The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-07-09

rY, was Stlnlng ana DlnQlng 10 distressing
degree. That memorable scene viii never be
effaced from my recollection, and it seemed
most like battle field, Of any re,,re,ea,a ioi,,
either real or upon canyass, that / ever saw.
Our Left Line Broken.
For one hour and half our left line with
stood this terrible shock of battle Brigade
after brigade of the enemy was hurled against
our devoted, daring, dying heroes. Butter
deld, with hat in hand, rallied, cdeered and
led his men forward again and again. Though
de.imated at every discharge, losing heavily
in officers and with verwhelming force
in front, they still continued to fight The
gallant Col. McLane and Msior Nagle, of the
SD Pennsylvania, fell death stricken, while
line officers wore stricken down by scores, and
men by the hundred, But they wavered not.
Without single reinforcement from first to
last, this gallant brigade fought on, cle~red its
front from the enemy time after time, until
suddenly they found themselves outfaEked on
the right the enemy breaking through Mar
tindales left, and came surging down the hill
to cut of and capture the struggling bri-
gade.
They thus saw hat it was in vain To longer
continue. The right was giving away rapidly,
and black crowds Of retreatug men could be
seen making their way toward the river.
''Once more, my gallant men, cried the brave
Butterheld, and rallymg again, the men cut
the way through the opposing host, which
now assailed them, in front, in flank, and in
rear, and fell back upon the river, crossing
upon the remains of Enerson's bridge, which
had been blown up BY our OWE forces during
the tight, an gathering together their seat
tered columns in the camp of Smiths divi-
sion, foand thSt they numbered only l500
with Lieut.. Col. james G. Rice, who had
again signalized himself for heroic bravery,
as the senior officer IN command A part of the
brigade had been withdrawn by the right
flank, and with them Gen. Butterfeld, Who,
notwithstanding the thousand dangers that he
risked, escaped unharmed, one bullet having
passed through the rim of his hat, and an
other bent his sword double.
The Enemy Checked.
| When the left gave way, the center and
| finally The right was also pressed back, and
the retreating columns soon became mingled
! into one black mass of troops. The infantry
supports having fallen back, Aliens, Weeder' 5,
Harris and Edwards batteries were left ex.
| posed, and all of them lost part of their
armament. Most of Martndales brigade
were rallied within thirty rods of the enemy
under heroic call from Col Roberts, of the
I'd Maine but he was not supported, and then
continued to fall back with the troops. When
the order TO fall back reached the middle hos
piLal, one OF three houses about equi-distani
| from each other on the road to Woodbury.
Bridge, quite stampede took place among
the s;ragglers who had there congrgated, mos
ef them being men who had been detailed t
bring in the wounded from their regiments
and who had failed TO return.
| They made 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 summarily checked
About Z oclOck Meagher's aud Frenchs brig
AIDES crossed the bridge, and advanced on tb
double quick up the hill forming in line o
battle beyond he hospital, and swooping al
the stragglers with round turn. Griffin
and Martins batteries likewise did splendi,
services ia checking the advance of the enc
my, pouring canister into their ranks with ter
rible effect. Probably the greatest carnage o
this bloody day was produced by the ineessan
discharges of doubleshotted canister from tn
bronze Napoleons of Martins battery. III
had taken up position in the hollow betwee
two small hills. The enemy advanced iron
the opposite side in solid column, on the doubl
quick, with arms at right shoulder shift, no
being able to see the battery until the
reached the crest of the hill within one hun
dred yards OF it, when Martin opened bite
surprise upon them, sweeping them from th
! field like chaf before storm. Twice agai
I bU6y 1UFltl0Q anu HuNhHCeU, tuciF Oluc0FS Dt
} having splendidly, but il was useless, Martin
fierce leaden hail being too terrible to with
stand. fhe advance of the fresh troops hay
ing checked the enemy, and night coming OF
J the conflict ceased, and both parties quietl
lay on their arms
A Noble Rally.
. The brigades of Generals French aud Meag
. her did not get into action. Tney formed in ID
rear of our broken columns, and did excellen
service in checking the flight of many panic
stricken stragglers and demoralized troop
The enemy quickly perceived the arrival
these fresh troops, and being at the same tim
subject to a CALLING fire of canister from Gri
fms and Martins batteries, soon withdrew h
lines into the woods whence he had issued, an
quiet soon prevailed. But in almost less tim
than it takes to write it, q scene of indiscrib.
: bic excitement, of mingled confusion, an
direful disorder had been obliterated; yes, Ii
orally crushed, and comparative order restore
out of almost chaos, by the prompt, energet
and fearless action of brave officers. As ii
rushing and retreating tide began to pour pr
cipitately towards the bridge, dozen office
I in my own sight drew their sabres and pistol
l placed themselves in front of the stragglin
: crowd, and every device that physical an
! mental nature could invent rallied and formt
column after column of men from the broke
. mass that swept over the plain.
: There are some facts which my friend d
not incorporate in his sketch. But there W
no time nor opportunity for he or elhers to i
: cite history in the midst Of public distre'
Calamity brooded over all. Few had oppo
:. tunity to rest, not many could find wherew
: to appease hunger, and mind as well as boo
was afflicted. Both were jailed and reduce
Losses we were obliged to estimate. Ohici
reports, there were none. OF material III
\ John Porter's command lost 20 pieces of art
= lery, and the arms, with accoutrements, viii
, belonged TO men who were lost. OF des
= = wounded and missing there were 1000 or u
= wards. Col. Edmund Pendleton, of q Louisia
. regiment, (Col. P. formerly resided in Cinci
nati1 who was captured on Monday, (Ju
3othl assured me that on that day the reb
" captured 4, 500 prisoners. Our dead he es
L, mated from examination of the field, at 81
IN OF the wounded there is no account. 1t is
= Ct