The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-06-18
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMP BARRETT near LURAy, Va
Inna 18th. 1852

Oi me 50 ana lin bIl2adeS, OF Shields diviS-
ion, still the truth must be told, and the au-
thors OF this wholesale slaughter unmasked
| would have written sooner, but We have
been kept busy in tEyiRg 10 keep oat OF the
rebels clutches.
On Saturday morning the 7th acting Brig
Gen Carroll, received orders 10 advance TO
Por Republic, distance of IL miles froEl
this place, and burn the bridge across the
river al that point, so as TO cut of Jackson's
retreat, and then Shields and Fremont were
10 advance simultaneously, and attack him
between the Two branches of The Shenan-
doah river, where his army then lay. A
forced march was made by The men, who
were already worn down by long and fatig-
uing marches, and at IL O'Clock N our ad-
vance reached the bridge, when Captain
Robinson's Isl Ohio Battery unIimbered aud
sent several shell right into the enemy's
camp. across the river The rebels were
either taken by surprise or only feigned 10
be, as up 10 this Time no stir, no excitement
was visible in his camp But when our
infantry had got within ra ge of their guns
as If by magic, no less than FL pieces of
ertiHery were thrown into position and
opened upon our exposed ranks with terri
Bile effect. / he lst Virginia Cavalry made
dash across the bridge ard succeeded in
capturing one gun and several prisoners.
among them one OF Jackson's staff They
had the bridge fred according 20 orders, but
Gen. Carroll ordered The fire exiinguished
aud 10 this order we may attribute our sub
seQuent defeat and the murder of our brave
boys. The rebels now charged with infant
~ and drove the Cavalry ont of town and
across the river, thus re-possessiug the
bridge and capturing pieces OF our aril-
ery, killing the men at the guns. They,
al fuht 10 boo ..rIo fro
with their artillery, moving down whole
ranks at single discharge The order was
given s'About, Face !" and we retired, leav-
ing our dead and many OF the wounded on
The field. We could plainly hear the shouts
and cheers OF the rebels as we retired. We
Tell back about two miles, the rebels not
following as they appeared 10 be satisfied
with driving Us back.
The Sd Brigade now C ame up with Clark 8
Battery oil Parrots, and what might have
been route was checked The men were
disposed along the road and 10 the woods,
and thus terminated our Sundays adventure
without accomplishing anything more than
that of the men losing all confidence in
Carroll
Our loss on this day am unable to ascer-
tain, but can safely say it was 60 killed and
at least 200 wounded, with the morale of
ttiC dltlIOot SOuC. thO
and almost naked soldiers sank upon the
ground completely exhausted. 1t was
pitiful sight TO see the shoeless men plod
ding their way over mountains, their steps
marked with blood from their Iascerated
feet, and living on half fare and the poorest
al that. Marching day aud night over the
worst roads ever saw, enduring all the
privations and hardshps Iha. it was posi-
ble 10 impose upon man, whose very looks
told but too plainly their enIeebled condi-
lion. ard all, all 10 CRAFTY tie Unsuitable
ambition aud secure the appointment OF a
single officer. Had it ended here, il would
not have been so bad, but the very same
thing was re-enacied again the next day /,
only on larger aud more murderous scale.
Gen. Shields fearing that Carroll might
hesitate IN regard 10 the burning of The
bridge, sent dispatch 10 him 10 'burn the
bridge at all hazards and retire at mid
night" This order came loo lae 10 execute
the first part of il, as The rebels already
held The bridge with about 10000 men aud
all his artillery. But he might have fell
back, but instead OF Ioing so, he remained
in his position all night
After Carroll had been driven back heavy
cannonading apd the rolling Of muskelry
were heard IN the rear of the rebels, and II
was found that Fremont had, after hearing
the firing on our side OF the island, and
fearing that the rebels might prove too
powerful for Us, attacked them from that
direction, and after three honr's hard fight
ing he was forced 10 fall back. This was
no doubt a great day Tor Jackson, and very
humiiialing to The Union iorces A defeat
of a part of Shields Division would have
been glory enough Tor the secesb, but when
We add 10 that FremonI's Division, we must
| come 10 the conclusion that there is some
thing wrong N attacking an enemy on the
Sabbath. Since an attack began OH that day
is a sure precursor of defeat. In proof OF
lhis, see Bulls Run, piilsburg Landing,
Winchester, aud now Port Republic. The
attacking parties in all these great battles
were defeated
Night, cold and chilly settled down upon
Us as we lay upon the cold ground with
heavy dew falling. Yet the wearied sol-
dier slept soundly, and NJ doubt had pleas
ant dreams OF home. Again the scenes OF
his happy childhood passes before him
ag ain he feels the caress OF fond mother
again he sees the lighting Of her eyes as
she gazes upon him and thinks her happi
ness will be complete when she beholds
him grown up TO manhood, moving in the
first circles OF society, loved and respected
by all his fellow men-again he joins
around the family altar and listens TO his
aged father supplicaling throne o. grace,
again he is enjoying his boyish sports with
his brothers aud sisters-again he is boy.
A change comes over the spirit OF his
dream. He now is sitting BESIDE the loved
partner OF his bosom, conVersing upon their
iuiure prospect in liie,-they are building
airy castles, while bright eyed roguish
boy Of perhaps four or five summers is
.sportivelY playing upon The hoor-dgain
his eyes brighleEs and his whole coun:e-
nance beloksns the happiness he is enjoy
ing-again he hears his country cali to her
sons to step forth to defend her flag he
feels himself in duty bound to respond 10
her call and with fearful eyes he bids adieu
10 his family and rushes TO her rescue. All
these scenes pass before his mind and he
is only aroused by the shrill revile sum-
monng him to arms. With the early dawn
of the morning of the 9Th the still weared
soldiers were reused up,and without break
last ordered to fall into line, as the rebels
had succeeded during the night in throw
ing a heavy body OF men across the river
mara advanCinu the attack Cam.