Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-11-07

may all dwell tOgetner IN Lne 1utuTe DeyOuu
this war as we did prior to its desolatipg
advent.
THE BATTLE AT BALLS BLUFF.
Graphic Account of the Engagement
One of the best and most graphic accounts
of the battle of Balls Bluff, yet published
we find in the New York World. Much Of
it, however, is anticipated by the details al
ready given, but we make some extracts OF
stirring interest:
The real battle commenced on the left
Baker threw the whole responsibility of that
wing upon Wistar. The latter did not like
the appearance of the adjacent wood region,
and threw forward companies A and D Of
his battalion to ''feel' them. Captains
Markoe and Wade, the former we'll ahead
accordingly advanced on their hazardous
duty passed through the forest to the cows
horn projection of the field, crossed it, and
had arrived within ten PAGES Of the further
thicket, when murderous fire blazed out
upon them. The poor fellows gallantly
sprang through it upon their assailants
and were in moment fighting in the woods
Not half of them ever came back. But the
Confederates taking this as signal for tb1
commencement of the action, now bes'fIeo
themselves in force, and, with bi@eous yells'
fired terrific volley along+delr wnoie 1rons'
Only the sheeted fash showed itself from
those frontin @ forests; the foe still clung te
cover but the Internal hail of bullets ratified
against our whole lines, and many brave
souls were loosed by that first fiery revela.
ton of the enemy's strength. Our reply
was instant and extended. In second both
ends of the field were clouded with smoke
the days skirmishing was over, and the
contest that was to rage so hotly for an hour
had fiercely commenced It's fury.
We are 3lL tired Of accouns-S5lsilss Che .pett,
"a q ai;f' iene dista
and the s8.called ssmurderous frsr and
''desperate attacks have resulted in three
or four chance losses and the success of no
one in particular. But [ say that this con-
test, on the Northern side, was most heroi-
cally fought, and in true sacrifcial spirit.
There is nothing like it in our history. See
what was crowded into that terrible hour
Our little band was pent up in narrow
and defenseless slaughter pen. The enemy
was in force in front; he began to creep
down the treacherous sides of the inclosure;
his sharp-shooters climbed the trees every
where, picking out the stateliest and gal
lantest forms for the death they so uneering-
ly dealt us. Our lines thus received scath-
ing from the front, from above. and a cros-
fire at angles right and left. All they could
do in reply was to aim steadily and swiftly
at the places whence the loudest yells and
deadliest volleys proceeded. But they drop
ped everywhere, and were borne by dozens
to the CORY skiffs below. On the right the
Massachusetts, men were more than decima
ted by the regular, unavoidable shower of
bullets. But against our left, where Wis
tar commanded, the Confederates, confident
of their force and the effect of their deadly
fire in front, began to make venturesome
charges, each one repelled by the gallant
fire Of the Californians, but each one getting
nearer our lines than the last.
On the fourth charge they ACTUALLY flank
ed our left and sprang forth, savage and
eager, from the thicket beyond the favine.
Down this they were about to plunge,
showing a bravery not part OF their usual
tactics, and our fellows lifted their muskets
for volley. "Holdv' cried Wistar to his
men, "not man of you must fire" and he
dashed at the piece of one; wait till they
reach the bottom of the ravine.-Then we'll
have them" So they charged down the
hill, only to meet the most effective volley
fired on our side during the day. When
the smoke rose their front ranks lay fallen
in the hollow of the valley of death the
rear had broken and fled in disorder through
the forest. The fifth charge-but this
brings me to the main feature of the field
a splendid central picture, which will furn-
ish theme for American poets and painters
long after the feebler tints and groupings of
this tumult shall have faded out.
Lieut.. Bramall had posted his gun near
the centre of our line, and opened fire to the
best stadvantage possible. When he mounted
the piece he had with him eight artillerists,
three riders, corporal and sergeant. In
ten minutes five of these were shot down :;
in the end all but two were killed, wounded
or missing. It. Bramall himself was Sc
verely wounded, but stood by his gun
Col. Coggswell saw the necessity of the case,
informed Colonels Wistar and Lee, Adju-
tant Harvey (of Bakers brigade, and Cap
tain Stewart, (of Gen. Stones staff, present
on the field, and those five distinguished l
officers and determined men manned the
piece themselves. Coggswell and Harvey,
understanding the business, would load
while Lee and Wistar were giving orders to
their commands, and spurring them into the
fight; then Wistar and Stewart would wheel
the gun forward to position Coggswell
would take aim and give the word to Harvey.
who held the percussion lanyard. In this
way and by these men dozen of the twcn-