New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-17
outer pckets before 81 o'clock. 1t was very dark
| and cIoudy morning. I moved ct o'clock II was

outer pickets before 81 o'clock 1t was very dark
and cloudy morning. moved at o'clock. 1t was
30 dark that one could not follow another ex-
cept at very short | tervAls. 1t wss much darker
than on usual starlight nights. by men were at
the enemys works about Al o'clock, and the confic;
Of twenty five minutes, dreadful in its casualties
Was over, and the men returned at > O'Clock. Por-
ters section of Rockwell's Battery advanced TO the
hedge. within 500 yards Of the enemys works, with
the troops of Fentons Bigsde, fred above 100
shots from his two guns joined in the midst Of
his fire by one piece of Stewards section Ia rifle guul
which fired 26 shots, and the three guns were with
drawn to the second hedge, aud actually there re-
opened fire a, clock. The watch was actually
consulted BY one of Roclwells serscants at this
very moment, and it was exactly D o'clock In my
official report have stated that the sharp conflict
was from to 81 o'clock. I am perfectly satisiied
tina, it occurred between a. and S clock. The men
moved very rapidly from the picket to the work
much of the time a. the double quick; and they
moved that distance in about half an hour.
iii, 1t has been stated that my regiments were
not within supporting distance Of each other. IhiS
is great mistake. They followed each other close
". There was not pause in the movement they
entered successfully under fire without hesisation'
They entered necessarily in the following orcer; oth
Michigan 9TH Connecticut 18th Massachusetts, |sth
Hixhlanders, Tooth Pennsylvania, and 10th New
York. They moved ct first by the flank on the road
to avoid bitches and hedges and the rough cotton
furrows, and they necessarily marched one oenina
the other As they came into the field before the
work, they pushed forward ny regiments into line oil
battle. and entered the close fire. have mentioned
how Rockwelrs Battery pushed up. Quite mum.
Dor Of the 9th Michigan and 18th Highanders cameo
the ditch and parapet Of the work All the resi-
merits pushed cose mp to the work, and more OF 1883
men Of ssch made Judgments a. the march and sba''
tia on either side. The 18th Higblanders went iato
fire the fourth regiment. They passed by the Hh
Connecticut aud the 2sth Massachusetts, ana actual
y supported at the parspe', as every one adns 'ne
9Th Michigan. They passed those regiments 70
within less than 200 yards Of the eDemy's WORKS.
The Hieblxnlers have been in many battles ana
.kirmishes are very expert in drill, and are mecca
old soldiers. II they were in supporting distance
certainly tho 9Th Connecticut and 18th Massachusetts
were. Blu. the terrible fire Of grape, ea>iser, and
mu.ke,ry from tho 'front.' and the rife fire Of sharp
shooters from the Aank& poured upou the several
regiments they passing on in lire to the very
neck OF land on which the enemys work Is situated
and which 10 stated by them to be only 81 yards
wide. Large portions Of each regiment were thus
thrown on the marsh on either hand, AMI were an
able N 90 forward. The succeeding regiments In
n,.b;no forward became n.termngled with them,
and the only alternative WAS Is rtire the regiments
to reform them. The very thing happened which Is
10 be feared in such an attempt. When 1t ID recoi'
Iect,d that Ia 25 minutes every one Of my regiments
pas.sd the advanced ledge pushed clean up or near
" clean up TO the ditch, made the best fight they
could. and were Withdrawn by my positive orcers te
the sane advanced hedge again, losing over 5co men
every regimen. suffering largely, and two regiments
terribls. there can be 10 boubs but they followed
each otter closely. The fault ia Lot in my orders OF
arrangements but in having fight there a. all uh'
der such circumstances
". So rnpd and prompt were the operations Of
NV Division that l was hard al work reforming my
tro,ps before Williamss adyarce came IN sight; and
was afterwsrd ready with ali my battaliobs III line
OF battle to move to the assault of the work the rec
ond time whenever Gen. Benham shoad give the
order Ills announced to Gen. Benham by Capt
Llwel, bis AID, and by officers OF my own siait al
this very junetare Gen. Benhnm withdrew VIII
nns a. d, rs stated in my official report at snose
quent period ordered ME TO withdraw.
V. Ali the above facts can establish by the most
incontrov. rtible testimony. l have entered the
service with the earnest purpose OF doing my duty
and submit the above statement to show that
was prompt and faithful to my orders on the dsy
Of the 10th.
an. Sir, very respectfully your most obedent.
ISAAC J. STEVENS,