Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-16
The FIaht nc LewInsvIIIe.

before yeeteruay's deFdtd, gives tne lOllOW~
ing account of The battle at Lewinsville,
near the Chain Bridge above Washington;
ain accordance with orders from General |
Mcclellan, this morning General Smith, com
manding the advance brigade on the South |
side of the Potomac, near the Chain Bridge, |
directed typographical reconnaissance in |
fierce to be made in the direction of Lewins- |
vile.
The reconnoitering party consisted of the |
Seventy ninth New York Volunteers, Third |
Vermont Volunteers, battalion of the Nine |
teenth Indiana Volunteers; a battalion of |
the First United States Chasseurs, under |
Lieutenant-C Colonel Alexander P. Shaer; |
two sections -four pieces) of the West Point |
battery, Captain Griffin fifty men of Com |
psny H, Fifth United States Cavalry, Lieu |
tenant McLsne commanding, and one COM
pany of Young's Cavalry-the whole under
the command of Colonel Isaac ]. Stevens,
acting Brigader General. The scientific
corps was in charge of Lieutenant Orlando
NJ. Poe, United States Typographical Eugi-
neers, assisted by Lieutenant West, of the
United States Coast Survey, who were to
conduct the reconnaissance.
The accommodating party, thus organized,
left Camp Advance about seven A. NJ, and
proceeded, without molestation, to Lewins-
vile, distance of four or Eve miles, reach
ing that point at half-past ten A. NJ, just in
time to get sight Of the heels Of rebel
cavalry picket, about fifty strong, which
evacuated the village, and retreated in the
direction of Falls Church, without firing a
shot upon the approach of our advance
guard.
After the arrival of our troops in Lewins-
vile, cavalry and infantry pickets were
thrown out on all the diverging roads and
prominent places for distance of half mile.
Scouting parties were also sent out to OBJ
serve the movements of the rebels, should
any be attempted.
At about eleven o'clock A. M. large body
Of rebel cavalry were seen in the distance,
watching the movements of our troops
They did not come within cannon or musket
range, and therefore their appearance did
not interfere with the operation of the re-
connoitering party.
Lieutenant Poe, of the Engineers, with a
corps of assistants, commenced his surveys,
and proceeded over an area of four miles
square, obtaining valuable Typographical in
formation.
At half-past two O. clock the reconnaissance
vas completed, and orders given to recall
the pickets, preparatory to returning to Camp
Advance. All the pickets responded to the
recall except picket of the Third Vermont
and one from the Nineteenth Indiana Regi-
ment. Colonel Stevens sent detachment
out to learn the reason of their detention,
and subsequently learned that they were
watching the advance of a column of the
enemy, consisting of seven hundred cavalry,
two regiments ofinfantry, and four pieces of
artillery, who were coming from the direc-
ton Of Falls Church.
l. Little or no attention was paid to the rebel
| advance, as the objects of the expedition had
been accomplished, and our troops had pro.
ceeded but few rods on their return home
| when the enemy s battery, which by this time
had attained position within three. .fourths
| of mile Cf our troops, opened a rapid
cannonade on our forces with shot and she'll.
| The firing was kept for ten minutes, when
a section of Captain Griffin's battery, con-
sistipg of two ten FOUNDER riaed cannons,
was Immediately placed in position, return
ing briskly the fire of the enemy.
simultaneously with the rebel cannonade,
they opened fire of musketry, from behind
trees and other places of concealment, while
our troops were formed in line of battle, with
orders not to fire unless the enemy came out
of their hiding places.
The cannonading now became general,
and continued for fifteen or twenty minutes,
when Brigadier- General Smith arrived on
the ground, having come from his camp post
haste unattended by an escort. He ordered
some important changes in the position of
our forces, expecting general engagement.
While the cannonade was in full progress,
Captain Thadeus 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 section of ar
tillery, consisting of one large bronze thirty
two FOUNDER howitzer and one ten FOUNDER
Parrot gun. He took prominent position,
commanding the enemy's battery, opened
| fire from his howitzers, and fired but three
shells, each one striking in the midst of the
rebels and completely silencing their battery.
First Lieutenant, George A. Kensel, OF Grlf-
fms battery, who was in reserve at camp
| arrived with another section of artillery
simultaneously with Motifs battery, and ht
J also opened on the enemy.
The rebels thus seeing themselves over
matched, retreated from the field TO tn
music of the Union batteries, which con
tinued for ten minutes after the rebel bat
: terry had ceased.
, The objects of the reconnaissance wer
completed. 1t is subject of congratulatiol
that the reconnaissance was made withil
: the lines of the enemy with so little loss AM
r with such triumphant success.
The attack was made npon the flank Th
Third Vermont Regiment was first subjecte
to the fire, but the principal part oft fell to tn
Ninteenth Indiana, which formed part ofth
: | rear guard. When the attack was made tn
rear guard was composed of two Napoleo
r guns of Grifin's battery, the Nineteenth In
diana Regiment, and Lieutenant McLane'
| Cavalry, In the order named. The lnfantr
4 were marching loosely, filling the road.
= Lieutenant Poe, who was in command c
e the rear guard, directed the infantry TO clos
: up, and move by fours in the center of tn
road, so as TO leave the sides free for the pas
: sage of the artillery when necessary. Th
l. order was promptly obeyed. A few minute
b afterward it was reported from the rear tha
y a body of about three hundred rebel cavalr,
: we're preparing to make a charge. One o
g the Napoleon guns was halted until the in
: fantry had passed. 1t was then placed il
/ front of the cavalry, masked by them, wit
orders to the cavalry, whenever the charg
n should be attempted, to open right and left
e unmask the gun, and repel the charge witt
S canister. In this order the retiring marcl
n was made without the slightest confusion.
a General Smith, when he heard the can
n nonade, and before he left his quarters to g
# to the scene of conflict ordered are-enforce
o ment, consisting of the Thirty-third New
York Volunteers, the Wisconsin Fifth, tn
d Maine Second, the California Regiment an
/. a Battery of the First Pennsylvania Volun
/, teer Artillery, to follow him. As soon a
n the General found the enemy had retreated
e and before his re-enforcements had arrived
L he sent back orders to halt at intervals alon
ie the road for three or four miles TO preVen
the enemy from fanking our troops.
W 1t should be stated that General McOlella
m took particular occasion tonight to compl
l. ment the commander of the reconnaissance
II to. day for having accomplished a splendi
result.
When the firing at townsville was hear
| =. -. - aakG Toll MiU a