Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-07-09

fn's brigade met an overwhelming force of th
enemy, who took them on the flank, and, after
desperate resistance, they succeeded in repulsinl
the regiment, killing the colonel, Samuel W
Black, and wounding Lieut.-Col. Sweiizer Th
regiment broke and retreated, and was the frs
to come eff the field in disorder, the men fright
ened aud panic-stricken at the death Of their be
loved colonel. The regiment was not reformed
MOVING ON THE LEFT.
Finding he could not force our center, the en-
emy gradually threw his columns against on
lett, pressing Martindale's right wing very hard
where he met gallant resistance from the %
Massachusetts and I'd Maine regiments, as BRAY
veterans as ever sLouldered musket.
/ FIERCE ATTACK.
Suddenly the everlasting roar of musketry in
creased in volume toward the extreme left, anC
the conflict seemed to grow fercer than at any
| previous time. This was about six o'clock, and
as l galloped over the field, looked back anC
around upon the most sublime scene that thC
fierce grandeur and terrible reality Of war evel
! portrayed. The thousand continuous volleys o.
musketry seemed mingled into the grand roar o.
q great cataract, while the louder and deeper
/ discharges of artillery bounded forth over those
! hills and down that valley, with volume thai
| seemed to shake tie earth beneath US, The
canopy of smoke was so thick that the sun was
| =
/ dust in the rear, caused by the commotion oi
| advancing and retresting squadrons of cavalry
was sitting and binding to distressing de-
! gree. That memorable scene viii never be et-
faced from my recollection, and it seemed most
| ike battle field of any representation, either
real or upon canvas, that ever saw.
OUR LEFT LINE BROKEN.
For one hour and a half our left line withstood
this terrible shock of battle Brigade after brig
ade Of the enemy was hurled against our devoted,
daring, dying heroes ButteTtield, with hat in
hand, rallied cheered and led his men forward
again and again. Though decimated at every
discharge, losing heavily in officers, and with
an overwhelming force in front, they still con-
| tinued to fight. The gallant Col. McLane and
Major Nagle, of the SD Pennsylvania, fell
deathstricken, while line officers were stricken
down by scores, and men by the hundred But
they waYered not. Without single reinforce
ment, from first to last, this gallant brigade
fought on, cleared its front from the enemy time
after time, until suddenly they found themselves
ouifanked on the right, the enemy breaking
through Martindale's left, aud came surging
down the hill TO cut off and capture the strug-
Cling brigade. They thus saw it was in vain to
longer continue. The right was giving away
rapidly, and black crowds Of retreating men
could be seen making their way toward the
AAfCAs OifCo lliOltJ Salidllb Ai6H5 CEibu l1S
brave ButteIheld, and rallying again, the men
cut their way through the opposing host, whcr
now assailed them in front, in flank and in rear,
and fell back upon the river, crossing upon the
remains of Emerson's bridge, which had been
blown up by our forces during the fight, and
gathered together their scattered columns in the
camp of Smiths division, found that they mum
bered only fifteen hundred, with LieutCol
James G Rice, who had again signalized him
self for heroic bravery. as the senior officer in
command. A part of the brigade had been
Withdrawn by the right flank, and with them
General Butterteld, who, notwithstanding the
thousand dangers that he risked, escaped un
harmed, one bullet having passed through the
rim Of his hat, and another bent his sword
double.
TIE ENEMY CHECKED.
When the left gave way, the center, and
finally the right was also pressed back, and the
retreating columns soon became mingled into
one black mass of troops. The infantry sup
ports having fallen back, Aliens, Weeden's
Harts and Edwards batteries were left ex-
posed and al of thaRl lost part Of their ernaa-
ment Most of Martindale's brigade were raj
lied within thirty rods of the enemy, under q
heroic call from Col. Roberts, Of the % Maine,
but he was not supported, and then continued
to fall back with the troops. When the order to
fall back reached the middle hospital, one of the
three houses, about eqGi distant from each other
on the road TO WOodbury's bridge, quite a
stampede took place among the stragglers who
hsd there cOngregated, most of them being men
who had been detailed to bring in the wounded
from their regiments, and who had failed to re-
turn. They made rush for the BRIDGE fol
| lowed by some of the troops, but before they
reached the last hospital near the end of the
bridge, they were speedily and summarily
| checked. About seven o'clock Meagher's and
French's brigades crossed the bridge, and ad-
vancsd at double-qUick Gp the bill, forming in
| line of battle beyond the hospital, and sWOop-
| ing up the stragglers with round turn Grif-
| FMS and Martins batteries likewise did good
service in checking the advance of the enemy,
| pouring canister into their ranks with terrible
effect. Probably the greatest carnage of this
| bloody day was produced by the ineessant dis
charges of double-shotted canister from the
bronze Napoeons of Martins battery lie had
taken up position in the hollow between two
small hills The enemy advanced from the op-
pOsite side in solid column, on double-quick,
with arms at right shoulder shift, not being
able to see the battery until they reached the
crest of the hill, within one hundred yards of it,
when Martin opened a bitter surprise upon
| them sweeping them from the field like chaff
| before storm. Twice again they formed, and
| advanced, their officers behaving splendidly,
| but it was useless, Martins fierce leaden rain
being too terrible to withstand The advance
| of the fresh troops having checked the enemy
and night coming on, the conflict ceased, and
/ both parties quietly lay on their arms.
| NOBLE RALLY.
The brigades of Gems. French and Meagher
| did not Get into action They formed in the rear
Of our broken columns, and did excellent ser
vice in checking the fight fmany panic strick
en stragglers and demorahzed troops. The enc
my quickly perceived the arrival of those fresl
| troops, and being at the same time subject TO
calling fire of canister from Grifith's and Mar
| fms batteries, soon withdrew his lines into the
woods whence he had issued, and quiet soor
prevailed But in almost less time than it takes
| TO write it, a scene of indescribable excitement
| Of mingled confusion, and direiul disorder, haC
been obliteratedi yes, literally crushed, snC
| consparative order restored out of almost chaos
by the prompt, energetic and fearless action o
brave officers. As the rushing and retresiinf
tide began TO pour precipitstey toward th'
bridge, dozen officers IN my own sight drew
their sabers and pistols, placed themselves Il
front of the struggling crowd, and every devle'
that physical and mental nature could invent
rallied and formed column after column Of mel
+ from the broken mass that swept over the PLAIN
There are some facts which my friend did no
incorporate in his sketch But there was nj
time nor opportunity IOf ne OF otleIS W mum
history in the midst Of public distress Calami
/ ty brooded over all Few had opportunity t
, rest, not many could find wherewith 10 apPess
, hunger and mind as well as body was afflicted
Both were faded and reduced. Losses we wer
obliged to estimate Official reports, there wer
none OF material Fitz John Porter's csmman
lost twenty pieces of artillery, aud the arm'
i with accouirements, which belonged to me
who were lost OF dead, wounded and missin
there were 1000 or upwards. Col: Edmun
PendletoD, of Louisiana regiment, (Col. !
, formerly resided in Cincinnati who was cal
tured on Monday, June Both, assured me thf
e on that day the rebels captured $500 prisoner
I Our dead he estimated from examination OF Il
4 field, at 300 OF the wounded there is no a
count It is reported that the rebel loss is sti
/ more awful.
' 1t is claimed that the battle was badly mai
= ! aned This IS no tima for criticism beside