Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-03-13

! pose, thought suihc.en. to hold them.
II intention was to hold with Brig Gen. Buckners
command, the Wynns Fer roai aud thus to prevent
the enemy during The night from occupying the posi-
ton on our left, which be occupied in the morning.
gave him orders upoi the 4 I'D TO tia. 6:ct leaving
aim in petition, started for the right OF our command
10 see that all there, my intention being, if
things could be held in the coalition they then were TO
move the whole army, If possible 10 the open otuluy
| lying southwsrd beyond the Randolph ForgCs Daring
nv abss snce 6nl from some msapprehension, presuma
Of tie previous order gwen, Big Gen. Pillow order
al Brgadier-G neral Blckner to leave his position
on the Wyan's Ferry road, aud his place in
lis trenches the right This movement was neal
executed before aware Of IT, As the enemy was
pressing upon the trenches deemed that tho execution
of this last order all TIA. left to be done. The
enemy, in fact succeeded in occupying angle OF the
trench on the extreme right Of BrlgldierGeneral
Blckners command and as the fresh forces of the
my had begun already to move towards cur left to
occupy the position they held in the morning. and
had force adequate TO oppose their progress had
TO submit to the modification Of seeing the ground which
we had won by such severe coth ct in the morning
re-occuped by the enemy before midnight. The enemy
bad been landing reiniorcements throughout the day.
His numbers had been augmented TO eighty-.hree reg
menis.
Our troops we're completely exhausted By four days
aud nights Of continued couact To renew it with any
hope OF successful result obviously vain and such
unde:stoo1 10 b. the unanimous opinion Of oil the oil
present at the council called 70 consider what
best TO be done. thought, and so announced, that
srerate ouset upon TIC rgh. Of the enemys forces on
the ground where had at acked them in the morning.
might result in the eIrcation of considerable propo
ton of the command from the position in, aud
this opinion understood 10 be coDcurred in by all WHO
prrs,IL Eatit Was likewise agreed with the
qlanimy, that il would result in the Slaughter of nearly
all who did not succeed 10 ef cling their escape Tee
question then arose. whether in point of humanity and
sound military policy should be adopted from
which the probabilities were that the larger portion of
the command would be Gu. to piec in an uCavslirg
light against overwhelming numbers. / nnd TStood
he general sentiment to be adverse the propos1n
el! that 10 this contingency, whilst it might be ques
doned whether l shoud as commander of the amy,
Lad il 10 Ger ain destruction in unaVaing fight yet
had right individually 10 determine that would net
survive surrender there. To satisfy both poposious
agreed % hand over the command to igljier. Gene-
raj Buckner through Brig or General Pillow, and TO
make effort ,or my cItion hy any aid every
means Gas. might pressnt Ii IN elves to me.
therefore directed Col Forrest, daring and deter
mined ciceT, at the head OF eff ;ient regm mt OF
cavalry 10 be present for the purpose of accompanying
me ia what supposed to be effort to pass through
the enemyG lines. announced the iaot upon turning
the command over TO BigadisT General Buekuer that
souId bring sway EitA He. BY any means could, my
own gGdrglar Ligei', the propiisty Of which
quescsd in al hsuds. This, by various modes |
succeeded in accomplishing 70 great extent aud would
have brought Ch my whole command in one way or az
oheT if dad had the assistance of the field officers,
Who were absent from several OF the Tcgltltg The
command turned TO RfjzGd;er General Bu-k.
ner wNo st o2ee opened AeEc.IiOns with the enemy,
which .esl,eG ~ The surrCn Ter O the place. I us
ended tho colct running through four days aHd four
niSts; largo portion 0i which time il VAS main aiurd
wish the ga Acs. lTcs aud tb.intey in which We
VII io!c, not exceeding Is 900 "a large portion OF
rhom were ly trmed succeeded In resisting ond
iynS Blck with dscsmhu.e an army of more than
80 900 men. | have 10 Of accurately estima.
ing the loss of the enemy. From VIVA; | saE upon
the bitl field from what | witnessed throug
ou' the whJl5 period Of the colact, hOn
WI | vas abls 20 eara fron aourees of Information
1esmd by ME worthy Of credit, have no doubt
.hat thO suJuya lO5s In killed and wounded rescl u
number beyond (5000J fec thousand Our own les
we're extremely heavy, but for want Of e14ct
rtgrG2 / unable TO sttto precise NUMBER, IN NIX
they will not be far from 300 killed and wounded -
Nothing could exceed the Oonsss ald ermined SD ri
pt resistance which animated the men in lis lns and
feroCiOgs ooufcs; nothing could exceed the determine
courage which characterized them throughout this terri
he sruggl and uoclag cyu!d Oe more admirable iba
On soatincs which they en- tolted until nature itself
exhausted in Wha. they knew to be a desperate fl fytt
,g inst foe very mauy times thsr superior in mum.
bcrs cAnuot partcullrize in this report 10 you the
numhersas nsts Of heroic daring performed BY both
officers and men, but must content myself Tor ihe pr
sent by saying in my judgment they ali deserve well Of
the country.
Ihave tho honor 70 bO, very respectfully, your Obsti
ent sersant,
[Sgned,l JonS B. FLOYD,
Brieadier.General Commanding.
OF ,ial joins WiTHTBs, A. 4. General.
A. 4 q o. Mach 10 1862,