Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-09-03

OuI hpplOoSaSS ia AAtiS
threatened Fords.
Before advancing his infantry the enemy
maintained q fire Of rife artillery from inc pat
teries lust mentioned for half an hour, then he
pushed forward 8 column of over 3,Uuo ihiah'
try to the assault, with such a weight OF NUN
bers as to be repealed with difficulty oy Tue
comparative small force OF not more 'utn
twelve hundred bayonets, with which b'isau.er
General Longstrcet met h!m with charac'e'is'I
vigor and intrepidity. Our troops engaged 4;
this time we're the First and Seventeenth, anu
four companies of the Eleventh Regiment 'if'
ginia Volunteers their resistance was resolute,
and maintained with a sterdaness worthy oi
all praise it was successful, and tile eheIy
was repulsed. In q short time, however ne
returned to the contest with increased 'otce
and determination, but was again io'icu anu
driven back by our skirmishers ana Long
streets reserve companies, which were orousht
up and employed at the most vigorously as
sailed points at the critical poment :.
1t was now that Brigadier General Long
street sent for reinforcements from early bii-
gade, which | had anticipated by directing tn.
advance Of Gen. Early, with two regiments Oh
infantry and two pieces Of artillery, AS tneSo
came upon the field the enemy had advanced
a third time with heavy numbers to force
Longstreet's position. Hays Regiment, TIN
Louisiana Volunteers, which was in advance,
was placed on the bank Of the stream, under
some cover, to the immediate right and lett Of
the ford, relieving CoTsc's regiment, lTth Fir'
GINA Volunteers; this was done under a
heavy fire Of musketry, with promising steaa'-
ness. The Tth Virginia, under Lieutenant
Colonel Williams, was then formed 10 the
right, a'so under heavy fire, aud pushed Tor
ward to the stream, relieving the LIST 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 oil
the road, so as to be concealed from the
cnemy's artillery by the girth Of timber on the
immediate bank OF the stream, and there open
ed fire, directed only by the sound Of the
enemy's musketry. Unable to effect o passage,
the enemy kept up a scattering lire tor some
time. Some of our troops had pushed across TIC
stream, and several small parties Of CorSe's regl-
ment. under command of Captain Marye, met
and drove the enemy with the bayonet; but
rs the roadway from the ford was too mario"
for q combined movement in force, Geti. Long
street recalled them to the South bank. Mean.
while, the remainder Of Early's infantry and
artillery had been called up--that is, 6 COM
panies of the oath Regiment Virginia Folnn,
teers. under Lieutenant Colonel Hairston, and
5 pieces of artillery, l rife gun amiga SIX
FOUNDER brass guns, including . siX'pounder
euns under Lieutenant Garnett, which had
been previously sent to the rear by General
Lonpstreet. This infantry was at once placed
in position to the left of the ford, in a space uH-
occupied by Hays, and the artillery was un,
limbcred in battery to the right Of the road
in a line with the two guns already in action. A
scattering fire of musketry was still kept up
by the enemy for a short time, but that WAS
soon silenced.
It was at this stage OF the affair that 6 re.
ma7kabIe artillery duel was commenced ana
maintained on our side with a long trained
professional opponent, superior in the chaf-
actcr US we'll as in the number Of his weapons
nroyided with improved munitions and every
artillery appliance, and at the same line
occupying the commanding position. Inc
results we're marvellous and fitting precursors
TO the artillery achievements Of the twenty
first of July. In the outset, our lire vas d.
rected against the enemy's infantry, whose
bayoncls, cleaning above the trce-tops, alone
indicated their presence and force. Tins DIRE"
the attention Of q battery placed on |" iiish,
commanding ridge, and the duel began IN ear
nest. For a time, the aim Of the adversary
was inaccurate, but this was quickly corrected
and shot fell and shells burst thick and fast IN
the very midst Of our battery, woundIrG, Ill the
course Of the combat, Capt. Eschclman, five
~urivates and the horse Of Lieut.. Richardson.
From the position Of our pieces and the nature
of the ground, their aim could only be directed
at tho Smoke of the enemy's artillery; how
skillfully and with what execution this "as
done, can only be realized by an eyewitness.
For a few moments, their guns were silcnced,
but were soon re-opened. By direction OF
Gen. Longstreet, his battery was then ad-
yanced, BY hand, out Of the range now hscer.
tanned by the enemy, and a shower oil spher'c%i
case, shell and round shot flew over the heads
Of our g%unners; but one OF our pieces had DC
come hors lie combat from an enlarged vent
From The new position our guns hEeu, Us be,
fore, with no other aim than the smoke and
flash Of their advcrsaries' pieceS-renewcd and
urged the conflict with such signal vlGor and
effect, that gradually the fire OF the enemy
slackened, the intervals between their dig
charges grew longer and longer, finally, to
cease, and we fred q last gun at a bathed, iIy-
ing foe, whose heavy masses in the distance
we're plainly seen to break and scatter, IN Wild
confusion and utter rout, strewing Tie ground
with cast.away guns, hats, blankets and KNAPP
sacks, as our parting shell was thrown atn
them. In their retreat, one Of their pieces
was abandoned, but, from thenature Of the
rround. it was not sent for that night, and
| Under cover Of darkness, the enemy recov.
cred it. p,
The guns engaged in this singular coniiic:
on our side were three 6.poutder rihe pieces
and four ordinary 6.pounders, all of Halton's
battery-the Washington Artillery Of New
Orleans. The officers Immediately attached
were, Captain Eschelman, Lieutcnants z. W.
Souires, Richardson, Garnett and Whiting
ton. At the same time, our infantry held the
bank of the stream in advance OF our guns,
and the missiles Of the combatants flew to and
fro above them, as, cool and yeteran.llkc, Tor
more than an hour, they steadily awaited the
moment and signal for the advance.
While the conflict was at its height before
Blackburn's Ford, about / o'clock, 7. NJ, the
enemy again displayed himself in force heiore
Bonham's position. At this, Col. Kershaw,
with four companies Of his regiment, Scccad
South Carolina, and one piece OF hempers
Battery. were thrown across Mitchells toru,
to the ridge which kemper had occupied that
morning. Two solid shot and three spherical
case. thrown among ther-with a precision
inauguruted by that artillcrist at Eicnna-ct.
fectcd their discontinue and disappearance
and our troops in that quarter were again
withdrawn within our lines, having discharged
the duty assigned.
At the close of the engagement before
Blackburn's Ford, | directed General Long
street to withdraw the First and Seventeenth
Regiments, which had borne the brunt OF the
action, to a position in reserve, lcavins Col;
Early to occupy the field with his brigade and
Garland's regiment.
Asa part Of the history Of this engagement.
I desire to place on record, that on the 18th OF
july not one yard Of entrcnchment nor one
rifle pit sheltered the men at Blackburn'S Fora
who, officers and men, with rare exceptions
were on that day, for the first lime, under
fire, and who, taking and maintaining every pc,
-, or3o-o5 o,nrnt he too much commend