Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-06-26
Tho Affair at VienDn ne Related by q
Soldier.

FRIDAY MoRNING, juno 2l, is6l.
To he Editors Of The Daily Press:
One week ago to night we broke up our
camp on the other side of the river, and
were marched over Long Bridge, into Vir-
ginia. 1t was about eleven o'clock when we
marched into large open field, short dis
tance from Long Bridge. Here we spread
our blankets on the ground, and slept until
about four o'clock in the morning, when we
continued our march to our new camp,
which was about four miles from Long
Bridge, and situated on the Alexandria, Lou
don and Hampshire Railroad. Both Ohio
regiments were marched over together, and
camped close to each other. On Monday
morning the First Regiment went off on O
train to guard the road. Seven companies
had been dropped off along the road, and the
train was proceeding toward Vienna, when,
in going around a curve, they were fired
into by a battery. The rebels consisted
mostly of South Carolinians. There are
various reports in regard to their number;
some say there were from twelve to fifteen
hundred and others, from two thousand to
! two thousand five hundred. There is no
doubt, however, that there was q large
enough force TO have whipped our boys if
they had been sharp. The rebels had quite
large number of cavalry, besides their
infantry and three batteries. Only one of
the batteries was opened on the boys; this
was composed of elk Founders. They fred
six pound balls, round.shot and canister,
also, a few shells. The three companies that
were in the fight were Company G., from
Portsmouth, Company II, from GAINESVILLE,
and the Cleveland Grays (the crack company
Of the First Regiment) this made a total of
about two hundred and fifty men. AS soon
as the train was fired into, the boys got out,
and were ordered by Colonel McCook to
form on the left of the road, and as soon as
they were formed the Colonel gave the order
10 "Rally on the reserve;" this gave the
rebels the idea that there was large force
at our back, and they retreated with their
battery at the same time that our boys re-
tieated on their bogus reserve, which was
AL in your eye" Colonel McCook is a
| brave man, and his presence of mind saved
| the hOys from being cut to pieces. This
oider TO "Rally on the reserve" saved them,
| for if the rebels had sent their infantry and
cavalry down on them they would have been
| cut all to pieces. The lst Regiment suffered a
loss of nine men, including those who were
killed instantly and those who have died
since. Six of these were from the Ports
mouth Company and three from the Zanes-
vile. One of the Portsmouth boys had his
shoulder shot of, and fell into the hands of
the rebels, who dressed his wounds and took
good care of him. They sent him into our
camp the next day in charge of Union men,
and also sent message that "They could not
kill us, bury us and take care of our wound
ed" The man is lying here now, and can
not live many hours. The cap of his
shoulder is shot off, and he is beginning to
I mortify. He is German.
This slaughter, / think, was the fault Of
Brigadier- General Schenck, who was warned
by farmer that there was battery ahead;
the man hailed the train and told them.
Lieutenant Hanson, of the Cleveland Grays,
who displayed great courage during the
action, and had a portion of his sword-blade
shot off by a cannon ball while he was hold
ing il above his head, wanted TO take por-
tion of his men and go ahead of the train as
skirmishers, so as to find out the position o.
the battery and rebel forces. He was moi
allowed to go, and Schenck, like damned
fool, ordered the train to go ahead, and run
il right around the curve and right into the
fire of the rebels battery. Not satisfied with
this great blunder, he was going to charge
on the battery with his little force of tive
hundred and fifty men. He got in front o
the men, and commenced to make speech
as follows; "Men of Ohio Sons Of my IA