Evening star., 1862-08-28
THE WAR In VIRGINIA.
CONTEST ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK

THE WAR In VIRGINIA.
CONTEST ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK.
FIRST DAYS skIRMIsH, WEDNESDAY.
On Wednesday, the 20;h inst, about IL O'Clock,
river tss sf
tween Culpepcr and the Rappahannock The
cavalry Of the 1st Pennsvlvania charged upon
the enemy, killing seven or eight, and dove
them back Into the woods. A bris ade Of infantry
remained on the opposite side Of the river, and
the remainder Of the day our forces were dawn
up In line Of battle, but no further engagement
took place.
On Thursday morning ave regiments Of the
enemy, cavalry and Infantry, crossed the river on
Pontoon bridge, which they had built during the
previous night, between the Rappahannock aud
Waterloo stations, almost walking into the
masked batteries OF Gen. Sigel, which opened
upon them with canister and grape, moving
them down by scores. II 10 reported that no Is 50
than 200 Of the enemy were killed and wounded,
and 900 captured. The remainder retreated In
great confusion across the river. We had some
Killed and wounded, but our loss was very
sught.
THIRD DAY.
On Friday, about O'Clock In the morning,
severnl Of our batteries opened upon the enemy
from this side Of the river, In the reighborhood
Of III. Rappahannock railrosd bridge The
rebels fed In CONSERVATION to the WOO the second
shell bursting on one Of their batteries, killing
and wounding large number. Several compa-
niles from various regiments, under command of
Lieut.. Conway, Of the 105,h New York, were at
work building forts on the other s'de Of the Rap
pahannock when the enemy opened FIRE upon
them, compelling them to retreat across the
river, but with no loss. The rebels shelled our
camp nearly all day. About 3o'clock In the after
noon Gen. Sigel ordered Col Krzyzanowski (act-
Ing Brigadier) to cross the river. He did 20, and
drove the enemy's pickets in. About this time
Generals Sigel, Schurz, and Bohlen crossed over
In person. 1t was the 7ith PENNSYLVANIA which
drove their pickets The latter were reinf 1rced
and with overwhelming numbers descended like
an avalanche upon the 4th, which in i,s turn
was driven back Ii II reported that the other
regiments composing the brigade were scouting
In another direction, and could not arrive in time
to support IL. This regiment was driven with
confusion to the river, where a number jumped
swimming In the water. large number of
them were al.o made prisoners.
The other regiments of the brigade fell back to
the river, which they crossed In safety Gen
Bohlen was struck in the breast by rtae bail
while encouraging the 74th In their retreat II is
said that he was at the head Of the regioent
wssrs ne fought bravely, resisting the enemy
whenever favorable opportunity occurred; tnat
he had made three charges against verwheiming
numbers, and that while In the act of ma king the
fourth, with his sword raised in the air, and ut
teriDg the words, |" Come on, boys; let's try them
once more! :" he was shot in the breast, as stated
above, and instantly expired. Another ave na
also received his death-wound. WhN Captain
Buell., OF the lst artillery reserve was sheIiing
the reosls from his battery, shell from the en-,
emy burst directly under his horse. Capt Buell. s
leg was broken In two places by 1t; but from the
recovered Il
horse had not been instantly killed, which, fall
ing upon him, inflicted internal lriss SO severe
that be expired ten hours afterwards. His body
YVES Inferred on Saturday las, with military hon
ors. Capt. Buell. was very promising Young
officer. He was to have been promoted te COT
onelcy Of artillery, and was well ftted for tina.
Promotiop, having fully deserved that rank 4 ON
his acknowledged bravery, prudence and Other
military qualifications. He was young man
about tnlry years Of age, and was almost idolized
by his command w ben suffering in the agony
nHd daAt h0 yo A.4A
him, and told The men Of his battery 20 20 forth
TO meet the enemy, and added, "Act and do as
bravely as IL was with you" l believe that
Capt Buell. was nephew to Gen Buell.
Ii Is said that our loss in killed and wounded
alone In the seventy-fourth PennsYlvania was
over 1l0.
YouArH DAY.
As early as O'Clock a. m. our artillery all
along the whole line, opened upon the enemy
from this side Of the RappahannOck. Flrin. htst
commenced near Bloaton Station, and soon ex.
tended along the whole line Of the left wing
The enemy promptly replied. For several hours
this terrific fring continued on both sides, and
was probably tbs heaviest artillery duel ever
fought on this cont,nsnt. Bys O'Clock a m the
firing somewhat abated on both sides, until IL
finally stopped a Ii by mutual agreement. Shell
was dred almost altogether from both sides,
though now and then solid shot, and rumor
adds, pieces Of railroad irooand large nails were
insermingled among the shells Of the Rebels
The RapPahanncck Bridge on the Orange aud
AleIandIia Railroad was blown up and de.
n.
7 Tasy Were on the other side, supporting Captain
Matthew'S First Pennsvlvania Battery, when the
whole was recalled and the bridge destroyed.
The reason Of this was that the late heavy rains
had caused a freshet, and that the bridge moved
slightly during the night. About 4 O'Clock In
the afternoon firing again commenced, and lasted
until dark, with what result to either party Is
unknown.
ANOTHER AND LATER ACCOUNT.
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday last the Cd
hay ot r a
A. V Post commanding, were advanced to the
bank Of the Rappahanhock. During the whole
OF the shelling the Sharpshooters supported our
batteiies, and did terrible execution among the
enemy On Friday afternoon a company Of Rebel
cavalry crossed the river near the center, TO the
right OF the Rappahanncck Station, the Sharp
shooters dismounting all but four Of the whole
company. Lieut.. Sweetser, of company E, OF
this reg ment, captured a Rebel Captain, one Of
the party: Companies E and d Of this regiment
were acting a. al skirmishen, when Lieut.
Sweetser saw a dead suddenly apear and disap-
pear among some rushes on the ri yht and riding
In that direction, discovered one worthy Rebel
water, where be had attempted to hide from our ur
administers He came out when commanded;
but when ordered 10 give up his revolver and
side arms, ne declared he knew nothing about
them, or in fact anything since his horne as shot
under him IL Is supposed he threw them into
the ditch rather than surrender them.
Inc IAN Brooklyn or the same brigade
(Hatch's) were also acting as Administers dufi ny
the tnree days. Their loss was more severe
having eight or nine killed, and from fifteen to
twenty wounded. The Rebels shot from their
guns pieces of rod and railroad iron, broken into
small particles, q number OF which were picked
up of the field The I'd United States Sharp
shooters have now been In the service con-
siderable time, never having had much oppor-
tunity to stinguished themselves until duriae
the past week. The regiment received the
praises Of Gems King and Hatch. Col Post has
won the esteem OF bis whole command by his
brave and gallant conduct -.
On Friday afternoon Chaplain Barber OF this
regiment was surrounded by nve Of the Rebels
and bravsly fought his way through them
During the engagement he Is reported TO have
shot four or fve Of the Rebels. This In not the
first time that be has shown s'pluck," as he has
for some time been called "The Fig htng Chap
lain"
MORE BRILLIANT CAVALRY cHAlsYs AND FIGHT
About ten O'Clock On Wednesday morning Last
the l,t New Jersey Cavalry, Harris Cavalry and
Lot Rhode Island Cavalry engaged the famous
stusrt's Cavalry, near Brandy Station, on the