Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-08-13
,.,,r q ut ~ tho s,ones IN the other side

! across It up the the slopes on the other side
While this was going on, Hcintzclman's division
was moving down The field to the stream and
up the road beyond. Beyond the Warrenton
road, md to the left Of the road. down when
our troops had marched from Sudley's Spring,
in 3 hill with a farm house on it. Behind this
hill the enemy had, early in the day, some OF
his most annoying batteries planted. Across
the road from this hill was another bill, or
rather an elevated ridge, or table of land. The
hottest part of the contest was for the posses
sion of this hill, with q house on it. The force
engaged here was Heintzelman's division, Will
cox's and Towards brigadcs on the right, sup
portcd by part of Porter's brigade and the cav.
alrv under Palmer, and Franklin's brigade OF
Heintzelman's division, Sherman's brigade or
Tyler's division in the centre and up the road,
whilst Reyes brigade of Tyler's division vas
on the left, attacking the batteries near the
Stone Bridge.
Tho Rhode Island Battery Of Burnside's
brigade, also participated in this attack by It's
fire from the north of the turnpike. The enc
nv was understood to have been commanded
by j. E. Johnston. Ricketts, battery, which
did such effective service, and played so bril-
liant q part in this contest, was, together with
Grifin's battery, on the side Of the hill, and
became the object OF the special attention Of
the enemy, who succeded-our officers mis-
taking one OF his regiments FOR one OF our own,
ard allowed it to approach without firing
upon tin disabling the battery and then
attempted to take it.
Three times was he rcpulsed by different
corps in succession, and driven back, and the
guns taken by hand. the horses being killed,
and pulled away. The third time it was sup
posed b. Us all that the rcpulsc was inal, for
he was driven entirely from the hill, and so far
beyond it as not 10 be in sight, md all were
certain the day was ours. He had before this
been driven nearly 4 mile and q half, and vas
beyond the Warrcnton road, which WAS en-
tircly in our possession, from the Stone Bridge
westward, and our engineers were just COM
plcting the removal of the abattis across the
road, to allow cur reinforcement (Schcncks
Brigade anu Ayres' Battery To join us.
The enemy was evidently dishcartened and
broken. But we had been fighting since half.
past ten O'clock in the morning, and it was af-
ter three o'clock in the afternoon. The men
had been up since two o'clock in the morning,
and hud made, what, TO those unused to such
things seemed, a long march before coming
into action, Though the longest distance gone
over was hot more than nine and half miles
and though they mad three days provisions
served out TO them the day before, many, no
doubt, either did rot cat them CT threw them
away on the march III during the battle, and
were, therefore, without food. They had
done much severe fighting. Some Of The regi.
ncnts which had been driven from the bill in
the two first attempts Of the enemy to keep
possession of it had become shaken, were un-
steady, and had many Incn out Of the ranks.
1t Was ut this time TINT the cncmy's rein.
forcenerts came to his aid from the railroad
train, understood 10 have just arrived from the
valley with the rcsidua of Johnston's army
They threw themselves in the woods on our
right, aud towards The rear CT cur right, ard
opened Z fire OF musketry Oh Our men, which
caused them to break and retire down the hill
side. This soon degorerated into disorder for
which there was no remedy. Every ctfjrt was
made to rally them, even bcFond the reach Of
the encmy's fire, but in vain. Tho battalion
Of regular infantry alone moved up the hill
opposite to tho one with the house on it, and
taere maintained Itself until our men could
get down To and across the Warrentou turn.
pike, OIL the way back to the position We oc.
crpird in the morning. The plain was coTer.
cd with the rclrca;ing troops, and they seemed
10 infect these with whom they came in con.
tlct. The retreat soon became !! rout, and
this soon degeaeratcd still further into a panic.
Finding this state Of Affairs was beyond the
sfforls Of all those who had assisted so faith
fully during the long and hard days work in
gaining almost the object Of our wishes, and
that nothing remained Oh the field but 10 re.
cognize what we could no longer prevent, |
gave the necessary orders 10 protect their
withdrawal, begging the men 10 form in line,
and offer no appearance, at least, of disorgani.
cation. They returned by tho fo-ds to the
Warrcnton road, protected, by my order, by
Col. Porltr's force OF regulars. Once on the
road, and the. different corps coming together
in small parties, many without officers, they
became inIcrninsled, and all organization Was
loss.
Orders had been sent back to Miles division
for Il brigade to move forward and protect
this retreat, and Col. Bltnker's brigade was
detached for this purpose, and was ordered to
go rs far forward as tie point where the road
to the right left HE main read.
BY referring TO the general order it will be
seen that while tho operations were 10 go on in
front, an attack vas to be made at Dlackburn's
Ford by the brigade Richardson's stationed
there. 4 r~cIsrcaca 70 his report, and to that
Of Major Hunt, commanding the artillery, will
show that this part Of the plan was we'll and
effectively carried out. 1t succeeded in ,deceiy.
ING the enemy for p considerable time, and in
keeping in check L part of his force. The fire
OF the artillery at this point is represented as
particularly destructive.
at the time Of our retreat, seeing great nc.
tivity in this direction, much firing, and col.
umns Of dust, | became anxious for this place,
fearing, If it were turned or forced, the whole
stream CT cur rctreatinC mass would he cap
tured Or destroyed. Alter providing for the
protection Of the retreat by Porter's and Bien.
ker's brigadcs, | repaired to Richardson's, and
found the whole force ordered to be stationed
for the holding Of tine road from Manassa BY
Biackburn's Ford to Ccntrcvillc, on the march,
under the orders from the Division Comman.
der, for Ccntreville. | immediately halted it,
and ordered it to take up the best line CT de.
fence, across the ridge, that their poSition adj
mitttd Of, and subsequently taking in person
the command Of this part Of the army, ! cauS.
ed such disposition Of the forces which had
been added TO by the lst and ID SeT Jersey and
the D.: kaio regiments, ordered up from Run.
yon's reserve before going forward, as would
best serve 10 check the enemy. The ridge
being held in this way, the retrea;ing current
passed slowly through Ienlreville 10 Inc rear.
The enemy r,llnwc1 H., from the fard as far as
Cub run, and, owing to the road becoming
b!uckcd up III the crossing, caused Us much
damage there, for the artillery could not pass,
and several pieces anu ~ctissoiis hal TO he nban-
dnrcd. In tue panic. the horses hauling the
caisscns and Ammunition were CnI from their
places by persons t" escape with, and in this
way muc!. confusion VAS rau.ed, the panic az
cravated, and the rDad cncu.nharcd. Not sDly
were pieces uf artillery los:, bu. also many OF
the aubuIanccs carrying the wounded.
b. shutdown luost Of our inen had gotten
bch,nd Cerilsviiie ridge, ard it became n
q~uestian whether We should or not cRdeavor to
make L stand there. The condition Of cur
artillery aiti is Ammunition, and the want Of
food for The tnea, who had generally abandon
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