New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-11-20
FEOM GEN. BURNsEDE'S AEMY.
On the rrarcis-Tie slsirntish Of the 4 10Th
The Hate H.ieut. Howard rKcalvain-
Wasted Virginia-List OF Casualties.
OK THK FRONT.

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forward, come to this place to-day from our last
gifts camp rear Fayetteville. In speaking Of
We" and "our," l refer to the movements of the
Ninth Army Corps, under Gen. Wilcox, TO which
am, pro TEN, sttached.)
An attack Of the enemy upon the baggage train OF
the LIST aud "a brgades Gems. Nages and Ferrero)
Of Stur9s's Diyision yesterday forenoon, which re-
suited in the death of Lieut.. Howard Mclvain, Of
Durells Battery and which came very near result
ing in tie destruction capture Of portion Of the
train has been already partially described 10 you by
another correspondent. Being personally in the
midst OF the engagement, from iis commencement TO
It's close, nave waited till now to gather together
al the particulars Of rather waim skrmish, which
al one time threatened 10 become a really serious
aiirir.
The First snd Second Brigades broke camp at
about o'clock a. yesterday, to move from the
camp at White Sulpbur Springs 10 the neighbor-
hood Of Fayetteville, then aud still occupied by
Cen. DOubl, day OF 2Ianklins corps. There WAS q
choice Of two roads, one OF which led back from
the Rappahannock, and was therefore safe from the
sho. and she'll Of the enemy, while the Oiher-the
most direct route and considerably more convenient
for he transportation of the wagon trains-passed
the SpriBC and the ruined hotel mentioned in my
LAST letter. and, approaching the ryer. turned 10 the
let at a sharp angle in plain view Of and but a
uIIllF Qlf aNCo IRON TIE iafgc INFUSION upon NH
side on the other bank Of the stream, now rendered
somewhat fam0ls as the scene OF tie capture o!
lLieut.-Co Carruth aud Adjutaut Wales OF the 18Th
Massachusetts regiment, al account OF which have
already sent you.
The road ~ il approaches the uver exposes a coll
umn Of tro0I train Of wagons passing it 10
dangerous onf,Ading fire from the ILL., where tbe
house il situated, ana after the turn il made troops
and trains moving away TO tie left, are IN range
from the bill for some distance, till they are finally
protected by bills, rising upon either hide Of the
river, behh which the road winds.
! The two brigades had been FOR some time in mo-
ton, and q portion o. the train, under charge of
Capt. Plato, Division qGarteruas,er, bad passed the
dangerous turn Ia tie road, when our cavalry were
seen skrm hing with tie Rebels in the ne!ghbor
hood OF the house on the opposite hill.
Finally, ouF cavalry seeing the departure Of the
troops formed in solid square and retired toward
the river at the point where tle ruins Of the bridge
crossing The stream was guarded by the 3Jth MassG-
chusetts Regiment.
At the same moment the Rebel cavalry emerged
from the wood in TIC rear Of tie house, formed in
hollow square, projecting two pieces Of artillery,
which were planted by the house. moment more
and a twenty pound nled shell from q Parrot gun
came wLizzng along over the line OF wagons AZ
preaching the river, exploding in unpleasant proxi-
nifty to the train.
Capt. Durell, Battery A, 10Th Pennsylvania Ar
tillery, Immediately took up position, and opened
soon possible, being assisted toward the close OF
Inc engagement bN TWO OF more guns OF Capt.
mer's Battery, l., I'd New-York Artillery.
The Rebels now got five guus in position, three OF
them being twenty pound Parrots, aud hail Of
shot and slell few over the heads Of the train the
troops having got beyond range
Capt. piafO, ttoiDg tie danger to which La wag-
ons were exposed many Of them containing alamu.
milton, turned back that portion which had not
reached the turn, and they moved to their ceatins
lion the more difficult but eas dangerous road.
Capt. DuIclls Battery occupying an exceedingly
exposed portion, withttood for something like an
hour the fire from the heavy twenty pound guns.
Early in the fight Lieut.. Howard Mcllyain wa
struck by q she'll which carried away Lis arm, side,
thigh aud hip laying open his eutrails aud causing
one Of tho most fearful wounds ever recorded.
The brave and unfortunate young man lay in most
horrible agony r4ving from pain great portion Of
the time from the moment Of receiving BIS wound
till eight O'clock this morning, when he WAS re-
ieved from biz suflerings by death. lie said TO
friend as he lay writing IN agony, that be was not
afraid 70 die; be only wished that death might come
soon 10 nd him OF the dreadful pam lac suffered.
The deceased was from Reading, Pennsylvania,
and had been in service since the opening OF the war
having teryed with Capt. Durel IN the three months
volunteers. In September, 1861, the present DurelPs
Battery was sworn into the service Of the United
Satce aud has since been constantly employed All
who have come ~ contact with Lieut. mcllyain pro-
nounce lin young man OF remarkable promise and
meat excellent qualities social and otherwise, aud
one who would have made q noteworthy mark in
the wosd had he been spared. lie is universally Ia
mented in this cOrps, with which ho Lad been con-
nccted siace The 18th Of laet August and Capt.
DuTel mOurnF in him his best and most Trustworthy
officer, Which ID saying nothing defogatory 10 the
other brave men IN Lis command.
While Capt. Plato--to return to tie a'tack--was
turning lack that portion OF his train which had not
yet reached the turn in the road, he observed d
squadrOn Of our cavalry crossing the river in retfegt
leaving the bridge 10 be defended only by the 18th
Magsachufetis Regiment, in case of an attempt on
a.. q ArsHs aa 4
rear. lie Immediately rode up to the officer in CON-
maud aud ordered BIN back. "By whose authori-
.ty1 2" inquired the officer. "By authority al Con.
Sturris." replied Capt. Plato. a. But there viii be
she'll here in moment said the officer. 81 know
that" replied Capt Plato, and It's for that reason
YOU arc wanted here -
I The cavalry turned back. The next moment the
expected shc!l-the fret one OF the fght-pas6ed
over the train, and Il short time afterwafd occurred
the very charge anticipated by Capt. Plato, which
was eucC cssiuly met and repulsed by our infantry
and cavalry al the bridge.
The long string Of heavy wagons-many Of them
flied with annuLitiOn-whicb rad passed the tnTu,
LOW found themselves slowly and tollsOEaey cross
ing a boggy meadow, filed with mud-holes and
bitches.
were planted partially protecting them-hew the
Rebel missiles, many Of them bursting directly over
the train. Some wagons were struck, though gcneF-
ally the enemy fired too high. One dnver Was BIT
b. she'll which fractured ls night reg ana disabled
two mules. One ammunition-wagon had the taxi
board Knocked out W shell, which fortunately did
not explode
Two wagons laden with oats were disabled, their
coItotts beng saved and the wagons burned, TO pre-
vent d cir falling into the hands Of the enemy.
horse was left behind, used up and worthless for the
tine, which | had the "melancholy pleasure Of
slooijrp for the same purpose With these excep.
tons me entire train was got off in safety, having
been extrlcaied from an exceedingly unpieasan pre-
dIeamont.
The "a Brigade, Gen. Ferrero, being nearest the
train, had meanwhile been ordered back to It's pro-
lection Gen. Getty, OF the 81 Division followed