The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-13
| ing an attack In a short time, as soon as
| they returned. The entire camp was arranged
| fer the assault.


the corners of the Qualifications lying nearly
dine East aud West, North and south and
was protected by embaukments thrown MP on
four sides, the strongest Of which on
the southeast side, which commanded the
road, the bridge and the field, through which
troops must pass coming from Hampton, and
was we'll fortified To the defence Of this po-
sition a howitznr battery OF three guns nm
der the command OF Major George w Ran.
doiph, and four mpanies Of the ". G.. ReCi-
ment on the northwest side: the remainder OF
the y. q, Regiment were stationed from East
to West. On the south side ravine 30
feet deep, and very marshy. This position was
defended by battery of one howitZar gun,
under the command OF Capt. ]. Thompson
Brown on the left and an ear tn work and
'rench made and occupied by the companies
OF Lieut.. Col. Stewards command. consis ting
OF the Virginia Life Guard, Capt Walker
HSnriCO 0rthern Guard, Can't. Childrev
and Young Guard, Capt Charters-the re-
mander of the troops, of infantry and cavalry,
were stationed side the enclosure, and com
p!eted the defence of the entire parallel. All
was now In readiness, and with calm, deter
mined countenances, the men awaited their
coming
THE APPROACH.
In few minutes our scouts and videttas
| commenced firing and coming in, announcing
| the advance. The caunoaiers and infan try
| III the line OF fOrtiftcatious were notified and
stood ready, ammunition in hand. Our mel
| tCol SteWart's) were ordered in the trenches,
| when they We're compelled 10 KDeel, in order
| 10 escape observation, 1t being our object 10
conceal our position until the enemy ad
| yanced to the middle of the field, and then
| open fire. The approach to the toTiticatiOus
| can only be made through field 600 yard,
| wide, and by the bridge, spanning the creek
| running along the line southeast of our Pc
| sitiOn.
THE ATTACK.
| Our Colonel stood with glass in hand and
| soon discovered the glis teHing of bayonet
| coming from cover OF the woods and up the
| road. As soon a they had arrived about one
\ hEy N ~
| cannon IN the road, one III the woods and
eTjtl the field to our left, all of them being
| guns OF heavy caiIbGe. As soon rs they We're
| seen position, Maj RaudDl phi gave the com
| mand, anu their splendid Parrot gun belched
! forth i shot which took effect on the column in
| the road and uld cons dera bic damage; tn was
replied 10 by the enemy from their gun in the
| road and replied to by Captain Browns Bat
| terry III the field. The action then became gem
| erul, and the Geafening roar of the guns was
all that cOuld ne heard tor Au hour-Our shot
| taking SoOG effect that OF the other side not
| having hit q single man or gun, all being aim
| ed too high, doing great damage among the
| bOughs OF Lie Trees. Col. Stuart command
| We're placed fifty yards on the right OF Capt.
| Browns Battery, TO seTv" G5 protection to
| them, and lie approach OF Il
| company CT Iouayes OF New York Rtgi-
ment, @.iY@ nclug under cover OF some houses,
| and large orchard to the right Of the field.
| The Virginia Life Guard were ordered to rise
aud shoot them, As our position mad not been
| discovered ; the men OF the first platoon rose,
aud tkIaE deliberate aim, fired the snOts had
| good effect, / OF the L0uaYts .alilug, two XIII
ed ana rem iInder wounded, as ascer tain
81 after wards by finding the bodies OF the
dead. We Immediately drew upon the
fire of the Zouaves and one piece of cannon;
| but our men We're undaunied, and between
| every fire OF the 0astardly crew they rose
| by file aud fired. Nearly every time 4 man
WAS ielled. Our guns being the Enfield ri
| tlri gun, We're very effective. The en- tire force
OF both sides then came into action, and to
! men unaccustomed to snch sights the scene
| was sublime. After the first fire all the hest
fancy and trepidati ton incident to the first bat
tie was over, and every man felt eager to give
them i salute. There was 4 cessation of fir
| Ing for five minutes, when our guns com
| lnenccd again, and constant and rapid tIrin2
was kept up for one hour more, our guns
| working beautifully and doing great damage
| The shot of the enemy wounded three OF our
| t0WItZer and one of the y. q. Regiment men
! During thls engagement the howitZer gun
| i'll the Held was accidentally disabled by thu
| bTea king of the vent wire in the touch hole
| and had to DE hauled in the woods and abln.
