcoX's AID HowaTd's brigases on
the Tjghs supported By part Of PoTter's brigade
and the cavalry under Palmer, and Franklinis
brigade of Helm zelman's division, Sberman's
brigade Of Tyler'3 division in the center and
up the road, while kaye's brigade of Tysr's di-
vision was On the left, attacking the batteries
near the stone bridge. The Rhode Island bat
terry Of Burnside's brigade also participated in
this attack by its fire from the north of the
turnpike. The enemy was understood to be
commanded b. J. Z. Johnston. Ricketts, bat
terry, which did such effective service. and
played go brilliant part in tbe contest, was.
together With GTifHR's battery, on the side Of
the bill, and became the ehiect oi the special
attention OF the enemy, whO succeeded-our
officers mistaking one Of his regiments for one
of our own, AM allowing 1t to approach with
out firing upon it-in disabling the battery,
and then attempted to take it. Three times
was be pulsed by different corps in success
sion, and drivea back, and the guns taken by
hand, the horses being killed aHd pulled away.
The third time it was supposed that the rs-
pulse was final, for be was driven entielY
from The bill, and so far beyond il az not te De
is sight, and ali were certain the day was ours.
Re had before this been driven nearly mile
aud a half, and was beyond the Warrcnton
road, which was entirely ia ouT possession
from the stone bridge westward, and our sngj-
neers were iEst completing the removal of the
abattis across the road, to allow our reinforce
ments (Schenck's brigade and Ayers battery)
to join US.
The enemy was evidently disGssrtene3 and
broken. Bu. sc had been fighting since half
past ten O'Clock in the morning, and it vas
after three O'Clock in the afternoon. The
men had been up since two O'clock in the
morning, and had what to those unused TO such
things seemed long march before coming into
action, though lie ionges5 distance gone ever
was not more than nine and half miles; and
tboggh they had hTee days provisions served
out to tbem the dag before, many no doubt
either did not eat them, OF stbCew them away
on tie march or during the battle, and were
therefore withogt food. They had done much
severe fighting. Some Of the regiments which
had been driven frcm the bin in the first two
attempts Of Tie eseuy to keep possession OF
it had become shaken, were unsteady, and had
many men out Of tbp ranks.
It was at this time that the enemy's rein
foTcements cane to his aid from the railroad
train, understood to have Just arrived from the
valley with The residue OF Johaston's army.
They threw themselves in the woods on our
right, aud toward the rear OF our right, and
opened a fire OK Inusketry on our men, which
caused them to break and retire down the bill
side. This soon degererated into disorder, for
vrrb7eh ~ No aIrr s~Er mas
made TO rally them, even beyond the reach Of
tie enemy's FIRE, but 10 vain. Tie battalion
Of regular infantry alone moved up the bill
opposite 70 the one with the houss on il, and
there maintained itself Until our men cogid get
down to and across The Warrenton turnpike.
on the way back to the position we occupied
in the morning. The plain was covered with
the Tetreating troops, and they seemed to infect
those with whom they came in contact. The
retreat soon became a rout, and this sosn de-
generated still further into panic
Finding this state Of affairs beyond the
Efforts Of all those who had assisted SO faith
fully during the long and hard days work In
gaining alm9s' the object OF eur wishes, sn1
Jhst nothing remained on the field but TO recoE-
nizs what We could no longer prevent, I gave
the necessary orders TO pro ect their with
drawal, begging the men TO form in
line, and offer the appearance, az least,
OF organization. They returned bv tie fords
to the Earrenson road, protected, by my order,
by Col. Porter's force OF rsgGiaFs. Oace or
The road, and the different corps coming to-
gsther in small parties many w.tholt officers,
they bscsme intermingied, and all organiza
tion was lost.
Orders bad been sent back to Miles, division
FOR brigade to move forward and protect this
retreat, and Col. Blenker's brigade was de-
tached for this purpose, and was ordered to 90
so far forward as the point where the road 10
the right left the main road.
By referring to the general order it will be
ssss thst. while the operations were to 90 on
in front, an attack was TO be made at Black
burns ford By the bgigads (RichardsJn's) sta
toned there. 4 reference 20 bis report, and
70 that Of Msjor Hunt, commanding tae artil-
lery, will show that this psrs Of the plan was
well and effectively carried out. Il succeeded
in dsceiving the enemy for considerable time,
and in keeping in check part of his force.
The fire Of the artillery at this point is repre-
scented as particularly destructive.
At the time Of our retreat, seeing great ac-
tivity in this direction, much firing, and COL
umns Of dust, became anxious fer this place,
fearing il it were turned or forced the Whole
stream Of our retrealing mass would be cap
tured or destroyed. After providing for the
protection OF the retreat BIZ POrter's and BIenk
found the whole force ordered to be stationed
for the holding Of the road from Manassas by
Backburn's ford to Centerviile, on the march,
under the orders from the division comma ndsr.
for Centerv.le. [ Immediately halted it, and
ordered it to take up the best line Of defense
across The ridge that their position admitted
of, and subsequently taking in person the com
msnd Of this part Of the army, caused such
DISPOSITION Of the forces when had been ad-
4 - ~. A r. 4
the DeKalb regiments, ordered up from Run
vans reserve, before going forward, as would
best serve to check the enemy. The ridge be-
ing held in this way, the retreaCing current
passed slowly through Centerville to tse rear.
The emmy followed Us from the ford as far
as Cob run, and owing 20 the road becoming
blocked up at the crossing, caused us much
damage there, for the artillery could not pass,
and several pieces and caissons had to be
abandoned. Ia the panic, the horses hauling
tie eaissons and ammunition were cut from
their places by persons to escape With, and in
this way much confusion vas caused, the panic
aggravated, and toe road encumbered. Not
only were pieces Of artillery lost, bHt also
many Of the smbulances carrying the wound
ed men.
By sundown most Of our men had gotten be-
hind CeBteTYille Ti6ge, and it became a ques-
tion whether we should or not endeav0r 10
make a stand there. The condition Of our ar
tilery and its ammunition, aud the want of
food for the men, who had generally aban-
doned OF thrown away all tbathad been issued
the day before, and the utter disorgsnization
and consequent Generalization Of the mass of
the army, seemed TO all VITO were near enough
10 be coRsulted-diTision and brigade com
manders and staf-to admit OF na alternative
but to fall back; the more 50 the position at
Bisekburn's ford was then in the possession of
she enemy, and be was already turning our
left. On sending the officers of the staff to the
different camps, theyj found, as, they reported
to me, that our decision had been anticipated
BY the troops, most OF those who had come in
from the front being already on the
road to the rear; the panic with which they
came in still continuing and hurrying them
along.
At - o'clock The rear guard (Blenker's bri-
gsde) moved, covering the retreat, which was
effected during the night and next morning.
The troops at Fairfax station leaving by the
cars took with them the bulk Of the SUPPLIES
which had been sent there. Ny aid.de.cimp,
Major WadswOTth, stayed at Fairfax Court
House till late in the morning, to see that the
straggleTs and weary and worn cut soldiers
were not left behind,
transmit herewith the reports of the several
division and brigade commanders, 70 which I
refer for the eondact OF particular regiments
and corps, and d consolidated return Of the
killed, wounded and missing. From he latter
it viii be seen that our killed amounted to
nineteen officers and four hundred and sixty
two non commissioned officers and privates,
and our wounded to siXty-four officers and
nine hundred and forty-seven non-comrissoned