Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-07

/ nv vas repuIsed. In a short time, however,
| be returned to the contest with increased force
/ and determination, but was again fOiied and
driven back by our sKirmishers aOd Long
! streets reserve companies, which we're brought
up and employed at the most vigorously assail-
! ed points a. the critical moment.
Il was now that Brig. Gen Longstrset sent
/ for reinforcements from EaTly's brigade,
which l had anticipated by directing
! the advance Of Gen. EaTy, with two reg
imeDts of infantry and two pieces of artil
| lery. As these came upon the field, the enemy
| had advanced a third time with heavy numbers
! to force Longstreet's position. Hays Tegi-
ment, Seventh Louisiana volunteers, which
was in advance, was placed on the haLk Of
! the stream, under some cover, to the immedi-
! ate right and left Of the ford, relieving COIse's
regiment, Seventeenth Virginia volunteers.
! This was done under heavy fire Of musketTy,
/ with promising steadIBess. The Seventh ElT-
| gnia, under Lieut. Col. Williams, was then
! formed to the right, also under heavy fire, and
| pushed forward to the stream, relieving the
! first regiment Virginia volunteers, At the
same time two rife guns, brought up with
Early's brigade, were moved down in the field
to the right Of the road, SO az to be concealed
from the enemy's artillery by the girth Of
timber on the immediate bank OF the stream,
and there opened fire, directed only by the
souCd Of the enemy's Husketry. Unable to
effect a passage, the enemy kept up a scatter
ing FIRE for sometime. Some Of our troops had
pushed across the stream, and several small
parties OF COrse'5 regiment, under command
Of Captain EaTye, met and drove the enemy
With the bayonst, but as the adway from the
fUT1 was too narrow for a combined movement
in force, Gen. Longstreet recalled them to the
south bank Meanwhile the remainder Of
Early's infantry and artillery had been called
| up; that is, SIX companies of the 24-h regiment
Virginia volunteers, under Lieutenant Colonel
/ HaTst0n, and five pieces Of artillery, one rife
gun, and four six FOUNDER brass guns including
/ two six poundeT brass guns under Lieut.. Gar
nett, which had been previously sent to the
/ rear by Gen. Longstreet. This Infantry was
/ at once placed in position to the left Of the
| ford, in a space unoccupied by HaTs, and
! the artillery was Uniimbered in battery 70 tue
right OF the road, in d line with the two guns
/ already in action. A scattering FIRE Of mHsket-
| rY was still kept up by the enemy for short
time, but that was soon silenc d.
It was al this stage Of the affair that re-
maTkable artillery duel was commenced, and
maintained on our side with a long trained
professional op0Onent-sUpsT.Or In the chaTac-
ter, as well az in the Lumber OF his weapons,
provided wi b improved munitions and every
artillery appliance, and al the same time oc
cupying the commanding position. The re
suits were marvellous, and fitting precursors
to the artillery achievements OF the 2lst July.
10 the outset eur fire was directed against the
enemy's infantry, whose baycnets, cleaning
above the tree tops, alone indicated their pres
ence and force. This drew the attention of
battery placed on a high commanding ridge,
and the duel began in earnest. For time the
aim of the enemy vas inaccurate, but this was
quickly corrected, and shots fell and shells
burst thick and fast in the very midst of our
battery, wOuBdiEg in the course Of the combat
Capt. Escheiman, five pTivatss, and the horse
Of Lieut.. Richardson. From the position of
our pieces, and the nature OF the ground, their
aim could oniy be directed at the smoke OF The
enemy's artillery. How skllfn, and with
what execution this was done, ca only be re-
allied BY an eve witness. For few moments
their guns were siienced, but were soon re-
opened. By direction of Gen. Longstreet, bis
ba terry was then advanced BY hand out Of the
range now sscertsined by the enemy, and
shower Of spherical-case shell, and round shot
flew over the heads Of our gunners but one of
our pieces bad become h0Ts GU combat from an
enlarged vent. From the new positiOz our guns
fired, as before, with no ether aim than the
smoke and fash Of their adverssries' pieces
renewed and urged the conflict with such sig
nal vigor and effect, that gradually the fire Of
the enemy sackened, the intervals be'ween
their discharges grew longer, finally to cease,
and We fired a last gun at bsfied, flying foe,
whose heavy masses an the distance were seen
to break and scatter in wild confusion and utter
lout streWiBg be ground with cast-away guns,
bais, blankets and knapsscks, as our parting
shell was thrown among them. In their re-
treat, one Of their pieces was abandoned, mt
from the nature Of the ground it was not sent
for that night, and under cover Of darkness the
enemy recovered It.
