The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-09-02

lana voiunteors, which was IN advaros. vas
placed on the bank Of tbs stream. under some
cover, 70 the immediate right and left OF the
ford. relieving Dors.s Regiment i7th v,rEinia
IRE Of muskstry. with promising stesdtness.
The 7th Virginia, under 1t. Col williams,
was then for med 70 the right, Also under heavy
nre, ard pushed forward 70 the atrsam, r"-
At the same time two rifle guns, brought mp
with Early's brigade, were mo we'd do wn In the
hsid TO the right Of the road, so a. 10 be con-
Of aom py the sh
and there opened IRE, directed only by the
sound OF the enemy's musketry. Unable to
enset passege, the enemy kept mp scatter
had pushed across the stream, ard several
small par ties Of Corss's Regiment, under com
mand Of Captain Marye, met and drove
me enemy with the bayonet, but as
narrow for accmbined movement In force.
ten. Lopgstreet RECALLED them to the south
bank Meanwhile the remainder Of Early's
infantry and artillery had been called mp; that
Is, six companies Of the Gath Regiment 'vir-
GINA Voiun .eers, under Lieut.. Dol. Hairston,
md five pieces Of ar tillery one rifle gun, and
four 6-pouuder brass guns, including two
s-pounoer guns under Lieut.: darnett, which
had been previously sent to the rear by Gan.
Longstreet. This infantry was at once placed
In position to the left Of the ford, In a space
unoccupied by Hays, ard the artillery was
uLilUlD6Itu Ill DttteIy 10 Inc AlkUt Oh the TCAO,
in line with the two guns already in action.
4 scattering fire Of muskstry whs stu kept
up by tae enemy for a short time, but that
was soon sileLced.
1t was at this stage Of the affair that re.
markable artillery duel was commenced and
main aimed on cur side with Ions. trained
profes sional opponent-suparior in the char
actsr IA well as in the lumber of his weapons,
provided with improved munitions and every
artillery appliance, and at the same time &C.
cupylng the commanding position. The re-
quits We're marvellous, and fitting precursors
70 the artillery achievements Of the 21st July.
IL the outset our fire WAS directed against
the enemy's infantry, whose bayonsts
cleaning aaovs the tree tops alone
Indtcateu their presence and force. -
This drew tho at.en lion of a battery placed
on high commanding ridge, and the duel be-
gan IN earnest. For time the aim Of the ad-
versary was inaccurate, but this was quickly
corrected, and shot fell and shells burst thick
and fast in the very midst OF our battery,
wounding in the course OF the ccmba. Captain
Escheiman, five privates, and the horse Of
Lieutenant richardson. From the position Of
tnr pieces, aud the nature OF the ground, their
aim could only oe directed at the smoke of the
enemy's artillery. HOW skillful Y and with
what execution this was done, can only be real
.ZSd by an ye-witness. For few mofnan Is
their guns were silence bat were soon re-
opened. By direction OF Gea. Longstreet, his
battery was then advanced b. hand out OF the
ranReA now ascertai0ed by he enemy,
and shower OF spherical ass, shell and round
one OF our pieces had become ho.s du combat
from all enlarged vent. From Lhe new rosi-
tiCn our guns frsd, us before. with ne other
aim than the smoke and fl lsh OF their acver-
saries pteceS-renewed ana urged the con iiGt
with such signal vigor and effect that gradu-
ally tae fire of the enemy s.acksled, The in.
tarvals between their discharges grew longer,
finally to cease, and we fired q k-s gun 1T a
d filed nfing toe, whose heavy masses in the
distance were plainly seen to break and scat
Ter il wild confusion and utter rout, suew-
ing the ground with Cast AWAY guns, hats,
blankets, and knapsacks, as our parting she'll
was thrown amongst them. La their retreat
one or their pieces was abandoned, but from
me nature OF The ground it YVES not sent for
mat night, ana under cover OF darkness the
enemy recovered it.
The guns engaged in this singular conflict,
on orr SIDE, were three FOUNDER lie pieces
and four ordinary 6-pouuders, all OF Walton's
battery, the Washington Artillery, of New
Orleans. Tie officers immediately attached
wsre Capt. Escheiman. Lieutenants q. W.
Saaires, Richardson. Garrett, and Whiting
ten At the same time our infantry held the
oank OF the stream in advance of our guns,
aud the missiles OF The ombatants flew to and
fro above them rs, cool and ysteraE-iike, for
more than an hour they steadily awaited the
moment and signal for the advance.
