The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-08-03
THE BATTLE.
4 GTaniiir ELnscNiNtinn

At about five miles from Centrcvllle the
battle commenced, our troops encountcring a
masked battery, IN wheat field. The en-
gaSemcnt at first was hardly anything more
than Skirmish, the design of the Fedora
forces being to draw their OPPONENTS into
the open field where fair fight could be
secured. The artillery met the battery, and
III liltie while its guns were silenced, and
the retreat of those commanding it covered
with body Of infantry, whose sharp and
lnceSsant fire of muSkctry was promptly
answered by our forces, who Succeeded in
driving them oil the field at the great loss on
the part oflhe rebels from our well directed
fire from the small arms, and the loss Of
few of the Federal forces. VINO fell before the
cannon balls Of the battery, when it first
opened its sudden ard well directed fire.
Among the first to fall was the gallant Hay
serty, Lieutenant Colonel Of the New York
SIXTY ninth lie was shot by pistol ball
and instantly killed.
1t was shortly after nine o'clock when the
engagement first commenced, and from that
period until in the afternoon at tive o'clock.
the roar Of cannon and muskctry was inces.
SAINT.
THE HEAT or TIE CONTEST.
1t was noon, and now the battle commen.
Ced, III the liTceneSS of its most extended
Jury, The batteries on the distant hill began
to play upon nur own, and upon our advance
troops, with not and lhuntlerous effect -
Carlisle answered for us, and Sherman for
Hunters Division, while the great 81 poun-
der addressed itself resiStlessy to the alternate
dri,nSes .! the foe. The NOISE of the can
| nonadlng Was deafrning and continuous. -
Conversely to the circumstance OF The former
engagement. it completely drowned, at this
period, the volleyS Of the muSkctry and rifle
men. 1t blanched the checks Of the villagers
at CenIrevie, to the main street of which
place some Of the enemy'S r!iie~ sh,l were
thrown. 1t was heard at Fairfax, at Alexan,
drIa, at Washington itself.
Five or SIX heavy batteries were in operation
at once, and to their clamor was added the
lesser roll of twenty thousand small arms, -
W hat could we civilians sec of the fight at
TINS time! Little; yet perhaps more than
any who were engaged in it. How anxiouslv
we strained our eyes to catch the various
movements, thoushtlcss of everything but the
spectacle, and the successes or 1eyerses of the
Fedora army. Our infantry were engaged in
woods and meadows beyond our view. We
knew rot the hature or position of the force
they were fighting. But now and then there
| would be fierce rush into the open prospect,
gallant charge on one side and retreat on
the other, and we say plainly that our col
unnS were gaining ground, and steadily pur.
suing their advantage by their gradual move.
| ment, which continued toward the distance
| and the enemys centre
l. We indeed heard continuous tdincs Of
herosm and victory. and those in the trees
above us told MS of more than we could dis
| cover with our field glasses from below. -
We heard that Hunter had fairly rounded
the cnemy's flank, and then we listened for
ourselves to the sound Of his charges IN the
northern woods, and saw for ourself the air
gathering up smoke from their branches. and
the wavrring column of the MiSsissippianS as
they fled from their first bsttery and were
| forced into the open field. Then we saw our
! own Sixty.ninlh and Seventy corps
animated 10y chivalIous national rivalry,
press on to the support of the more distant
column. We could catch glimpscs Of the
continual advices and retreats: could hear
! occasionally the guns OF a battery before un-
discovered could guess how terrible all this
accumulation of death upon death must tell
upon those undauned men. but could also
and our cheers continually followed the
know ledge that our forces were gradually
"'''''- 'hS VI VIC tltluS uTOuNu inc
second quarter Of a circle, until by ten clock
the main battle was raging at point almost
directly opposite one standing place the road
at the edge of the woods where it had com.
menced SIX hours before.
There was hill at the distance OF n mile
and half to which | have hitherto alluded.
From its height overlooking the whole plain,
few shell had reached us early in The day
and as it vas nearer the Manassas road than
almost any other portion Of the field, more of
the enemy's reinforcements gathered about
its ridge than to the aid of the beaten Rebels
in the woods and valleys. Here there was
an open battery and long lines of infantry in
support. ready, for wonder, to let our
wcared fellows see the fresh forces they had
to conquer.
AS the Sixty-ninth and Seventy ninth
wound round the meadows to the north Of
this h.l' and began to cross the road appar-
emily with the intention of scaling it. we saw
column coming down from the furthest per-
spcctive and for a moment believed it to be a
portion OF Hunters Divisions, and that it bad