Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-02-20


by their accounts.
| Burnsides Brgade-which here, as at Fairfax c. E., /
led the advauce-at about g. As, A. NJ debouehed from
wood IN sight of Evanss position, some 500 yards distant
from Wheat's Battalion.
he immediately threw forward his skirmislers nforce
and they became engaged with Wheats command and the
| FOUNDER gun under Lieutenant Leftwitch
The Federaists at advanced as theyreport officially
the I'd Rhode Island Regiment Voatees with its Wanted
battery Of six l8pounder rife guns soan's companies
through the woods The enemy soon CALLED and staggered
by the fire. pressed by the determined vaor which
Wheat handled his battery until he desperately wounded
fastened up three other regiments of the Brigade and two
DahgreeH howizers, making in all quite $500 b8yonets
and eight pieces OF artillery opposed to less than 500 men
Despite this Odds this intrepid command Of but eleven
an hour, and until General Bee to their aid with his
command The heroic Bee with soldiers eye and recog
with odens battery having been admirably placed
between the two brgades under seer behind the undua
tons Of bill about $50 yards North of the famous
Henry House. and very where be subsequently fell
moray wounded to the great misfortune of his country
but after deeds Of deliberate and memorable courage
Meanwhile, the enemy had pushed forward battalion OF
eight companies of regular infantry and of their best
batteries of pieces rifed supported
panies OF marines increase the desperate odds against
an almost matchless tenacity.
General Bee finding Evans sorey pressed under the
crushing weight Of the of the enemy the call Of
Colonel Evans threw forward his whole force to his aid
across small btream-YoqDg Branch and ValIey-and
terry at the time playing from his well chosen position with
brilliant effect with spherical the enemy having first
opened him from rife battery, probably Grifins, with
elongated cylindrical Shells which few over
heads Of eur men ana exploded in the crest Of the hill in
medlately III
Bees advanced a severe fire. be placed the 7th
and otn Georgia Regiments under the chivalrous BatoW
at about II, A M in wood of second-grewth pines to
the right and front nearly perpendicular Evanss
line OF battle, the 4th Alabama the left them along
ezce connecting the position of the Georgia Regiments
with the rectangular copse which Sloan South Carolina
companies engaged and into which, he also threw the
End Mississippi. fierce and destructive conflict
sued-the fire whitening both sides while the enemy
swept short thin lines with their numerous artillery
which, according their official reports aths time con
bOWItZ2TS
hour did these stout hearted the blended
Bee Evans and Barlow breast underwriting battle
animated surely, by something than the ord6
airy courage of the bravest fire
have been indeed the inspiration Of the and
sciousnes of the great stake ISSUE which thus nerved
and animated and ALL to stand unawed and unshrnkng
Two Federal Brigades of Heinzlemans Division were
brought into action, led by Ricketts, superb light bat
terry of six FOUNDER rife guns which posted emf
the right of the SudIey Road openedf limbo
dens baery-abou this time increased by rife pieces
OF the Washington Artillery, under Lieut.. Richardson and
already the mark Of two batteries which divided their fire
with mboden and two guns under LeutPnants Davidson
and eWch OF @thams battery, posted as before men
: toned
4 this time, confronting the enemy, we had still but
eleven companies and two gunsBee and Barlow
tour regiments the companies llh Mississippi under
Lieut. Col Lddel and the six pieces under mboden and
Richardson The enemy had two divisions OF four strong
brgades including seventeen companies OF regular infantry
cavalry and artillery, four companies tf marines,
twenty pieces of artery* Against this Odds scarcely
credible, advance position still fora while
under scorchng men but fresh regiments
the FedeTass upon the field Shermans Keye's
numbering 5000 bayQpets which had found passage
the Run about 800 yards above the Bridge,
Heavy losses had how becn sustained on our SIDE both
IN numbers and in the personal worth of the slas the
Sth Georgia Regiment had suffered heavily being eX-
r posed as it took md mantaneds petition, fire from
the enemy already posted with hundred yards of
front and right sheeredy fences aud other cover II
at this time that Lieut. Col. GardDer severely
10 wouOded also several other valuable officers the
Adjuant Of the Regiment, Lieut. Branch killed, and
the horse of the regretted Barlow shot
4h Alabama also suffered severely from the deadly fire
he Of
IF ed under the immediate leadership of Bee himself Its
brave Colonel E. JoEes, dangerously wounded and
re many gallant officers fell, slain h0TS de combat
l. Now, however, with The surging of fourteen
thousand Federal infantry pressing their 'front.' and
der the ncessant fire Of at least twenty pieces artillery
with the fresh brgades Of Sherman and keyes approach
j. n8-the latter already in muska range-our lines gave
s back, but under orders from Gen Bee.