The guns engaged in this singular conflict,
on our side, were three six FOUNDER rife pieces
and four ordinary sixpounders, all Of Wal
toms battery, tie Washington artillery, Of New
Orleans. 1ne officers Immediately attached
were Capt. Escaeiman, Leuts. Squires, Rich
ardsoD, Garnet and Wilmington. At The same
time cur infantry held the back Of The stream
in advance Of our guns, and the missiles Of
the cOmDatsnts Fl ~ TO and fro above them, as
cool and veteran iise, for more than IN hour
they steadily awaited the moment and signal
Tor the advance
While the conflict was at its hight, before
Blackburn's ford, about four O'Clock, P. NJ, the
enemy again displayed himself in fOTce before
Bonham's position. At this, Col. KeTshaw,
with four companies OF his regiment, % South
Carolina, and one piece Of kemneI's artillery,
were thrown across blitChelPs ford to the
ridge which KemDer bad occupied that mcrn-
lag. Two solid shot and three spherical case,
thrown among them with precision inaugu-
ra'ed by that ar illerist al Vienna, effected
their discontinue and disappearance, and our
troops in that quarter were again Withdrawn
within our lines, having discharged the duty
assigned.
A the close Of the engagement before Black
burns ford, | directed Gen. Longstreet to
withdraw tue 1st aud 17th regiments, which
had borne the brunt Of the action, to posi-
ton in reserve, leaving Col. Early to occupy
the field with his brigade and Garland's regt
ment.
Al 4 E =.
I desire to place on re ord that on the 18th of
.-uly not one yard Of intTenchments nor one
rife pit sheltered the men at Blackburn's ford,
who, officers and men, with rare exceptions,
were on that day for the first time under FIRE,
and who, taking and maintaining every position
ordered, cannot be too much commended for
their soldieTly behavior.
Our artillery was manned and Offered by
those who but yesterday were called from the
civil avocstions Of busy city. They were
matched with the picked light artillery of the
Federal regular army, company "E," 30 ar
tilleFy, under Capt. Ayres, with an armament,
as their own chief Of artillery admits, of two
l0-poundeF Parrott rihed guns, two 12-poundeT
hOWi'ZeT and two 6 FOUNDER pieces, aided by
two 20 pouDder Parrot rifed guns Of company
&C." 9TH artillery, under Lieut.. Benjamin.
Thus matched, they drove their veteran adver
ssries from the field, giving confidence in, and
promise Of, the coming efficiency of that brill
liant arm Of our service.
Having thus related the main or general re-
suits and events Of the action Of Bull Run, in
conclusion, it is proper to signaizs some Of
those who contributed most to The satisfactory
results CT that day.
Thanks are dde to Brig. Generals Bonham
and Ewell, and TO Col. Cooke, and the officers
under hem, for the ability sb0wn in conduct
ing and executing the retCograde movements
on Bull Run, directed in my orders OF the S-h
July-mOVements on which hung the fortunes
Of this army.
Brig. Gen. Longslreet, who commanded i'm
mediateiy the troops engaged at Blackburn's
ford, on tbe 18Th, equaled my confident ex-
pectat ons, and | may dly say that, by HE
presence at the right place at the right mo-
ment among bis men, BY be exhibition Of
characteristic GOODNESS, and by bis words Of
announcement to the men Of his command, he
inspired confidence and spirit that contrib
uted larEelyto the success Of our arms on that
daV.
Col. Early brought his brigade into position
and suhssuuentlv into action, with Judgment
and at the proper moment. He displayed ca
pacity for command and personal galantry.
Coz. Moore, commanding the First Virginia
volunteers, was severely wounded at the head
Of his regiment, the command Of which sub
g quenty devolved upon Mai. Skinner, Lieut.
Col. Fry having been obliged to leave the field
in consequence Of a suBstreke.
An accomplished, promising officer, Major
Carter II. Harrison, Eleventh Virginia volun-
teers, was lost to the service. While leading
| two companies Of bis regiment against the
enemy, be fell, twice shot, mortally wounded
! BTig.-Gen. LongstTeet, while finding on all
: .sr H. D