New-York daily tribune., 1861-11-07
INCIDENTS OF TIE BATTLE AT BALLS
BLUFF.
A oorresnondent of the California Regiment wh


| A voun0 man. named GreeDhall, of the Calf Jrnia,
uiesing Secreted himself, with three comrades, in
some nnderbrush. Greenhall was an excellent marks
man. and picked QG seren Of tae eaeny who had got
between him and the river One OF them, he thinks,
wss an officer The rest then briefly vacated the
snot and with bis comrades, Greenhall managed to
ma ke his way back1o our lines
The number of those killed while recrossing in
the boats must have been quite large. In one of the
boats a Philidelphian, name unknown, and two men
of the Tammany Regiment, were putting az tne % oars
Ibey were compelled TO stand upright, and their
shoulders were used rests by their comrades, who
kent no a continuous fire. Singular TO say, the boat
he'd reached the middle Of the stream before one OF
the oarsmen was struck. They finally fell stimuli
taneously. Their places were instantly supplied; /;
the boat however, turning with the current, dried,
as they thought, out of danger. In less than fifteen
minutes however terrific fire wac poured into It,
from the skuIding enemy, and, filling slowly, 1t
began TO sink The ecens then presented was fear
full beyond conception. shrek OF horror went up
from the crew. Men cluched each other In despair,
and ve,t down together. Voices that strove to
shont for help were drowned in the rushing waters
snd died away In gurgles.
Among the Rebels " - one prominent INDIVIDUAL,
who wore a red handkerchief tied around his head,
but was utterly hatess cOaess, and reckless, stand
inc ont in advance OF his line. He loaded and de-
beratelv fred at our men for nearly an hour before
he Was struck down. He was shot by member OF
the Tammany regiment, who, almost NJ the same
moment. was pierced BY Rebel musket-bail.
Another Rebel was observed 20 be ensconced on
the top Of tree, and as he seldom hred wlthout IN
aietine death-wouud, Capt kefer, OF Company y,
direct "a one of bis men to shoot him. An instant
after the Rebel fell from bis perch, and went crSi
ing like log through branch and ioiage. several
Other adjacent were observed to be vacated DE-
fore much time had elapsed.
After the battle ore Of our men was found stark
and dead in the hollow OF log The manner oil bis
death il supposed to have been as follows; Az the
cotnmencement of the battle, while general con-
fnsiou prevailed, he probably crcpt into the log
(Which ay near the river bank, for the purpose OF
d pickiug off, the enemy. This shelter was very
mech decayed aud worm-eaten, and was sPeedliy
perced by q rfe. ball. When dragged out, his mus
ket was found 10 have been recently discharged;
The rifIe.bsu had entered lis breast, and passed
through the left lung.
In Tue pani. that ensued upon the discovery that
the rebels lad been reinforced and could not De
have seemed ludicrous in any other juncure occur
red uron the hillslde. IL wa. not uncommon ior
frantic men 10 leap the whole distance Of the biu
aud pllnt their feet on their comrades Dacks'
lIsty loyalis who had pounced upon prisoner, shP
red at the top of the bluff, bnt still keeping aes
pefate hola upon bis prey, the TWO foneu W n' wv
tom in firm embrace
Tbere was in the California regiment grsy.haired
rivste from this city, He had fought hard all day,
ind had Teen twice wounded, the last shot carrying
away lis trigger-ilBger. lie stood upon ,he banks
of lie ,trean, diyesting himself OF his surplus cloth
ING. when bury fellow, belonging TO New fork
reinent, leaped upon him, knocking the preasn ou,
of the old man body In the hurry and exeitetnei
consequent upon the fight, Unionists ana reoes !ie
auentis fell Into each Others Ines ana Oesan nlo
ii their own columns. In tnls way se'e'"i vi Jul
soldiers were captured.
man named Stokes, who was among the ilst OF
prisoners seeing no chance OF eseape, lay Gown IN
an oIen field among numter Of the dead, rs though
IL l.. l - laV II "a rahG
Fbarphooter stumbling upon bis body selected !, as
an excellent for toot-rest. Poor stokes was IN
tribaaiioD but held his peace. Al length the rebel
having made q very successful shot, sprang up and
danced around for Joy, well-ngh kneading his foot
stool into Jelly Stop for God sake |" shouted
stokes. Tie sharp-shooter drew back, perfectly
tbnnderstrucs then diyiniDg tie true state OF az
fnirs he shouted out, " You sneaking Yankee cuss,
git up here % The ejaculation brought score OF
rebels to the spot aud Stokes, when lest seen, was
going Oh under guard, with very erest-fsllen
iace.
Ths most deadly contest Of the day occurred be-
tween a member Of the Massachusetts Fifteenth ana
Eighth Virginia regiments. The latter, as Is Wen
Known Were at one tine TetIeatpg, with the IL
teen,h hotly rursuing. The Rebel rear was brought
up by most determined fellow who turned repeat
edly and discharged hs IDusket IN our ranks. AMI
10. ed By tie saune personal DARING, Union soldier
rushed beyOnd Tie bead OF his column, hring COZ
tinually. After the punuii had continued for some
distance ii being feared that our men wers TO DO
avn into trap, they were ordered TO retire. The
order was obeyed by all the volunteer who had
led the advance, and before many minutes, he wss
seen struggling with the lsggard Nirgirian, whose
own column bad gone ahead. Three barrels OF
revolver were discharged nc the Rebel without SEEM
ing effect and the Nrgnan, rushing upon his assail
ant with huge knife, was about 10 stab him. HIS
kuee was on the Others bresst and the loyelis had
shut his eyes. The knife, however, fell from the
other grasp, and he reeled over lfeess. All tbreo
of tie pistol shots had actually taken effect upon
him. yeI huch Was his overnasttring brute ferocity.
that for some ibstans bis wounds were without ef-
feet.
1t is related Of Sewsll Randall OF Company ID,
California Regiment, that the night before the gu
gageIn.n. he had singular dream. NeAt morning,
SO vivid the Impression left his memory that
he related IL 60 companion, and added belief that
il was an tIDfsv0rable omen. Neither ridicuie nor
reason could move him from this strange conviction,
and when the advance had been made, hs went into
action as though he had just received his death-war-
rant. He had crossed the river, but had barely
reached the top OF the opposite bluff when he fell,
shot through the side. lie fingered for some time
in great agony, but before death his pain WAS come
what abated. lie was acquainted in this city, and
in the vicinity Of Frankford.
Our informant adds that reckless courage,
upon both sides was remarked. All conscious
ness of organization was Tor time abandoned, and
men, fighting upon their own responsibility, pre-.
sumed even in the face Of DEATH to SET examples of
bravery. number fell dead in the oct of cour,Ing
its coming, and some openly declared they would
never leave the feld alive.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE |
BLOCKADE.