New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-14

deadly and unerring fire upon biz batteries, which
were soon silenced or driven away.
| Our right was rapidly DEVELOPED by the Marines
27th, 18th, and s,h, with the cavalry in Of the
right; the enemy retreang in more pre- npltation than
order as our lie advanced. The Cd Brigade Burn
sides) was at this tine attacking the enemys night
| with perhaps too hasiy vgor.
The enemy cuug TO the protecting wood with great
tena ity and the Rhode Island battery Became so much
endangered to impel the commander of the I'd Brig
ade 10 call for the assistance OF the battalion OF regu-
lars. At this time received the Information through
Capt w. ID. Whipple A. A &C., that Col Hunter was
seriously wounded and had directed him to report TO
me commander of the division, and in reply TO the
urgent request of Col. Burnside, detached the bat
| TALON OF regulars TO his assistance.
For an account of It's operations would respectfully
beg reference 10 the nco.ed report ofts commander,
| Major Sykes.
The Rebels soon came flying from the woods to ward
the right and the 27th conn leted their by charg
ing directly upon their center la the face of scorching
fire. while the li,h and Sth moved down the turnpike
TO cut oil the retiring foe, and to support the 9Th,
which had lost i,s gallant Colonel buI standing
the bnt Of the action with its ranks thinning in tie
dreadful fire. Now the resistance of the enemy's left
WIS 80 obstinate that the beaten right retired in
safety.
The head Of Heintzelman's column at this moment
appeared upon the felj and tie llth and 9Th Massa
cbnsetts Regiments moved forward 10 the support of
our center while staff officers could be gallopiug
rapidly in every direction, endeavoring to rally the
broken Stb, but ttis laadabe purpose was only par
fell officers
The Iih, though it had broken was soon rallied in
rear Of Giino Battery, whica coon took up posi-
ton fnther To tie front aud right from which his fire
was delivered with such precision and rapidty as 10
compel the batteries Of the enemy 10 retire in conster-
nu, ZION far behind the brow of the bill in front.
At this ime my brigade occupied line considerably
in advnn,e OF that lrst occupied by be le wing OF
the enemy. The battery was pouring its whitening
ire into the batteries AMI columns Of the enemy whcr-
ever they exposed themselves. The cavalry were Ell
gagged in feeling left flank OF The enemy position,
in dong which come important captures MADE,
one by Sergeant Soks OF the ID Dragons of Gen
eral George Stewart OF Baltimore. Our cavalry also
enplied the faddles Of a number OF the mounted
Rebels.
Gen. Tylers Division was engaged with the enemys
right. Tie 9th resting on the edge Of the woods
IN the center covered by hill upon which lay the lih
and 9Th Massachusetts occasionally delivering scat
tering fire. The 18th was moving 70 the right iaak,
the Sth had ost its organization; th Marines were
moving up in fine style in Of the lth and Capt.
Arnold was occupying hight in he niidle ground
with bis battery. Az this Junction, there tenn
porry llll in The firing from Rebels whoappeaed Only
occasionally on the nights IN irregular formations,
bnJ 20 m8rks for Giiin's guns. The prestige
OF bad thus far AT ended the efforts of our ex
perenccd but gallant troops. The lines Of the enemy
had been fortbly shifted nearly mile to their LETT
and The flags of eight regiments though borne
somewhat wearily, now pointed toward the hill irom
which dIs)riered masses Of Rebels had been seen
hastily retiring. Grtins and Ricketts, batteries
ordered by tbe CommandingGeneral to the top Of the
hill on the right, supporting with the Fire Iouuves"
and Marines while the l4,h entered the skirt wood
their right To protect that flank, and column
posed oil The 27th New-York, lltn and 9TH Massa-
chusetts, ii Minnesota and 69th Ncw-fork moved up
toward the le flank OF the bateres but they
were in position and before the thanking supports had
reached theirs, "A mnrderous lire OF mussetry aud
rifles opened pistol range, cnt down every cannoner
aud large number oi horses The lire came from sone
infantry of The enemy, which had been mistaken for
our own forces; officer in the field havlng stated
that il was regiment sent by Col. Hentzelnian TO
support the batteries
The evanescent courage Of the Zouaves' prompted
them TO fire perbaps hundred Shots when they broke
and fed leaving the batteries open to charge OF the
enemy's cavalry which took place Immediately. The
Marines also ia spite Of the cx-ro3s Of their gallant
officers gave way in disorder The 18th, on the right,
and the column the left besiatingly retired, with
the exception of the 69h and aod 18th Newiork, who
nobly STOOD and returned the fire Of the enemy for
Hfteen minutes soon the slopes behind were
swarmiug with rstreatng and dsOrgaDzcd iorces,
while rderirss horses and artillery teams ran iufiOnsly
through the flying crowd.
Al futhereforts futile. The words, gestures,
and threats Of officers were thrown away upon
men who had lost al prcsencs of mind and only logged
for absence of body. Some of noblcst and best
officers lost their lives in trying 20 rally them Upon
our first p,st0H the 9Th was the irst 20 rally, under
the command OF Major Bartlett, and around IL the
other regiments engaged soon collected their scattered
fragmcnig Tie battalion Of regulars, III the mean
time. moved sieaiily across the field from the leit
10 tho right and took up position when held the
entire forces Of the rebels in check until our forces
were somewhat rallied
The Comm ,nding General then ordered retreq,
upon Centrcyic, a, the same time directing NE 10
cover l. with the battalion Of regulars, The Cayrlry,
and section Of artillery. The rear guard thus organ
zel followed panic stricken troops 10 lie,
ressiing the attacks OF the Rebel cavalry and srtll
ery and saN ing them from the inevitable destruction
which awaited them had not this body been ineroacd
Among those who deserve especial mention, l beg
leave 10 place the following names, viz Capr. Grit
fin for Ills eoOness and promptitude IN action, and for
the handsome manner in whcn he handled his battery.
Lieut.. Amcs of the saline battery, who, after being
wounded, calamity served with Il IN action; being
unable TO Iidc horseback, was helped on and oil A
casrion III changes oil position.
Capt. Thngnasi, A. e.. NJ, who was ever present
when his services needed carrying orders rally
ng troops and serving with ais batteries and finally,
have TO state with the deepest sorrow, was mortay
wounded.
Major Sykes and the officers cf his command three
of whom Iieuteuants Iatimcr, Dckenson. and Kent
were wounded, who, by their discipline, steadiness,
and heroic fortitude gave Gcat 20 our attacks upon the
enemy and ayered the dangers OF hnsl overthrow.
Major Palmer and the cavalry officers under him,
who by their daring intrepidiiy, made the eiectivc
mess of that corps all that il could be upon snch field
in supporting batteries feeling the enemy position
and covering oar retreat.
were well sustained by his subordinaes TWO Of whom,
Brcve,-Ma ior Hun and Lieutenant Hale were wound
ed and Que, Lieutenant Hitchcock, lott bis liie
Colonel H. W. Slocum, who was wounded while
leading his gallant 9Th NewYork 70 the charge, aud
Major J. j. Bartlett, who snbsel elueutly commanded IT,
ana by h- enthusiasm and vaor Kept il ~ action and
on, OF the panic. His conduct was inflated by lis
snbordnates. OF whom two, Captain n q. Rogers and
Lieutenant \. T.. Jackson, were wounded, and one
ensirn Ass Park, was killed.
In the last attack Colonel III. N. Wood, of tho Iih
New-york State Militia, was wounded together with
Captains Il. j.. Jordan and e. Z. Baldwin, a,d lien-