While the conflict was at its height bsfore
Backburn's ford, about o'cicck P. NJ the
enemy asaia displayed himself IA force before
honham's position. At this Col. Kershaw,
with four companies OF his +, z nent, Second
oOusH SdiOtlpeL, GHu one plo|S h0mperE
Artillery, We're thrown acr-ss Mitchails ford
to The ridge which Kemper had occupied that
morning. Two solid shot and 1hree spherical
case. thrown among them W; h precision in.
a0Gurated by that artiiierist at Vienna eff
Zee ed their discontinue and disappearance
aud our troops III that quarter were again
withdraTn within our lines, having dig
charged the duty assigned.
AT the close OF the gagement before Black
burn's ford, i directed Ger Lonysvreet 10
Withdraw the LIST and 18th regiments, which
BAD borne the brnnt Of the action, 10 6 posi-
ton in reserve, leaving Col Elrly to occupy
the field with his brigade and Harland's reat-
raent.
As part of the history of this engagement
1 desire 10 place On record that on the 18th of
Jusy'not one yard OF entertainments nor one
rifle pit sheltered the men at BlackbcrL's
ford, VINO, officers and men, With rare excep-
tons, were On that day for the Iirst time IN
der fire, and who, taxing ard maia taining
every position ordered cannot b8 too muCh
commended Tor their soldierly behavior
Our artillery was manned and Offered BIZ
those who but yesterday were called from the
civil ayocations CT busy city. They were
matched with the picked light ar .iliery of the
Federal regular army, con- pany "E," Sd ar
tillery, under Capt Ayres, with aa aIna.
nent, as their own chief OF artillery admi IT,
Of two ten FOUNDER Parrot rife guns, two
twelve FOUNDER hOwitzer and two six pound
er pieces, sided by two twenty FOUNDER Par.
rott rifle guns of company 40, "a 5th ar tillery,
under Lieut.. Benjamin. Thus matched, they
NtONS lHcn tSt0IdA au V6IShFlSS sEGLG rE g 0ald.
giving confidence in, and premise OF, the com.
ing efficiency OF that bri h.ns arm OF our
service.
Having thus related the main or general
results and events Of the acton of Bull Run,
ia conclusion 1t is proper to signalizs some OF
those who contributed most to the satisfac.
tory results of that day.
THANKS are due to Brig Generals Bonham
and E.eu aud to Col. Cooke, and the officers
under them, for the ability shown in con.
Quoting and executing the retrograde move.
ments on Bull Run, direc .ed in my orders Of
me eth improvements on which hung the
fortuEes OF this army.
Brig. Gen. LoIgstrset, who commanded i'm.
mediateiy tia troops engaged at Blackburn's
ford, on thu 18Th, equalled my con fdsnt ex-
pecta'ions, and may fiiiy say that, by his
presence at the right place at the right mo-
Inent among his men, By the exhibition of
characteristic GOODNESS, ana by his WORDS of
encouragement to the men of his command he
inspired confidence and spirit that contribu-
tec largely 10 the success OF Cur arms on that
day.
Dol. Early brought his brigade int position,
ard subse uently int action, with judgment
and at the proper moment. He displayed ca
pacity for command and personal galtantry.
Ooi. Moore, commanding the First Virginia
volunteers. was severely wounded at the
head at his regiment, the command of which
subseq nentiy devolvsd upon Mi Skinner. Ii.
Dol. Fry having bsen obliged to leave the
Held IL CONSCIENCE af u sun stroke.
An accomplished, promising officer, Major
Carter II. Harrison, Eleventh regiment Virxi-
MIA volunteers, was lost TO the service. While
leading two companies of his regiment against
the enemy, he fell, twice shot, MORALLY
wounded.
Brigadier General Longstreet, while finding
On all sides alacrity, ard " and intelligence,
mentions his special obligations to OoIonels
Moore. Garland and Corse, commanding sevs.
rally regiments of his brigade, aud to their
field officsrs. Lieut.. Coils Fry, Fcnsten and
Munford, ana Mejors Brent ana skinner, of
whom he says: " fhey displayed more cool
ne ~nd energy than is usual among veterans
mentions the conduct OF Capt Marye, Of the
1Ish Virginia YOlunteers, as Especially raj.