The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1862-07-09

terfeid. and rallyfnr again. the men cut
their way through the opposing host, which
noR assailed them Ia front. in tank a1d In
re1F. ana fell back upon the river. crossing
apo the f.nsins Of Emerson brldge. rhich
had been blown up By ourswn forces dur
ingthe 1ghts and gathering togethsr their 4
scattered. colnnns AZ the camp of Smith'- I
Division. found that they numbered only &c ]
teen hundred. with Lieut.. Colonel James Z. I
Rice. who had again signalized himself for
heroic bravery. az be senior officer in COM
raand A part OF the brigade had been
Withdrawal ~ the right aAns. and ~ish thess
Gen. Bntterneld, who. notwithstanding the
thousand dangers that he fisk ed. cscspe3 IN
harmed, one ballet having passed through
the rim Of his hat, and another bent his
sword double. Ia. n4nfaf
''t' rIIr rSlNl cnfcKrD
s When flss lef gave way the centre and
finally the right was also pressed back, and
the relreailng columns soon bttlrne mingled
into one black mass of troops- The infantry
supports having fallen back. Aliens, Weed.
en- Harts aud Edwards Batteries were left
exposed and all Of them lost part OF their
armament. Most OF Martindale's Brigade
we're rallied withia thirty rods Of the enemy.
under heroic call from Col. Roberts. Of the
| 2nd Maine, but be was not supported, and
then continued 20 fall back with the troops.
When the order to fall back reached the
middle hospital. one Of three houses about
1 equal distant from each other on tho road 10
| W0odbury's Bridge, quite stampede took
place among the straggers who had there
c0ngregatcd, most of them being men who
had been detailed 10 bring IN the wourded
from their regiments, and who had failed to
return. They made a rush for the bridge,
followed BY some Of the troops, but before
they reached the last hospital near the end
of the bridge, they were speedily and sum
marily checked About o'clock Meagher's
and Frenchs Brigadcs crossed the bridge,
and advanced on the double quick up the
hill, forming in line of battle beyond the
hospital, and stopping up the siragglers With
a round turn Gnfiin's and Martins Bat
tories likewise did splendid services, IN
checking the advance OF the enemy, pouring
canister into their ranks with terrible effect.
Probably the greatest carnage OF this bloody
ia, was produced by the incesant discharges
OF double shotted canister from the bronze
: Napoleons Of Martins Battery. lie had
. taken 10 position IN the hollow between
! two small HIS The enemy advanced from
the opposite side in solid COLUMN, On the
double quick, with arms AZ right shoulder
, shift. not being able 10 zee the battery until
: they reached the crest Of the bill. within one
hundred yards Of IL, when Martin opened q
bitter surprise upon them. sweeping them
!. from the field like chaa before stortn.-
9 Twice again they formed, and advanced
= their officers behaving splendidly. bat it vas
10 useless. Martins fierce lealen rain being toe
y terrible % Withstand. The advance OF the
< fresh troops having checked the enemy, an'
o. night coming on. the conflict ceased. an'
both parties quiedy lay on their arms
NOBLE aA1Ly
b The bFgades OF Generals French an,
le Meagher dia NOT get ntO action They form
10 "a ia the rear Of our broken columns. an'
Of did excellent service IN checking the iligh
OF many panic stricken straggleFs and de
meralized troops. The enemy quickly per
ceiyed the arrival OF those fresh troops, an'
being at the same time subject 90 gallinl
: fire OF canister from Griflin's and Martin
. batteries. soon withdrew his lines into th
y woods whence he had issued and quite sool
y prevailed But IN almost less time than
takes To write IL. a scene OF indiscribable ex
element Of mia led confusion. and direiu
~ DISORDER had been obltterated; yes. iitsraii
crushed. and comparative order restored on
. OF almost chaos. by the prompt. energeti
- and fearless action Of brave officers. As ia
y rushing and re.rcatIng tide began to pou
- preciptatei, towards the bridge. dozen Of
81 hcers in my own sight drew their sabres an
~ ristols placed themselves IN front OF IN
- Struggling crowd and every device tba
- physical and mental nature could invent
= rallied and formed column after colum Q
!, men from the broken mass that swept owe
- the plain.
~ There are some facts which nv friend ds
~ not incorporate in his sketch. But there va
:" no time nor opportunity for tie or Others
30 indite history IN the midst at public distress
~ Calamity broodcd.ovcr all Few had oppol
=. tunity 20 rest. not many could fad where
al with % appease hunger. and mind As vel q
~ body was afflicted Both were jaded and 70
o. duced Losses we were Obliged 70 estimate
~ Official reports. there were none. or materii
: Fitz John Portefs command lost ~ piece
Of artillery, and the arms with accoutremen'
= which belonged 90 men who we're lest.
- dead wounded and missing there we're 90
:. or upwards Col Edmund Peddeton, OF
CT Louisiana regiment. (Col. p. formerly resis
:, ed in Cincinnati) who was captured on Mot
", dav, lJune 30th), assured me that on th'
al day the rebels captured 4 500 prisoners
:, Our dead he estimated from examination {
- the field, at 30n 0ftao woanjei there
- no account. Ii IS reported that the reb'
u. loss Is still more awful.
=" II "a claimed that the battle was bad
-; | managed. This - no time tor Criticism, 10
: sides. the data Is not absolutely reliable.
"a il certain we were beaten inssrategy AZ
grand tactics. Indeed. am compelled
~ admit that the enemy there. as elsewkeF'
~ displayed skill in the science OF battle
4 which does not always distinguish our lea
- ers. They seldom risk battle With insulh
20 cient forces. and they handle masses IN
mastery manner. Thus on Friday, Viii
- our men stood and fought in line tor hou
80 without respite. the rebel leaders incessant
rushed in fresh troops. relieving those vi
we're faded or beaten, 50 that u was pain
fully apparent, before our brave fellows cav
ho way. that thew must finally break bcioi
ast that cver-surging tide. Ono other err
NJ was pciccptble. Our officers seemed
&c | fight not 30 much to win victory az 10 di'
nj play the courage and endurance ofour 50
ms diers. Instead Of standing fast IN secul
cover ~ forests that the enemy might
compelled TO tight on our ierms, they 40
vancci into TIE open fields and wcfc G.
~ down by scores by the more crafty toe
10 Bot ne we're beaten. twas mcianeho
=" satisfaction 10 knox that No occupied a
si4 | field OF battle after the c0nfict was ende
). We had about Il, 600 men engaged. perhal
- 81 600 The eneIy bal four divisions en-
CT ployed. besides tackscn's admirable arr
ne Of 80 900 TO -, Coo dseifliped troops.
~ We had fourteen basterits- - pieces--
the field. and often not half could be us'
or 10 advantage Martins, TiibaIi's and We
'cr dcn's we're most sctviccabic. TidbaIEs "
o. on the extreme right. and. 70 the cncm
9 Wa an object Of special attention. tiet