The New York herald., 1862-09-06

THE OPERATIONS OF KINGS DIVISION.
THE EXCITEMENT IN WASHINGTON ALLAYED-THE
MOVEMENTS OF GENERAL Rings DIVISION AFTER
THE BATTLE OF CEDAR MoUNrATN-wHEN AND
WHERE TREY WERE ATTACkED--GENERAL HATCH
IN C0AMAND-rHE MARCH TO GRovEroN-rHE BAT
TLE-A HoTLY CONTESTED FIELD-THE WOUNDED
CARED FoR--THEy MARCH TO MANAssAS--ANoTHER
FIGHT-THE FEARFUL AMBUSCADE-BRAvERY OF
THE TROOPS, ETC.
WASHINGTON. Sept. A, 1862.
Notwithstanding the stirring events OF the last two
weeks and the threatening proximity OF the enemy, the
most remarkable quiet prevails throughout the city
The excitement occasioned by the daily struggles at
Manassas TO have all passed away, and one can
hardly fail OF experiencing great surprise at the
pecied hull which has settled down upon all circles. The
straggers rapidly joining their respective commands,
and order is once more being brought out Of the com
paratye chaos incident to every rerogade movement OF
an army. Everything is unaccountably quiet along the
outposis and nothing Of the enemy in 'front.'
when scouting party down in tho vicinity
f pcKets Recruits coming on in great numbers
adding nc, little TO ho efficiency OF the old regiments,
many Of which have OF late been sadly deci-
mated, particularly In tho division Of General
King Notwithstanding the successive engagements
In which General Kings command has participated,
The public entirely ignorant Of its latter bitter
experience, and would probably have lost sight entirely
OF the division were IL not for the long list Of its officers
and killed and wounded. General King left Cedar
Mountain, it viii be remembered, the 10th OF August
and arrived at Rappahannock Station the next day, Wed
nesday Thursday morning the enemy opened their bat
teries upon the division and fierce FIRE Of artillery
kept up until Friday night During this engagement
lost number Of men and . few officers, among
whom was Lieut.. Jorasp, Acting AiddeC Camp to Cen.
Hatch. Here Gen. King was suddenly prostrated by
dangerous Illness leaving the division under Brigaior
tch the aj NOD IN Wayr
con preceded by Bufords cavalry, which drove
siderable force Of the enemy. Tuesday morning the
marched to Sulphur Springs where they again
sheled by the rebels from the south bank Of the Kappa
hammock The enemy also sent down body Of infantry
which, posted in the bushes, attempted TO pick or
men. detachment OF the Second Derdan Sharpsho0ters
were Immediately down to the river and stationed
behSd tho trees from which positions they checked
The enemy Ore ana held the rebels in their own ambush
unti after dark, when GAG Of truce sent doHn for
the alleged purpose Of delivering up found in
mans clothing oat really afford the rebels an opporu
nifty withdraw their On Wednesday the division
was ordered 10 tall back 10 Centrevie, and reached
Croyeon tina. night, where il found General Reynolds
with division Of Pennsylvania troops. Early Thurs
day signs Of the enemy discovsred and the brigade
or General Hatch was sent forward to rcconnoe but
finding nothing indications Of small cavalry force
the command moved Hardly mile had been made
before heavy fire Of artillery was opened upon General
batch brigade from the left. Campbclls splendid bat
terry, Fourth artillery immediately galloped up tn
front, got into position upon ridge, and opened
upon the enemy, posted just across q valley upon
the east OF another hill but a short distanc
of Gibbons brigade was then ordered up, the
Second Wisconsin taking the left of the line
then the Sixth Wisconsin, next the Nineteenth indiana
and lastly the Seventh Wisconsin Scarcely had our lines
been formed before the rebel infantry began to advance
pouring terrible FIRE oG musactry into ranks re-
peatcdly attempting to charge the battery Never
field hotly contested For hour and half those
four regiments stood In storm of ball and buckshot
an entire division Of the enemy, never for moment
moving or yielding inch. Colonel OConnor fell
moriay wounded; other officers dropped as ono after
another, while the ranks melted away like reeds In
tempest Again aud again the rebels advanced in
whelmng numbers only to be driven back by the steady
fire Of the gallant Western men, until night closed the
scene and both parties retired from the neid lust pre-
vous the close Of the engagement however, Double
days brigade up 10 the support Of Gibbons but the
Hgb then ceasing aud their loss proved very slight
All night surgeons worked steadily attending to the
wounded while the scores Of dead we're being laid In
their resting places; and Friday morning, weary
but not disheartened, the division started for
Manassas. Rebel prisoners had told our officers
hand that we had fought entire division under Ewe
who wounded 10 the leg and that the battle would
be renewed the next day. On Friday afternoon tho di
vision marched back 10 the sceuc OF the previous days
9sht whore sigel and Reynolds had been shelng the
ercmy for several hours. The brigadcs Of Generals
Hatch Doubleday and Patrick moved OF to tho lea
the assistance of sgci and Reynolds leaving Gibbons In
reserve, when order from General Mcdowell for
the division to proceed 10 tho right and pursue tho
my, reported to be rapidly retreatng Although conf
dent that error had been committed, General Hatch
promptly obeyed, and with all possible despatch basteu
ed up the read until be approached ridge, whore he
dcployed his regiments and in line Of battle moved rapid
IN The slope the left, when suddsny sheet Of Gre
burst upon them from the 'front.' right and LETT nj close
range, checking the advance. and for o moment
threatening a panic. Taken entirely by surprise
the regiments for a moment waverod; but Gene
raj uatch perfccty cool and collected riding along
the front through perfect tempest Of lead steadcd
he troops and avcrted the expected DISASTER while the
remainder the division buried uto line and prepared
engage the enemy. IL then getting dark, and the
Acid presented of uncqualed grandeur. The nre
Of the enemy beng kept up necessarily steady sheet
OF fame hlazed along tho ridge, advancing for mo-
neut and tbcn reccdus, enveoppg troops cofo.
pietely and rsowrg down tbe IN General
Hatch horse shot from undcr him hs Assistant
Adju,ant General, Captain Judscs, captured; his aid,
Lieutenant Lyon dismouped, with horse percel by
three bullets, aud his commissary, Captain Crawford.
placed 1ors dc comtdt by unnanagcable horse IL
being found impossible to carry the cncmy's position and
tine regiments having been terribly hnned an order was
given retire. and the division gradually fell back FOR
the night leaving many u the Killed and wcdadcd upon
the field Saturday morning thc enemy had disappeared
Everything perfectly quet and not the least ipdca.
ions Of another engagement we're to be seen.
Suddenly the rebels we're discovered upon right,
and in few moments found that they bad moved
around to position at right angles With that held by
them on Friday. Our left Immediately swung round.
aud tho engagement commenced. O thai tattlc much
has been written though of tic p,icns have