Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-09-13
THE FIGHT AT LEwINsv1LLE.

| trived to get from Washington more partlc
ular account OF the fight at Townsville than
we have seen elsewhere. We copy here the
| principal portion OF it,
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-THE reconnoiter-
ing party consisted Of the seventy ninth New
! York volunteers, third Vermont volunteers, a
battalion Of the nineteenth Indiana volunteers,
| battalion OF the first United States chasseurs
| under Lieut.. Col. Alexander Z. Shaler two
sections flour pieces) oi the West Point bat
terry, Capt. Griffin; nifty men of Company Ii,
fifth United States cavalry, Lieut.. McLane
commanding and one company of Young
cayalry-the whole Under command of Col
Isaac }. Stevens, acting brlgadler general
The scientific corps was in charge OF Lieut.. U.
Nj. Poe, United States Typographical Engin
GERS, assisted by Lieut.. West, of the United
States Coast Survey, who were to conduct the
reconnaissance
Alter the arrival of our troops in Lewins
vile, cavalry and infantry pickets were thrown
out on all the diverging roads and prominent
places for IA distance of half mile. Scouting
parties were also set out to observe the move
ments of the rebels, should any be attempted.
Lieut., Poe, of the Engineers, with corps OF
assistants, commenced his surveys, and pro
ceeded over an area of four miles square, OBJ
tanning valuable typographical information.
AT half past two o'clock the reconnaissance
was completed, aud orders given to recall the
pickets, preparatory to returning TO Camp Ad-
vance. All the pickets responded to the re-
call except a icket of the third Vermont and
one IRON the nineteenth Indiana regiment.
Col. Stevens sent a detachment out to learn
the reason OF their detention, and subsequent
ly learned that they were watching the adj
vance Of column of the enemy, consisting OF
seven hundred cavalry, two regiments OF in
fantry, aud four pieces of artillery, who were
coming from the direction Of Falls church.
Our troops had proceeded but few rods on
their return home when the enemy's battery,
within three-fourths OF mile OF our troops,
opened Il rapid cannonade with shot and shell.
The firing was kept up for ten minutes, when
a section Of Capt. Griffin's battery, consisting
of two ten FOUNDER rit1ed cannons, was placed
in position, returning briskly the fire OF the en-
envy, simultaneously with the rebel cannon
ade, they opened a fire of muSketry, from be-
hind trees and other places of conceament,
while our troops were formed in line of battle,
with orders not to fire unless the enemy came
out of their hiding places.
While the cannonade was in full progress,
Capt. Thaddeus Mott, who, when the firing
was first heard, was drilling his company at
Langley, four miles from the battle ground
arrived on the ground with a section of artil-
lery, consisting of Que large bronze 80 FOUNDER
howitzer and one 10 FOUNDER Parrot gun. He
took a prominent pos ition, commanding the
enemy's battery, opened fire from his howit-
zers, and fred but three shells each, one strk-
ing in the midst of the rebels and completely
silencing their battery First Lieutenant Geo.
~. Kensel, of Griffin's battery, who was in
reserve at camp, arrived with another section
of artillery simultaneously with Motifs bat
terry. and he also opened ON the enemy. The
! 50 thsrN al l,ol
retreated from the field to the music of the
! Union batteries, which continued for ten min.
utes after the rebel battery had ceased
Gen. Smith, when he heard the cannonade,
and before he left his quarters to go to the
scene Of conflict, ordered a reinforcement, con-
sisting of the thirty third New York volun-
teers, the Wisconsin filth, the Maine second,
the California regiment, and battery of the
first Pennsy volunteer artillery to follow
him As : tho general fn,'nd the on a.
| my had retreated, and before his reinforce.
ments had arrived, he sent back orders to halt
! them at intervals along the road for three or
| four miles, to prevent the enemy trotu flank
ing our troops.
The ambulances were now brought up, the
wounded cared for the dead brought into
camp, and the troops ordered to return, where
they arrived at 81 O'Clock P. NJ. Our troops
acted well during the engagement. There
in ordinary time, with the bands playing
"Yankee Doodle, "'IIail Columbia, the "Star
Spangled Banner" and other popular airs.
During the engagement, Co. Ii, fifth United
States cavalry, engaged body Of the rebel
infantry, driving them pell nell through
corn field toward Falls Church. Gen. McClel-
Ian and staff reached the camp at the time the
head Of the reeonnoiterng column returned
to camp. lie was loudly cheered, while the
bands played "Hail to the Chief and other
patriotic airs. There was not musket fired
by our troops during the skirmsh.
Lieut.. Hancock, Of the Indiana volunteers,
reported among the killed, before the engage
ment, and without orders, took four men with
him TO reconnoiter the force of the approach
ing enemy. He proceeded through a corn
field, was soou after surrounded by the enemy
after which he received volley from them
killing him and two OF his comrades. The
fourth one escaped and related these facts.
The occurrence of today has warned the
people residing in the neighborhood of Lew
insyle that battle in that vicinity is immi
nent. A large number OF wagons were me
upon the road tonight, filled with women anG
children, who were being removed from the
scene Of action to this city for safety.