Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-06

command the direct approach to the ford but Wit
orders to retire to the rear SIS seon as commands
by the enemy.
The northern bank of the stream. in front 0
Longsreetsposiion rises with steep slope at leas
fifty feet above the level of the water, leaving
narrow bern IN front Of the ford of some 20 yards
This ridge formed for them an admirable natllra
| parapet behind which they could AMI did approach
under shelter, in heavy force within less than 10
| yards of our administers. The southern shore wa
1 almost plain, raised but few feet above the wa
ter fer several hundred yards then rising with
very gradual gentle slope, and undulations back Il
| Aanassas On the immediate bank there was
fringe of trees, but with little, if any undergrowtt
SHELTER while on the other shore there were tim
/ Der aud much thick brush and covering. TIM
| ground in rear of skirmisheTs and occupied bJ
our artillery, old field extending along th,
stream about one mile, and Immediately back fol
about half a mile to border Or skirting of dense
second growth pine The whole Of this ground wa:
Commanded at all points by the ridge occupied BY
the enemy's musketry, as was also the country Il
the rear. for distance much beyond the range o.
twenty FOUNDER rife guns, by the range of hills
| which their batteries were planted and which. il
may be further added command also cur approach
es from this direction to the three threatened
Fords.
Before advancing his infantry the enemy main
tanned fire Of rifle artillery from the batteries lust
mentioned for half an hour, then he pushed forward
column of over 600 infantry to the assault with
such weight of numbers as to be repealed with
difficulty by the comparatively small force at not
more than twelve hundred bayonets with which
Brigadier General Longstreet met him with char
acteristic vigor and ntrepidtY. Our troops engag-
ed at this time the First and Seventeenth, and
four companies of the Eleventh Regiment Virginia
Volunteers; their resistance was resoute and main
tanned with a steadiness worthy of all praise; IT
was successful, and the enemy was repulsed. In q
short time, however, he returned TO the contest
with increased fierce and determination. but was
in lad hap bxyr af,,-,
and Longstreet's reserve companies, which were
brought up and employed at the most vigorously
assailed points at the critical moment.
It was now that Brigader General Longstreet
sent for reinfocements from Early's Brigade, which
had anticipated by directing the advance of Gen
Early, with two regiments of infantry and two
pieces of artillery. As these came upon the field
the enemy had advanced third time with heavy
numbers to force Longstreets position. Hays
Regiment 9TH Louisiana Volunteers, which was in
advance. was placed the bank of the stream under
some cover, TO the immediate right and left of the
ford, relieving Corses regiment, 18th Virginia Vol
ulteCPs; this was done under heavy fire of mus
kerry, with promising steadiness. The 18th Yir-
gnia, under Lieut. Col. Williams, was then formed
to the right. also under heavy fire. and pushed for
ward to the stream, relieving the lst Regiment Vir
ginia Volunteers At the same time two rifle guns
broughtup with Es rly's brigade were moved down
in the field to the right of the road SO as to be con-
cealed from the enemy's artillery by the girth of
there opened fire. directed only by the sound of the
enen.y's musketry. Unable to effect a passage the
enemy kept up scattering fire for some time
Some Of our troops had pushed across the stream
and several small parties of COrse's regiment, under
command Of Captain Aarye, met and drove the
enemy with the bayonet; but as the road way from
the ford was too narrow for q combined movement
in force, General L0ngstTeet recalled them to the
south bank. Meanwhile, the remainder of Early's
infantry and artillery had been called up-that is, 6
companies Of the 18th Regiment Virginia Volun,
teers under Lieut. Col Hairston and five
pieces of artillery, rife gun and 4 six FOUNDER
brass guns, including 2 six-pounder guns under
Lieut. Garnett which had been previously sent to
the rear by Gen. LOngstreet. This infantry was at
once placed IN position 10 the left of the ford in
space unoccupIed by Hays. and the artillery wss
ed IN battery to the right of the road in
line with the two guns already in seiian. a scat
tering fire of musketry was still kept up by the
enemy for short time, but that soon silencad.
