Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-09-12

from GeutreyilleS and aboupsix miles from
that place. A very sharp skirmish took
place, ended by the darkness, inwhich the
brigade of Gibson behaved very handsome
~, and suffered heavy loss.
Sigel Was close at hand with his corps,
but did not join the action. 1 instructed
Kearney TO move forward at early dawn
toward GAINESVILLE, closely followed by
Hooker and Reno, end engage the enemy
thus placed betweed Mcdowell and Sigel
on the west, and Fltz-John Porter on the
south. 1 also'iustrueted Fitz-Jobn Porter
with his own corps and Kings Division of
McDowelps corps, which had for good
reason fallen back from the Wnrrenton
Turnpike toward Manassas Junction, to
move at daylight in the morning upon
Gainesville, along the Manassas Gap Rail-
road, until they communicated closely with
the forces under HeinIzelman and Sigel,
cautionlng them not to go further than
was necessary to effect this junction, as
we might be obliged to retire behind Bull
Run that nightfor subsistence ifnothingelse.
Heintzelmnn marched early from Cen
treyille toward Gainesville, closely followed
by Reno. Meantime, shortly after day
light, Sigers and Reynolds Division of
McDoWell's corps had become engaged
With tho enemy, who was brought TO u
stand, and he was soon Joined by Heintzel-
man aud Reno, when the whole line be-
came actively engaged. i.ss Jd3
Porter marched as directed, followed by
Kings Division, which was by this time
Joined by Ricketts, Division, which had
been forced from Thorougbfare Gap by the
heavy forces of the enemy advancing to
support Jackson.
As soon as found that the enemy had
tn ho1 and IVA .Epi nfr vi
orously attacked along the Warrentou turn
pike, sent orders to Mcdowell 10 advance
rapidly on the left, and attack the enemy in
his flank, extending his right to meet Rey-
uolds' left, and to Fitz.John Porter to keep
his right well closed on McDowsll's left,
and to attack the enemy in flank and rear,
while he was pushed in front This would
have made the line of Mcdowell and Por-
ter at right angles to that of the other for
ces engaged. r6r
The action ragged furiously all day, Nc
Dowell, although previously in the rear of
Porter, bringing his whole corps on the
field in the afternoon, aud taking Il con-
spicuOus part in that days operations. To
my surprise and disappointment received
late in the afternoon from Porter note
saying that his advance had met the ene-
my on the flank IL some force, and that he
was retiring upon Manassas Junction with
out engaging or coming to the assistance
of our other forces, although they were en-
gagged in furious action only two miles
distant, and ia full hearing of him. A
portion of his force fell back towards Ma.
nassas, and he remained as he afterWard
informed me, where he was looking at the
enemy during the whole of the afternoon
of Friday and part ofFriday night, passing
over IN plain view to reinforce tho troops
under Jackson, without an effort to prevent
it or assist US. One at least of his brigades
under Gen. Griffin got round to Centreyille,
and remained there during the whole OF
the next days battle, without coming'to
the field, though in full view of the battle
which WAS raging, whilst Gen. Griffin him
himself spent the day in making ill-uatured
structures upon the General commanding
the action, iu the presence of a promiscu-
Gus assemblage.
Darkness closed the action on Friday,
the enemy .heing driven back from his po-
sitions by Heinlzelman's corps and Reno,
concluded by furious attack along tho
turnpike by Kings division of MGDowells
corps, leaving his dead and wounded on the
field.
do not hesitate TO say that if the corfs
of Porter had attacked the enemy in flank
on the afternoon of Friday, as he had my
written order to do, VIC should have utter
ly crushed jackson before the forces under
Lee could have reached him Why he did
not do so cannot understand.
ourmen, much worn down by hard SER
vice aud continuous fighting for many pre-
vious days, and very short of provisions,
rested on their guns. Our horses had no
and written urgently for rations and forage
l n ne hNf Cat daty
before the action was resumed, received
aletter from Gen. Franklin, written the
day before at Alexandria, stating to me
that he had been directed by Gen. McClel
Ian to inform me that rations aud forage
for my command would be loaded into the
cars and available wagons as soon as
would send u cavalry escort to AleNHndria
to bring them up. All hope of being able
to maintain my position. whether yictori-
GUS or not, vanished with this letter. Ny
cavalry was utterly broken down by long
and constant service in the face of the en-
emy, and bad as they were could not be
spared from the front, even ifthere had
been time TO go back thirty miles to Alex
andria and await the loading of trains.-
AT thertime this letter was written Alexan.
dria was swarming with troops, and my
whole army iuterposed between that place
and the enemy. Iatonce understood that
We must, If possible, finish what We had to
do that day, as night must see us behind
Bull Run if we wished to save men aud an
imals from starvation.
On Friday night sent peremptory
order to Gen. Porter to bring his command
ON the field, and reportto me in person
within three hours after he received the
order. a portion he brought up, but, as
i before stated, one of his brigades re-
NAMED the whole day at oentreyille, and
was not in the engagement. The enemy's
heavy endorsements having reached him
on Friday afternoon and night, be began
to mass on his right for the purpose of
crushing our left and occupying the road
to Genteryille in our rear. His heaviest
assault was made about < O'clock in tha