The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-10-02

- q ls
$ the guns. The hill was gained in the
y lace OF deadly fire, the guns reached
" the gunners shot or bayoneted. tbe
: entire battery in our possession almost
: IN as short time as l have taken tc
: write an account of it. This charge
! OF the 4th Michigan was one OF the
e bravest and most successful of the
, war. The Potomac at the ford is
y about four feet deep. The boys threw
. off their coats and waded across in
e water up to theirwaists and with MANY
OF them nearly up to their neeks. The
guns, with one exception, were all
brought across the river The one
left on the other side was spiked, dis
: mounted and rolled down the bluff
Two of the pieces formerly belonged
to Griffin's battery, which was taken
from us at the first battle at Bull Run /;
another was Parrot and the others,
l2>pound brass howitzsrs, manutactur.
ed in England. The battery altogeth-
er is perhaps the most valuable taken
by Mcclellan since he has had com.
mand of the army. 1t should be pres
sented to the brave 4th Michigan as
reward for their achievement.
To-day, however, l regret to say
have disaster instead of a victory to
chronicle, fl had not been engaged
for several days in Witnessing great
battles-battles which recall to mind
all the great conflicts of Napoleon, land
in some respects will bear a favorable
| comparison-I should dwell long upon
the desperate fight and speedy repulse
of our troops this morning. At the
commencement of the war a battle in
which one or two brigades were en>
gagged would receive all the attention
from the press which is now directed
to the grand historical fights which
are to run through all time to our CLOS
ry or our shame.
Last evening regiment from Mor~
ellis division won the applause of the
whole army in capturing rebel bat
terry. This morning brigade from
the same division, not observing the
presence of the enemy on the opposite
side, advanced to the river, and cross
| ed, meeting no resistance but the
depth Of water, which all overcame by
wading or swimming.
The 118th Pennsylvania and the
18th Massachusetts had no sooner
crossed and advanced up the bluff
about fifty rods than they suddenly
discovered that they were hemmed in
on three sides by overwhelming mass
es of infantry, who Immediately open
ed most terrible fire of musketry
from every part Of their line. Gen.
Barnes, who commanded the brigade,
instantly ordered his men to fall back
and re>cross the river. A scene of
the widest confusion and most terris
BILE slaughter then occurred. The re-
bells pressed them closely, and shot
eur men down by hundreds as they
attempted to ford the river. Great
numbers Of the wounded could not
contend with the rapid current, and
were almost instantly Drowned. The
rebels kept up their fire while they
were in the water, and all who did not
escape were shot down without mercy.
The 118th Pennsylvania passed over
the river 1,O4O strong. l have just
seen all there is left of this splendid
regiment, which left the old Keystone
State but few weeks since. Por-
tions of two companies are all that re-
main of the fine men who crossed the
river this morning. All the rest are
killed, wounded or taken prisoners
Only thirty of the wounded succeeded
in reaching this side. The enemy,
however, suffered terribly while SPRING
ing another BalPs Bluff trap upon us.
The moment the New York and Ohio
batteries, planted upon the hills on this
side, discovered the enemy in such
great force, they opened fire of shell
from every gun, and kept it up until
the whole rebel line fell back beyond
range. The effect of almost every
shell could be clearly seen by the max
ed eye. Great gaps would be made
in their ranks, as the shells burst or
plowed their way through them. From
bushes and fences would suddenly be
seen great numbers of rebels flying in
all directions to escape the exploding
she'll A large brick mansion, stand
ing out bold upon the bluff, was struck
by almost every shot But notwithN
standing the heavy firing Of our artill~
cry, the rebels succeeded in repulsing
our advance to-day. Tonight; in po
sitison, we are exactly where we were
last evening, but in numbers we have
lost at least 800 brave men.
Various opinions are expressed about
the policy of attempting such move
without sufficient force. 1t appears
that it was planned and carried out by
corps commander, without the cons
sent or knowledge of Gen. Mcclellan,
who had not at that time fully made
up his mind what would be his future
course.
This evening it seems quite uncerN
tain whether the army will pursue the
enemy or not. Reports are current
that he will give battle upon the other
side Immediately if we succeed In
crossing. Gems. Loring and Johnson
are said to have reinforced, and the
enemy's strength is now at least 1907
600.
In conversation with a rebel surgeon
to-day, / was told that, in the battle of
Wednesday, Gen. Longstreet com
manded their right, Gen. Jackson the
centre, and Gen. Stuart the left. Gen.
HIPS corps was not in the fight. Jack
son, as usual, did most of the hard
fighting and it will be remembered the
rebel centre we did not bulge The
right and left we almost annihilated.
r5e The Goth Wisconsin regiment has been
sent to Rolla, Missouri.
~ Why is a serpent the greatest of all liz
ars? Because it has a double tongue.
EY The Governor of Illinois has called for
reserve fore of 20 regiments.