1t was at this stage of the affair that remark
able artillery duel was commenced and mainta ned
On our side with long trained professional oppO
in the character as well as in The
humber Of his weapons, provided with improve
munitions AID every artillery appliance and at the
same time occupying the commanding position |
Tie results were marvellous and fitting precursors |
% the artillery achievements of the tWenty-frst of
July: In the outset our fire was directed against |
the enemy's lniaLtry, whose bsyOnets, cleaning /
.ooVe the IreetOps, alone indicated their presence
md force. This drew the attention of battery /
placed on nigh, commanding ridge, and the duel |
began in earnest. For time the aim of the adver-
AIRY was inaccurate, but this was quickly correct.
d, and shot fell and shells burst thick and fast in
he very midst of our battery, Wou1ding 10 the
curse Of the combat, Capt. Eschelman, five pri-
rates and tue horse of Lieut.. Richardson. From
he position of cur pieces and the nature Of the
round, their sim could only be directed at the
mOke Of tn e1emy's artillery; how skillfully and
With what execution this was done, can only be re-
lliZad by an eye witness. For q few moments !
heir guns were silenced, but we're soon re-Opened.
y direction Of Gen. Longstre,t, his battery was
hen advanced, By hand. out OF the range now as |
ertained by the enemy, and shower of spherical
ase, she'll and rom shot few over the heads of
ur gunners but one of our pieces had become |
ors de c0al5o! from an enlarged vent From the
ew position our guns fired, IS before, with no 9th
r aim than the smoke and fl ash of their adverse
les pieces - renewed and urged the conflict with
UGH signal vIgour and effect, that gradually the
re OF the enemy slackened, the intervals between
leir discharges grew longer and longer finally 10
ease, andwe fired last gun at baf Cd flying 70 e,
hose heavy masses in the distance were plainly
zen to break and scatter, in wild confusion and ut
# rout, strewing the ground with cas-. away guns
ats, blankets and iknapsacks as our parting shell
ere thrown among them. Ia their retreat one of
leir pieces was abandoned, but from the nature of
e ground, 1t was not sent for that night and under
over of darkness, the e. envy recovered it.
The guns engaged in this singular conflict on our
de were, three 6-pounder rifle pieces and four or
nary 6-pOundeTs, ali of Wslton's battery-the !
aShington Artillery, of New Orleans The off |
RS Immediately attached were Capt. EschIeman |
Q. w. Squires Richardson Garnett and J
hittingto1. At the same time. our infsntry held | 9
e bank Of the stream IN advance of our guns and 8
e missiles of the cOmbatants few to and fro above
EN-, as cool and veteran like for more than an s
'ur, they steadily awaited the moment and signal
r the advance.
While the conflict was at its height before Black =
rms Ford, about 4 O'Clock, p. m, the enemy again
splayed himself in force before Bonham's position.
this, Col. Kershaw, with four companies of his
giment, Second South Carolina, and one piece Of
smper's Battery, were thrown across Mitchels
'rd, to the ridge which Kemper had occupied that
orniDg. Two solid shot and three spherical case,
rown among them with precision naugurated
that artillerist at Fienra-efected their discOm
ure aud disappearance. and our troops in that
arter we're again withdrawn within our lines, n
wing discharged the duty assigned P
At the close Of the engagement before Black II
rne's Ford, directed General Longstreet to with
lw the First and Seventh Regiments, which had
rne the brunt of the action to a position in re- Il
we, leaving Colonel Early to occupy the field S
tn his brigade and Garland's regiment q
AS part Of the history of this engagement, l y
sire to place record, that on the 18th of July y
one yard of entrenchment one rifle PIT shell y
ed the men at Blackburns F0ra-whOse Off ;ers
] men. with rare exceptions on that day
the first time under fire, and who taking and IL
every position ordered, cannot be too a.
ch commended for their soIdierly behavior. II
)ur artillery was manned and differed by those =,
10 but yesterday were called from the civil avO- A.
ions of busy city. They were matched with -
picked light artillery of the Federal regular ar
COMPANY e y Third Artillery under Captain | 81