| dOaeG; and Col. Stewards command WIS or.
dered 10 close III upon the tortitcations and
defend the interior oil our camp as we moved
| OF. A regiment OK infantry was seen TO IL
up the road to the south OF our position il
| ORDER to get in our rear, and several cannon
| were ordered 10 the road through which they
must pas. The cannon were supported by The
| commands Of Col. Stewart and Capt. Mon.
taEue; but they did not make their appearance
and we remained il terested spectators OF the
| trenches, and prepared 10 defend the rayiut
and the road TO the south and west OF ouI
! Notifications.
, This attack was made a few minutes after
, | l. O'clock and was the most severe of all the
| days work. oar guns commenced again, auG
after exchanging shots for fifteen twenty
minutes, the enemy formed IN column, one
| thousand strong, and under command OF q
| brave looking General, we'll mounted ad.
advanced over the road, over the bridge, anC
up 10 the enbankment on the southeast
| Every man looked on with breathless in terest
: | as the charge was q brilliant one. As soon Il;
, | they were in good range. our battery opened
; and the first fire struck the head of the ad
5 | yaucing column, and crashed through from
| rank TO rank. They attem y ted 10 mount thu
embanklnent, but our infantry rose, and they
were repulsed with great loss, and so discom
: fitted that they TeIIret with double quicl
movement down the road The Colonel com
lnandinE in this charge was seen TO reel in III.
saddle. The battery again exchanged shots
and the acLon closed with six men woundes
r on our side.
; 1t was now one O'Clock, and the ene1n,
showing no disposition TO commence again
[ the dragons we're ordered out, and fOun(
= the enemy retreating with all speed tOWarG
Hampton. As they pursued them, they scat
tered like sheep. and the wounded and dyin!
e fell on every side Of the road. 1t was pitt
( able sight, and as cur men came back the,
5 were picked up and carried on filters 10 GU
cam and cared for.
The battle was now over, having com
5 menced At o. O'Clock A. NJ, aud continue,
till p. IL. One OF the wounded OF the Ell
g envy said he would tell the truth before Ia
, died, and say four thousand live hundre
+. | were engaged on the part of the Fedora
n | troops, and five hundred held i'll reserve, au
. | the dead and wounded Were TWO hundred
= | while on our part there were only twelve h an
l dred men, and at no time were there more tha
. | eight hundred engaged.
, During the entire engagement Col. Ma
g gruder WAS in every part of the Held, and dis
6 | played consummate generalship and courage
G | directing every movement in person and eX
g | posing himself with reCklessness of DANCE
}, | which was seen and admired by all in camI
I INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE.
: The enemy, when they first approached
=, | tried to keep up their courage by repea te
- cheering, yelling like so many savages, whic
= the writer of this heard distinctly, while on
i men said not a word; but, with uplifte
= hearts 10 the God of Battles, stood silent an
couraSenusly, awaiting them.
> One of the Captains OF the advancing col
7 umn OF the enemy approached near the
: | T.. Regiments lines, and, standing on 10.
= | cheered his men. He was seen, and Il privat
III one OF the companies took deliberate ain
: | and ne fell dead. The man ran out and Sc
cured his sword as trophy OF his vaior.
The HowiJZer Battery, under suptrint tend
ence OF Major Randolph, elected the cheers
the entire soldiery, every man performing h
G | part with the CELEBRITY of practiced gunner.
s and often exposing themselves uTOn the para
- pet TO see, as they said, the enemy's eyes, s
y | as to take aim. In a WORD, no man on III
u ground could express how much of the resu
| OF our victory is due the HoWitZeTs.
e Late IN the evening the encampment wa
| broken up aud we returned TO Yorktown.
h Long live Magruder, Hill, Stewart an
| Allan ilIustrlous leaders in this, our fir:
| great battle and glorious victory while
Goa thanks be given for His rroviden tial cal
ana support. O. Z. r., LIFE GUARD.
Y From Another Correspondent.