, 1862-09-06
THE WAR In VIRGINIA
TIE BATTLE on MONDAY NIGHT.
Defeat Of the Rebels in a Thunder
Storm,
DEATH OF GENERALS KEARNEY AND
STEVENS,
Correspondence Of the N, T. Tribuue.1

correspondence Of the n 7. Tribune.1
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 1862
The battle on Monday night between Gems.
Reno and kearney upon our side, and the
1ebels, was fought three miles to the rear Of
Ctntervl1le. and about mile to the right of
the Centervillt road. It was i complete vic
tory on our eide, but dearly bought by the
loss Of Gen Kearney and Gen. Stevens.
Gen. Reno's division had been posted there
during the day, to observe the rebel move
ntnse. The approach OF the enemy WAS asccr-
tained In the afternoon, agd Gen. Kearney was
ordered to advance to R=no's support The
enemy were attempting to turn our right
hans, and in order to move more rapidly, had
lit tt cir artillery behind them, and were ad-
yanciDg over the fields.
Their movement threatened both flank anl
rear, and, If successful, would probably have
placed them at Fairfax Court House. and
once more broken Pope's communication
with Washington. They attacked Gen. Reno
about S O'Clock in the afternoon. The en-
gaEement between him and the rebels contin-
u. d tor about an hour before the afiiyal Of our
re1nforcementB.
Gco. Reno had posted his troops with his
right resting against wood. Gen. Stevens
division was upon the left, Reno himself hold
ing the right. After the line Of battle was
formed, the enemy attempted to turn Gen.
Rsn2s lift flank. Gen: Stevens, to anticipate
head.dfaas division to the attack-
The enemy. werePosted. ina coEn-f1e1d, aud
on the further side Of itpartia'ly protected By
the woods. In the .centeI Of the field vas L
Eavine, into which Gen Stevens advanced. AS
he was leading his column some distance be-
fore the enemy's line, be was shot dead by
bullet through the head His troops. dis
hrartened by his loss, aud undoubtedly out
numbered, tsll back~in considerable disorder.
Gen. Reno found himself at this pcrid
without any. support, upon bis lett, with his
troops mostly out Of ammunition, while til.
enemy we're approaching in heavy force upon
the left flank, aud threatening to 1urn his So-
sition and cut bis forces in two.
It was at this juuctme that Gen. Kesrney
arrived uponz-the field The night was very
dark, the rain falling very heavily, with ter
| rible storm Of thunder and lighting. It was
nearly impossible to discover at once the
| exact poait3on of the enemy. Ou the sed
| left flank Of Gen. Reno they were supposed to
be advancing, and Gen. kearney detaehing
| one brigade 10 the LETT, rode forward to make
| O reconnaissance in person.
| He was told that there were no troops Of
| OURS in front of the position which G sneras
| Stevens had held, aud that through the G ~
I the rebels were rapidly advancing hut, disre-
| gsrdipg Of disbelieving the information, went
| forward, accompanies only by an orderly, aui
| st tot dead.
His death remained unknown until the to1-
| owing morning, but as he did not retura 20
his command. and w4s supposed to be pris3.
n.r; Gen: Birrey took command Of the di.
| Tision and arranged the order Of battle.
Gen. Reno had at this time Withdrawn en-,
tirely from the fight, and Gen. Birney fonnd
| tic enemy in front Of him considerably tt
The left ct Repo's original position, and even
threatening TO turn his left flank. Gen. R ,bin
son's brigade, with Graham's brttery, 1st ni
ted States, was ordered to the left. Gen
Blrney's brigade constituted the reserve. .llse
Strengthened By Randolph's battery, which
ore1 ed on tie enemy with yigor and t1;'et.
Geu. BiTaey formed his line Of battle il
frontand on the centre with his own brigade
tire WAS opened on ooth sides and contlnuet
with great sharpness fs'r perhaps half an hour
The enemy's Inc being unsustained BY aFtil
1.ry, was greatly shaken by The cannonad
from our side, and BY the heayiness Of the in
fant1y fire.
Birney, ss soon as he perceived indication:
Of the enemy's unsteadiuess in his front, or
dered the 40th-kHoEn as the Mozart regi
ment-and lsT New York, both commando
by Col E4au, aud the Scott Life Guard-38 j
New York-Co1. Ward, to advance in a baYo
net charge.
These three regiments moved ACROSS th
cornfleld, down the ravine, and up the oppc
site slope, with the greatest ga1antry and ds
termination, and lmoss instantly broke tn
rebel line aud put them to Hight They wet
pursued p5 tet A1e u our ariaFF9, ous oH1u
to the darkness and The storm, pursuit BY il
tautry for any distance was impossible
Our troops occupied the position Of til
enemy from which he had been driven, GEL
Berry's reserve brigade holding the groun
all night.
l OuF dead we're buried and wounded carrie
off the ground. Some prisoners were take
! from the enemy. Among them were the a
jutant general Of Gen Jones and his chief
J" ordnance.
5 Our loss in killed and wounded in Geuer
!, Birney's command was about 300-amor
them Mtjor T11uen of the 3Sth N. T., vi
was mort;lly wounded, and died immediate
. Tic enemy's forces consisted of parts of tt
: divisions OF Gems. Jackson, Evcu an1 Hill
: numbering from Il, 900 to IL 900.
i The battle Was fought upon our side att
= Kea1ncy's arrival entirely by Gen. Birney
brigade. Gen. Birney's conduct Was dist
8 euisbed by great skill and gallautry. Wi
less than 5 000 troops he restored the fortun
Of fight in which greater numbers on o
Lis admirable disposition OF. his troops, ii
a their steadintss and courage, drove thr
l. times his oWn strength from the field and be
le j. for the night.
l. Col Egan aud Col. Ward, who led the ba
q onet charge, and Col Gasner Of the 101st NJ
IL rs and good conduct. The 'l01st New Yo
was mt st exposed during the fight, and 1c
d heavily in billed aud wounded.
Il Gen. Reno's loss is not accurately know
d ! but is supposed to be about 1000. T
e. enemy being without artillery, our troo
it suffered but little in comparison with th
II lose-
ID The deaths of Gems. Kearney and Steve
se are deeply lamented by their Immediate co
b. nands, and by all the army. Both had VI
high regulations for gallantry and soldie
ability, Gen. Kearney having brought high
.r | unw1, frnu, fhf Peninsula and {4r.n EYfVn
beside his fame in Mexico and Oregon, Y
be an active and cnterpris1pg general Of the
a. Royal expedition. He was there conceEn
H. in every fight in which our land forces l
N part. His own brigade was especially de
nd | ted to him.