The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-07-12
THE SECOND LOUISIANA REGIMENT IN
THE BATTLES BELOW RICHMOND.

In the record of gaantry appropriated to our
troops but little has yet been said of the Second
Louisiana Regiment, which came TO Virginia more
than twelve months ago, and has ever since been
in active and arduous service on the Peninsula 80
On Sunday morning June goth, with three DAYS
ra.ions and full complement of cartridges, this
regiment moved from camp at the junction of the
New Bridge and Nine-M;le roads, tow ards The for
mdable works of the enemy, which for several
weeks had been threatening our front, not more
than eight or nine hundred yards distant 1t was
soon aseertaned, however, that they had destroyed
their stores which could not be removed carried
OF their guns, and disappeared and a little brush
on our left cleared out :, remnant that remained
bile artillery camp fell into our hands before
the work of demolition complete Forming
into line Of battle the forces, Of which the Second
Louisiana formed part. slowly pushed their way
parallel to the York River Railroad, through dense
underground and swalups, without interruption,
finding knapsacks, clothing aud blankets scattered
profuse.y on The route, marking the direction Of
the retreat. The march that day Terminated IN
the forest skir,ing Il field of considerable extent
and in sight OF the railroad bridge crossing the
Chickahominy.
At this point the Yankee rear guard made as,spd
and action occurred OF short duration, in which
the lalnen,ed Griffith fell Cobbs brigade Ito which
the Second is attached under fire, but not en-
gagged The Land MeTrinac" here introduce d
herself. and added considerably 10 the cx-
element and noise OF battle The energy was
followed closely at this poin, that he left cam,
filled with every conceivable necessary and many
Injuries, though the light of burning train as il,
fell upon the vanishing columns, showed that thew
had accomplished somewhat III the way OF de,truc
ton. On Monday morning, about | o'clock, the
Second reached the hard CHI field of that after
noon, where, the heaps Of dead ard wounded
proved, the enemy suffered much more than our
selves.
On Tuesday the II Louisiana was ordered to the
edge If field, pr. Mettert's plantation to the
rear of II portion of which was Il ravine skirted by
slight underground. Here the regiment was held
for some time i'll reserve, while an advance bri-
gaie--supposed to be Grifith's-telt the cueIny.
Tue battle ground was just beyond a thick piece of
woods, some two hundred yards to the front the
intervening space being broken by ravincs The
advance unearthed the fox, aud showers of shell
and grape were thrown towards troops but
while many bairbreadth escapes made, none
of the reserve were hurt At length came All
der for an advance Bearing to the left, troops
passed the wooded hills in front, and rested on
what was destined to be bloody battle ground.
Before them lay open country, the left
level plateau the view in that direction
terminating in a dwelling house, outhouses,
and grove, some fifteen hundred yards
distant; on the right, this level dropped into
series of knobs. the slopes between them spread
ing at their bases into meadow, low ground
portion covered with rpened grain, cich the reop-
acere in e act Of ga;Aeriag aAe' The battle begun
Far away stretched these low lands towards the
river; and above the woods which fringe the banks
of the eunhoats. The enemys battery of sixteen
guns, supported by two brgades drawn up in par
aliel lines stood in front and 20 the left of the
house, about twelve hundred yards distant. Our
artillery the left opened fire CALAMITY, but
unable TO cope with the superior guns of the enemy
and forced to retire. The 90 Louisiana, with the
18th North Carolina their left, and the 9th
Georgia and 18th Virginia on the right, were or
dered TO charge, over 300 yards swept by shell
and canister, grape aud Mnie. As the order Was
given the brave Colonel of the Cd rode along the
lines of his re giment, and babe the boys Renem-
Der Butler and their homes With one cheer they
bounded forward and from the moment they lefs
their position until they were ordered TO retreat,
noble men dropped from the ranks. second by
second victims of that murderous fire. The right
of the regiment was somewhat delayed in passing
the rolling ground Of the field, which lay directly
IN their line Of march but the distance made up
in good order. At length position was reached
about $50 yards from the opposing batteries, the
18th North Carolina and the lei. and centre Of the
I'd Louisiana fighting in some disorder but unyield-
ingly ON the level plateau the right Of the I'd and
the 10Th Virginia among the hills. Twelve or thr
teen hundred men, all told fighting with earnest en-
ergy two brigsdes with sixteen gu,us, served by
practiced artillerists! But there Thought OF
giving back Color Sergeant Marshall fell in his
place seriously wounded but before the folds OF the
battle flag could kiss the earth ii WAS caught up
and held once more in brave mans hand. ia a
few ,noments he WAS shot down, and tho noble Ma
or Of the Second, Richard w. Ashton, setting ii In
bis left hand, while With his right he waved his
sword In gttering circles, eheefed the regiment
md fell sacrifice too costly TO liz offered to the
Noloeh Of war! Not only did the Second ss,stain
his loss the Colonel feli-no killed, RI nj first
upposed, bun serously wounded leaving the regi.
asut " command Of Lieut-CoL Williams who,