The enemy tanning their fire, pressed their swelling
slaughter for the moment depOrabe, aud has eC
ID many a Southern home with life long
Under THIS memorable stress the retreat continued unit
O. ed by Barlow and Evans just in of the Robinson
OF House, and hamptons Legion which had been aread.
2 advanced, and in position near it.
be Imbodens battery, which had beenhandled with marke
5 pieces oWaons battery, under Lieut Richardson bein
~ Were also Obliged to fall backImboGen leavng disabe
ny piece the ground retired until he Jacksons brigade
while Joined the main body of his battery
a. the Lewis House.
AS infantry retired from the extreme front the tive
Founders of Lahams battery, before mentioned fell bac
no effective fire was maintained upon the stu ad
Vancng lines OF the Federalss with damaging effect
Their ammunition was nearly exhausted, when they to
Withdrawn in the presence Of The enemy and
, q joined their captain.
From the point previously Indicated where General Joh1
IL ton and myself had established headquarters hear
the continuous roll Of muskety and the sustained din
the artillery which announced the serious outbur of til
ye battle left flank and anxiously. confidently
ais awaited sim lar sounds of conflict from
vile, resulting from the prescribed attack in that quarte
by right wing.
in At half past ten A NJ however this expectation Wa
ent disspaed from Rrgader General Ewel Informing
my profound disappointment that my orders for his az
had mscarred but, that in consequence of
muncaton from General D. R. Jones, he had Just throw
his brigade across the stream at Union Mills. But
Judgment, now the effective execution
quite three hours for the troops to into position ii
it'll attack. Therefore, it became Immediately necessary
life depend combinations and other DISPOSE
to the pressing exigency The ent Of the
and centre already begun by Jones and Longsreet
COuntemarded with the sanction of General job
ich s0n ard arranged to meet the enemy the field up
which he had cbOse to battle Under these cfrCuI
stances net already movement mmeC
atey ordered up 10 support our VIZ homes tV
regiments and battery of artillery under Captain Lnds
on Walker of six guns and Earleys brigade Two regimen
OC from bonhanl pTgade win henpers four SIX pcunde
also called for and whhe sanction OF Geuera job
ody ston, Generals Ewe Jones, Cd. R) Longsee and
ham were directed to make demonstration their
fronts to retain and the enemy fore
fed on their flank, and Il and around CenteVe Prevou
mt respective Chiefs of Staff Major Rhet and Color
ded Jordan had been left my headquarters hasten
and give directions to any troops that might arrive
Manassas.
ats These orders having been duly dispatched by staff office
at H. 30 A. NJ General Johnston and myself set oUt
ans the immediate field of action, which reached in
the Robinson and widow Henrys house at about Il me
dean and just the commands of Bee Barlow and EVa
had taken shelter in wooded raviae behind the form
e touty held at the time by Hampton with his legion, viii
mad made stand there after having previously been as
forward as the Turnpike, where Lieutenant Colonel Jot
its ston az officer Of brilliant promise, killed. and otE
did severe losses were sustained.
cad Before arrival upon the General Jackson
les moved forward with his brigade Of five Virginia regimen
the from his position and had udciously taken
"