Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-08-08
COUNTY Pa BY GOODRICH

sides But we must now leave them iu the
midst of this pleasant and congenial work, to
follow the fortunes of the faDking column.
THE BATTLE ON TEE ELANK.
Having now shown the course and features
of the battle on the centre, for three hours,
we now turn to the fanking column, which
was expected to be able, in about that time,
to turn the rear of the Confederate position,
and unite itself, through the broken columns
of the foe, with the direct onward tide.
This column, as | have already stated, con-
tanned the two divisions of Hunter, and Heint-
zlemen, and It was led by the Burnside
brigade, consisting of the lst and I'd Rode
Islanders, the I'd New Hampshire, and the
New York list. The next brigade was COM
posed of the New ork 8th, l4th, and 9th
the next of the lst Mi-higan, the Fire ZouaVes
and the 3Sth New-York the next, the
5th Massachusetts, and lst Minnesota, and
the last, the Sd and 4th and 9th Maine, and
Cd Vermont The Colonels of those regi-
ments respectively, in the order have placed
them, were Pitman, Socum, Narston, Martin
Lyons, Wood, Slocum, Comstock. Farnham,
Ward, Lawrence, German, Tucker, Berry,
GonneI, and Whitney. The reader, who is
specially interested, will place them for him
self
Immediately after leaving the central COL
umn the Burnside brigade having the lead,
threw out its skirmishers, and proceeded along
at brisk rate. preserving, however, common
time, in view of the long distance to be made
The course for the first fore or five miles, was
rot bar bpl1lv tO Dn1
more gently to the northward and then, after
some eight or nine miles had been accomplish.
ed, curved sharp toward the left. The march
was most fatIguing one, and though shaded
to considerable extent by long stretches of
close timber much of it lay in the glare of
the hot sun, and all of it had its share of
sitting dust, except where we crossed the
fields. But the men were hungry and also
very much fatigued, most OF them having
got but two or three hours sleep the night
before. Still they trudgcd cheerfully along
animated 10y the task before them, and made
more elastic by the sound of the cannonade,
which had for some time been heard and
which they were now sensibly approaching
In the brigade, nay, in the whole line, none
heard this with higher spirit than the list.
About 10 o'clock the head of the column
came into an open country, and after proceed
ing in it for a mile, Capt Ellis of the list
detected a masked battery about half mile
to the left and bringing our glasses to bear
upon it, we could elso preceive the enemy
moving to their position through the woods,
in considerable force. Soon after this, Gen
MDowell came riding up, and orders were
given that we should proceed at more rapid
pace, and an hour more brought the brigade
close to the rattle of the strife. The column
now made its final curve, and turning sharp
ly to the left faced the rear Of battle as it
came from the head of the central column
which, under the lead of the 69th, was now
pressing its way toward US. The dins of guns
and musketry at this point was almost deaf
ening, and the very earth trembled with the
roar of the heavier artillery. Burnside, who
was forward, then sent an order to the list
to take its howitzers and dash through a
piece of woods, and form its position on the
right of the RHODE Islanders. Obeyng the
orders with alacrity, the list passed the New
Hampshier men in their impetuOsity and
emerged into the fire, while the I'd n Ii
formed in good order on the extreme right.
! 1t was now nearly four o'clock, o. m, and
the general battle seemed to have subsided
nay almost entirely to have ceased and moth
! ing but an occasional great gun, and isolated
! flirt of musketry proclaimed its continuance
! in any quarter. In their ignorance of the ex,
tent of the field, the Federal forces imagined
they had won a victory. They had shown
greater dash and steadlnesS than the enemy
from first to last and while, by far the most
exposed, had inflicted much heavier slaught-
er than they had undergone themselves. The
whole aspect within our lines, or rather within
the boundaries of our brgades, wore the look
of triumph Our enemies, wherever we had
met them hand to hand, in anything like open
opportunity, had sunk before US all their bat
teries Immediately within our reach had senc.
ed but, what was infinitely more conclusive
to our green appreciations, General Mcdowell
our Cammanderin Chef,now came jingling on
the field waving, first his glove, and then his
hat, calling US brave boys" and telling us
with the grand air of Caesar, that We had won
the day. He passed away like splendid
dream. "a big thing" in glorious uniform
and branching new regulation hat.
After our joyful shouts had gone down the
wind after bin, our tired legions flung them
selves, by one accord, upon the ground, to take
brief snap at their haversacks and to catcl
a lew minutes TepoSe DelOre making lnelr una
dispositions for the day. Perhaps no army
which had won victory was ever more ia
tigued, and the men as they lay upon thei
sides, and rehearsed the horrors of the day
wondered how they had held out so long
Many however had not even this repose, TO
f they were bearing off their wounded comrade
to the hospital, and others were searching 70
their sworn brethren in arms among the dead
These lay about 10 the most fantastic shapes
some absolutely headess, some represented b
a CORY trunk alone, some with smiles, and som
with rage upon their lips, as they grasped thei