Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-08-03

of their aim. Providence, however, who
governs all things, covered the heads of our
Generals as with Il shield, and preserved
them for the hazardous service in which
they were in a short hour or two to be en-
gagged.
Il was now about eleven o'clock, and the
enemy having opened with rified cannon
and shell on their right. which they had
continued for more than three hours with
out response, we heard away to the left,
about three miles distant, the heavy BOOM
ing Of cannon, followed Immediately by
the rattling crack of musketry-the dis
charges being repeated and continuous
which notified us the engagement had
commenced in earnest at that point, where
the battle was to be fought aud won.
Proceeding towards the scene of action
about two miles, we came to a creek in the
hollow where one of the hospitals for the
day bad been stationed, and the first
wounded, some 20 or 30, had been brought.
DR.. Castor, of South Carolina, formerly
surgeon in Col. Gregg's regiment, but now
attached to General Beauregard's head
quarters, was assiduously attending to the
wants of the wounded. At this point
Generals Beauregard and Johnson, accom-
panied by staff of some ten or twelve
officers, passed at full gallop, riding to-
wards their headquarters for the day,
which were on a hill Immediately over
looking the ground where our brave SOL
diers were manfuIly and persistently strug-
Cling for the victory. A large force OF
cavalry were here stationed, and rs the
Generals passed they called for three
cheers for Beauregard, which were i'm
mediately given with right good will, and
which the General gracefully ackuowl-
edged by lifting his hat from his head and
bowling MS thanks.
Both of our generals were plainly dress
ed. No large epauletts, no gilt, nor any
fuss and feathers; you could only distin-
guish them at distance to be officers by
their swords, but on closer inspection,
the marks of genius and military skill
were unmistakable Their uniform was
what took to be plain undress. Not the
least sign of excitement was to be seen on
the countenauces of either as they Coolly
rode forward into the storm of iron hail.
| Beauregard's eyes glistened, no doubt,
when he afterwards threw himself into the
very heart of the action, appearing then
as was afterwards most eXpressively said
| of him, to be the very impersonatlon OF
the "god of war General Johnson, too,
looked every inch commander, and proved
| himself to be the worthy inheritor of the
]
reaching the top of the hill, where was
white house, owned, l believe, by Mr..
| Lewis, they were again discovered by the
enemy, as the rifed shot and shell whizzed
through the air and lodged in the hollow
behind. The aim was not so good at this
time, the accurate artillerists three miles
below not having yet come up with the
enemy's main body. AT about IL O'Clock
! Beauregard and Johnson assumed the COM
mand of our main body at the Stone
Bridge. The line of battle extended some
seven miles up and down the creek, and
during the day there were some minor en-
gagements at other fords.
At Blackburu's Ford, Gen. Jones Brig
ade made attack on the left flank of the
enemy, who had two stroug batteries in q
commanding position which it was impor-
tant to capture. The 9th South Carolina
| Regiment led the attack, but our troops
were compelled to retire for a while under
the heavy FIRE from the batteries and mus
kerry, and the enemy Immediately retreat
ed. Up to the time of this attack, these
batteries had been bombarding all the
morning Gen. Lougstreet's position in his
entertainments on this side of the Run.
Gen. Evans, of South Carolina was the
first to lead his brigade into action at Stone
bridge. Ii consisted of the 4th South Car
olina Regiment, and Wheats Louisiana
Battalion. Sustaining them was General
Cookies Brigade, consisting of the nth,
18th and 2Sth Virginia Regiments, COM
manded respectively by Coils. Cooke, With
ers and Robt. 7. Preston. These Brigudes
bore the brunt of the action, as they were
exposed to a concentric fire, the object of
the enemy being to turn our left flank
while VIC were endeavoring to turn his
fright. These Regiments were supported
by the famous Washington Artillery, of
New Orleans, who had two of theirguns ut
this point, which made terrible havoc in
tho ranks of the enemy. The Federal
troops leading the action consisted of TO-
600 regulars, sustaining the celebrated
Sherman's battery, these regulars being in
their turn supported by immense masses of
volunteers, the New York Zouaves among
the number. Gen. Beauregard estimated
the enemy's numbers in the action TO be
not less than 35, 900 men.
Their artillery far out numbered onTs.-
We have captured 81 pieces of cannon,
while we had only ls guns on that part of
the field. 1t has been stated to me by so
many of our soldiers cannot but believe
it, that the enemy By some means had OBJ
tainel our signal for the day-they also
used our red badge, which fortunately was
discovered in time, and they carried into
action the flags of the Palmetto States aud
the Confederate States. 1t has been as
serted, too, by numerous individuals en-
gagged in the battle, that there was great
confusion and slaughter among our own
men, who mistook them for the enemy
/ This WAS less to be wondered at from the
! similarity of uniform and the mean advan-
tages above referred 10 taken BY our un-
scruPulous foes. They pressed our left
flank Tor several hours with terrible effect,
bnt our men fiinched not until their num-
Der had been SO diminished by the well
aimed and steady volley that they were
compelled to give way for new regiments.
The 7th and 9Th Georgia regiments, COM
uiauded by the gallant and lamented Bar
tow, are said TO have suffered heavily du-
ring the early part of the battle. Ken
per's, Shields and Pendleton's batteries
were in this part of the field, and did fear