Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-08-02

than any other in the army, was planted
directly in the road. Captain Ayers bat
terry was stationed in the woods, little to
the right. The First Ohio and Second
N. Y. Regiments were thrown into the
woods in advance on the left. The Goth
New York, the First, Second and Third
Connecticut Regiments, were ranged be-
hind them, and the Second Wisconsin
was thrown into the woods on the right.
At about 6 IL o'clock the 30-pounder
threw two shells directly into the battery
on the summit of the slope, on the oppo'
site hight, one of which, as | learned af-
terward, struck and exploded directly in
the midst of the battery, and occasioned
the utmost havoc and confusion. After
about half an hour Capt. Aver threw ten
or fifteen shot ard shell from his battery
into the same place. But both failed TO
elicit any reply. Men could be seen
moving about the opposite slope, but the
batteries were silent. An hour or so af-
terward we heard three or four heavy
guns from Col. Richardson's column at
Bulls Run, and these were continued at
intervals for two or three hours, but they
were not answered, even by a single gun.
1t was very clear that the enemy intend
ed to take his own time for paying his re-
spects to us, and that he meant, more
over, to do it in his own way. Mean
time we could hear in distance the
sound of Col. Hunters axmen, clearing
his way, and waited with some impa-
tience the sound of his cannon on the op-
posite nights. Time wore along with
occasional shots from our guns, as we'll as
those from Col. Richardson's column, but
without, in single instance, receiving
any reply.
At little before eleven O'Clock, the
First Ohio and Second New York, which
were lying in the wood on the left, were
ordered to advance. They did so, pass
ing out of the road, aud climbing fence
into a wood opposite, which they had
barely approached, however, when they
were met by tremendous discharge OF a
! four-gun battery, planted at the left in the
woods, mainly for the purpose Of sweep
ing the road perpendicularly and the open
| field on its right, by which alone troops
could pass forward to the opposite bank,
They were staggered for moment, and
received orders to retire. Capt. Ayers
Battery (formerly Sberman's) was advan-
ced little so as to command this battery,
and by twenty minutes vigorous play up
on it silenced it completely.
Athalf past eleven, we heard Hunters
guns on the opposite height, over a mile
to the right. lie was answered by bat
teries there, and then followed the sharp,
rafting volleys of musketry, as their in
fantry became engaged. The firing was
now incessant. Hunter had come upon
them suddenly, and formed his line Of
battle in an open field at the right Of the
road. The enemy drew up to oppose
him, but he speedily drove them to re-
treat, and followed them up with the
greatest vigor and rapidity. Meantime,
for some three hours previous, we had
seen long lines of dense dust rising from
the roads leading from Manassas, and
with the glass we could very clearly per-
ceive that they were raised by the con-
staut and steady stream of reinforcements
which continued to pour in nearly the
whole day. The Sixty-ninth, Seventy
ninth, Second and Eighth, New York
the First, Second, and Third Connecticut
and the Second Wisconsin, were brought
forward in advance of the wood, and
marched across the field to the right to 60
to Col. Hunters support. They crossed
the intervening stream, and drew up in a
small open field separated from Colonel
Hunters column by dense wood which
was filled with batteries and infantry
Our guns continued to play upon the
woods which thus concealed the enemy,
and aided materially in clearing them for
the advance. Going down to the ex-
treme front of the column, could watch
the progress of Col. Hunter, marked by
the constant roar of artillery and the roll
of musketry, as he pushed the rebels back
from point to to point. AT one O'Clock,
he had driven them out Of the woods and
across the road, which was the pro-
longation Of that on which we stood
Here, by the side of their batteries, the
rebels made a stand. They planted their
flag directly in the road, and twice char
ged across it upon our men, but without
moving them an inch. They were met
by a destructive fire and were compelled
N faIl still further back. Gradually the