The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-07-31

them suddenly, and formed his line Of battle in
al open field, at the right OF the road. The ell.
envy drew up to oppose him, but he speedily
drove them to retreat and folio owed them up with
the greatest yigor and rapidly. Meantime. for
some three hours previous, We had seen long
lines OF dense dust rising from the roads leading
from Manassas, and, with the glass, could
very clearly perceive that they were raised b,
the constant aud steady stream Of renforcement-.
which continued 10 pour in nearly the whole
day. The Sixty Ninth, Seventy Ninth, Second
and Eighth, New York The First, Second and
| Third Connecticut, and the Second Wisconsin,
we're brought forward In advance of the wood
and marched across the field TO the right, to 20
TO Col. hunters support. They crossed the
| intervening stream and drew up IN small open
field, separated from Col Hunters column by a
| dense wood which was filed with batteries and
infantry. Our guns continued to play upon the
woods which thus concealed the enemy, and
aided materially in clearing them TOR the advance.
| Going down TO the extreme front of the column
| could watch the progress of Col Hunter
marked by the constant roar OF artillery and the
roll of musketry, as he pushed the rebels back
from point to point.
| At one o'clock he had driven them out of the
woods and across the road, which was the pro-
longation OF that on which We stood Here, by
| the side of their batteries, the rebels male a
stand They planted their flag directly in the
| road, aud twice charged across 1t upon our men,
but without moving hem an inch. They were
met by 4 destructive hre, ami were compelled 10
| fall still further back. Gradually the point of
| fire passed further away, until the dense clouds
OF smoke which marked the progress of the cora-
bat were at least half mile TO the left OF what
lad been the central position of the rebels.
! decided TO drive back TO the toA n, for the
purpose of sending you my dispatch. As |
passed up the road the balls and she'll from the
enemy began to fall with more than usual rapid
| jty. did not the point from which they
came but, meeting Capt. Ayres, he said he was
about 10 bring up his battery, supported by the
Ohio Brigade, under Gen. Schenck, to repel a
rumoted attempt of cavalry to Outfank this col
umn As went forward he passed down.
Gen Scheuck's Brigade was at once drawn up
across the road. and Capt. Ayres' guns were
| planted on a knoll at the left, when powerful
body OF rebels, with a heavy battery, came down
from the direction of Bull Run, ard engaged this
force with tremendous effect. i went tn Cen
trevilIe, sent of my dispatch, and started with
all speed 20 urn,-intending 10 60 with our
troops upon what had been the hotly contested
field, never doubling for a moment that it would
remain in their hands. i had gone but a quar-.
ter of a mile, when | met great number OF fu
gitives aud our carriage soon became ent,ngled
in "a mass Of Heterogeneous, the officer in charge
OF which told me- it was useless to 90 in that d.
rec;ion, as our troops were retiring.
| hear nothing, on every side, but the warm
est and hearliest commentator OF our troops
They fought Ike veterans. The rebels did not
in single instance, stand before them in q
charge, and were shaken by every volley Of mus
. I Il tn at he
expense OF another. The Sixty-nnth fought
with splendid and tenacious courage. The.
charged batteries two or three times, and would
have taken ard held them but for the reinforce
ments which were constantly and steadily poured
in. Indeed Il ras to this fact alone that the
comparative success of the rebels is due. W.
had not over $4,000 men in action, the rest be
ing as reserves at Centreville; while the enem.
must have numbered at least $1,000.